Cassava Fintech International (CFI), a fintech company in Africa, announced on Wednesday, 24 July 2019, the launch of their integrated Social Payments platform. Sasai will be available to individuals and businesses and offered in partnership with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
It is said to combine instant messaging, social media and mobile payments into one App — available for download on Google Play and iOS app stores from 1 August 2019.
Group CEO of CFI, Darlington Mandivenga says “the launch of Sasai is the first time in Africa a company has developed a platform that combines social messaging apps with the mobile money payments system. It is in response to the call by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) for mobile payment operators to embrace convergence with social payment platforms to create value addition for clients”.
The initial release of Sasai will include Pay, Chat and Explore features to allow users to familiarise with the bedrock features of the platform. There will be scheduled monthly releases which will include queued additional features and on-boarded partners.
“We would like to walk the journey with our customers, listening to their feedback and understanding their needs, instead of front-loading so many features all at once,” says Mandivenga.
While Chat and Explore features will be instantly available to the public globally, the payment features on Sasai will initially be available through the first partnership arrangement with Econet Wireless Mobile Network Group. Additional markets and MNO partnerships will be introduced across Africa on an ongoing basis with the aim of having at least eight markets going live by March 2020.
Mandivenga adds, “Sasai is a digital platform where social interactions and payments converge. It stitches and weaves into one platform features and services which are typically offered by separate companies via different mobile apps to become a one-stop-shop without having to leave the app. Sasai is an All-in-One App to Pay, Chat and Explore”.
Edited by Jenna Cook
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