How to Implement
Guidance

Understand merchant payment needs.
Merchants are significant users of an Inclusive IPS and have widely varying needs. Early stakeholder engagement is needed to understand how the diverse conditions (e.g. internet, electricity, usage of business software to record sales) of sole proprietors and other micro merchants (MSE) compare to those of small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), how both differ from enterprise merchants such as chain stores, other retailers, and billers (such as utilities), and the impact of gender on those needs.

Design for merchant payment needs.
After cataloging the varied needs of merchants as acceptors and originators of payments, ensure that Scheme technical requirements and rules support seamless commerce for all types of end users. A merchant should not need to have a point-of-sale terminal to serve basic commerce transactions.

Support enabling payment messages and tools.
The Scheme should ensure that interoperable payment via QR code and Request for Payment is incorporated from the implementation phase, even if they are launched at a subsequent stage.
Why It Matters
Merchant acceptance of digital payment is a critical element in scaling usage and encourages consumers to keep value in their wallet or account in order to make essential daily purchases.
Seeing More Clearly
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Women’s Inclusion
Women are more likely to have less experience in digital payments, both as consumers and merchants, and face challenges in basic, digital, and financial literacy, thus benefiting from intuitive and thoughtfully designed experiences that consider their specific needs.

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