Safaricom to offer accounting services to SMEs

Kenyan mobile network operator Safaricom will now generate receipts, payment reminders, and invoices for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using its mobile money services M-Pesa. Since its launch in 2007, M-Pesa has evolved from a money transfer service to a payment platform, referred to as ‘Lipa na M-Pesa’. Many SMEs, utility companies, banks and government agencies use the payment platform to receive cashless payments. 

The use of cashless payments has been catalysed by COVID-19 measures. The Central Bank of Kenya estimated that the value of mobile transactions increased by 13.2% – totaling 4.08 trillion Kenya shillings by October 2020 – with Lipa na M-Pesa commanding about 85.8% of non-cash payments for ordinary goods and services. Accounting services for SMEs will be electronic and free of charge.