The infrastructure developed by SIA further strengthens Market In’s client-oriented vision by combining services quality with fast, efficient and secure transactions, aligned with the global market’s latest trends in digital payments.

The partnership will enable customers to tap into over 1,000 innovative POS terminals, also able to accept contactless cards payments, in Market In’s 188 supermarkets, including seven “Daily’s Convenience” stores.

The implementation of the new technology infrastructure introduces a series of innovative features combining convenient daily operation and maximum security, while they also provide for a number of additional benefits for Market In’ customers. SIA’s cutting-edge POS terminals minimize transaction time while ensuring the interconnection with the supermarkets’ cash system and enabling secure Chip & Pin transactions, with the technical support provided by specialized Help Desk. Furthermore, SIA’s POS terminals are fully integrated with loyalty programs offered by all four Greek systemic banks.

“Our cooperation with Market In fully reflects SIA's vision for advanced payments s infrastructure and innovation. The agreement confirms SIA’s leading position in payments along with its positioning as a major technology and infrastructure partner for Greek businesses. Such projects will further enhance the efforts made in Greece to fully modernize payments system and introduce a new culture of digital and instant payments ” commented Espen Tranoy, Managing Director New SIA Greece.

“ This new agreement with SIA will help us ensure faster and secure transaction s to all our retail clients.
We stand at the threshold of a new era in payments and having SIA as an important ally will allow us to make major steps in the future” said George Chatziandreou, IT Director at Market In.

SMEGA now works on Comviva’s mobiquity® Money platform, one of the world’s largest white-labeled mobile money platform. SMEGA offers consumers a quick, convenient and secure way to perform financial transactions from the comfort of their homes or on the go. SMEGA provides a one-stop-shop for multiple financial transactions such as person to person money transfer, airtime and data purchase, prepaid electricity purchase, water bill payment, BTC postpaid bill payment and salary payment.

SMEGA has been designed as an inclusive service. With SMEGA, customers will be able to send money to other SMEGA users as well as to non-registered individuals who will receive a passcode which can be used to cash-out money at BTC outlets. SMEGA is not only for individuals but for businesses also; businesses can leverage SMEGA’s bulk payment feature to pay salaries and allowances to their staff and reduce the cost and paper work required for cash and cheque payments. A unique feature offered by SMEGA is Motshelo Club, which is built on group savings culture of Botswana. Motshelo Club allows a number of people to contribute to a group savings wallet and use the money on rotational basis in good and bad times. BTC is the first mobile operator in the country to provide a digital Motshelo Club service.

Edward Wicks, Chief Commercial Officer, BTC said, “We are delighted to offer SMEGA which is delivered through the Comviva mobile money platform. SMEGA is focused on enabling access to financial services to improve people’s lives and positively contribute towards the economy by accelerating financial inclusion and economic development. We also trust that our customers across the country will find it easy, fast and a more convenient means of transferring money, making payments and doing other financial transactions.”

Anil Krishnan, Head of Africa Region at Comviva, said “Mobile phones today are not just communication devices; they have become a holistic channel for digital lifestyle. Comviva is making this reality through its mobiquity® Money platform that enables service providers to provide digital financial services to consumers through mobile phones. In Botswana, we are carrying forward this revolution with BTC through their SMEGA services that delivers a seamless and secure financial service on mobile to financially underserved consumers.”

BTC was established in 1980 to provide, develop, operate and manage Botswana's national and international telecommunications services. BTC has a wide network covering over ninety percent (90%) of the country. Over the years, it has launched many innovative services that has evolved the ICT market in Botswana and have transformed people’s lives. SMEGA is one such relevant service that is taking mobile phones to the next level, by using them for performing financial transactions anywhere anytime.

mobiquity® Money is the world’s leading mobile money platform that delivers a host of digital financial services that transform the way consumers save, borrow, transfer and spend money. It is designed to seamlessly integrate consumer touch points with a wide ecosystem of banks, billers, merchants and third-party payment systems, creating a convergence powered by interoperability. Apart from delivering convenience to consumers, the solution enables telecommunications service providers to acquire new customers, create long-term loyalty with existing ones, and seize new revenue opportunities to increase their footprint in the market. mobiquity® Money empowers telecommunications service providers to be agile in their markets, with complete focus on the customers. mobiquity® Money has clocked over 60 deployments in more than 45 countries. It provides financial services to over 100 million consumers globally and processes more than 6.5 billion transactions amounting to over $130 billion annually.