Shopping and checking out at physical stores across the region are set to get a lot smoother, thanks to a fresh partnership between Safaricom and Pesapal. The collaboration is rolling out Dynamic Scan-to-Pay and Tap-to-Pay capabilities directly through Pesapal point-of-sale devices, aiming to slash manual payment errors and speed up every transaction.
Already live across more than 60,000 merchant locations, the dynamic Scan-to-Pay feature lets shoppers simply scan a QR code displayed right on a Pesapal terminal. The system automatically fills in the merchant’s details and the correct amount, giving customers a quick chance to double-check everything before greenlighting the M-PESA payment. For those carrying NFC-enabled smartphones, the new Tap-to-Pay option offers an even faster alternative—allowing users to tap their phones against the terminal, verify the details, and wrap up the sale in seconds.
Behind the scenes, leadership from both companies emphasizes that the move is about more than just moving money; it is about completely reimagining the checkout experience. According to the teams involved, bringing these technologies together marks one of the biggest leaps forward for physical retail payments in years, giving thousands of businesses the error-free speed their customers demand. With Safaricom eyeing an ambitious target of 500,000 active outlets over the coming year, the rollout promises to dramatically widen the footprint of QR-based and terminal-driven digital payments.
Beyond physical terminals, the push for automation is also finding its way into everyday apps. Safaricom is introducing AI Pay through My OneApp—a platform that has already surpassed 7 million downloads. The smart feature allows users to scan printed or handwritten receipts, automatically pulling the correct Till or PayBill numbers and payment amounts to eliminate tedious manual typing.
These innovations plug right into Safaricom’s massive financial ecosystem, which currently serves 41 million M-PESA customers in Kenya alone and pulls in hundreds of billions in revenue annually. For Pesapal, which operates across several East and Central African countries, the integration strengthens its broader suite of business management and payment tools. As reported by Zoyols News, industry watchers note that by blending contactless hardware, QR flexibility, and artificial intelligence, both companies are laying down the tracks for the next evolution of everyday commerce at the counter.
