COUNTRY FOCUS : NIGERIA
cancellation fee to cover costs . However , many business owners are wary of the ever-present threat of fraud , which has made many hesitant to offer a more varied payment offering .
“ A virtual terminal allows businesses to take booking deposits through an online virtual card terminal and manually process payments without using a physical POS device . Guests can pay in the currency of their choice . The complete transparency of the system means you can display the original price , exchange rate , and final amount to your customer in their local currency or currency of choice . Our hotel merchants can now charge guests while they are making a telephone enquiry , upon receiving reservation requests from an OTA like Booking . com , or if they ’ re a walk in ,” said Aroyewun .
By offering a secure payment method , businesses can build trust with their customers which will result in repeat business . This is especially important as fraudulent activity continues to rise , including an uptick of fake travel agency or airline websites . Venues using virtual terminal can immediately process transactions and receive real-time payment confirmation without the need or cost of a physical point of sale device . Nor do they need any additional phone lines or hardware to operate the terminal . The setup is easy and the service can be added to their payment option without much hassle .
“ Our clients are quick to share that the more payment options they offer , the more appealing they are to a wider client base . Customer experience is a key differentiator . Businesses will support a chain of hotels , or even a small boutique lodge , if they know that they can conduct business the way they prefer , no matter what country they are in . The added security of working with a known , trusted payment provider that is recognised across Africa will also help build trust and , ultimately , revenue ,” added Aroyewun .
The DPO Group is a leading African digital payments company operating in over 20 countries across the continent . DPO has developed the technology to enable businesses and individuals across the continent to make payments online and offline with all currencies and payment methods . DPO Group currently works with over 60,000 active merchants , including businesses in the e-commerce space , and the travel and leisure sectors . The company was founded in 2006 and since then it has grown to be a Pan-African PSP with more than 400 employees . In 2021 , DPO was acquired by Network International , a leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa , in a landmark deal for the African payments landscape . By providing its merchants with the capacity to make and accept payments effortlessly , DPO Group aims to support financial inclusion and economic development on the African continent . p
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