has announced the start-up of online pre-payment option in Kenya and Uganda. Through this option, customers can pre-pay for their food deliveries, through either credit cards or mobile payments. This payment service leverages the prominence of online payments in Africa, a continent that boasted 100 million active mobile money accounts in 2017. Cash on delivery as a mode of payment is high in the country, however, the market is shifting to provide e-payment services to an increasingly diverse, demanding and trusting clientele. Shreenal Ruparelia, the Jumia Food Kenya MD, believes that the uptake of pre-payments will ensure better customer experience, reduce pilferage for the restaurants, and offer food customers more choice regarding payment options. Among the restaurant brands that have embraced the pre-payment methods, one can include KFC, Pizza Hut, Debonairs, Monikos, Clay Oven, Mambo Italia, and Newscafe.
Pizza Hut will allow customers in Kenya and Uganda to pay for their food deliveries in advance. With the implementation of a pre-pay option, customers can use credit cards or mobile devices to complete their online shops, rather than cash on delivery. The move comes as the market shifts toward e-commerce, with a growing demand for the service on the continent. In 2017, there were 100 million mobile money accounts based in Africa.