Visa has unveiled new features designed to help small businesses manage payments directly from their smartphones. This shift is critical as more commerce moves online, making it easier for everyday entrepreneurs to thrive without hefty investments in traditional payment systems.

### Empowering Small Businesses

The recent updates from Visa target micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by streamlining payment processes. Particularly beneficial in emerging markets, these innovations enable entrepreneurs to utilize devices they already own to handle transactions. With smartphones now acting as all-in-one payment hubs, businesses can accept card payments, send payouts, and manage customer interactions—all without the need for specialized hardware.

In Kenya, the Co-operative Bank is set to launch this service soon, joining other financial institutions in Ghana eager to provide these tools to local merchants. Visa aims to expand its reach, hoping to assist millions of businesses globally by 2027.

### Seamless Transactions with Visa Accept

Central to this initiative is Visa Accept, a service that allows businesses to turn their smartphones into payment terminals. This means entrepreneurs can accept payments directly through their banking apps without the need for separate card readers. By receiving funds in near real time, businesses can enhance their cash flow—a persistent challenge for many small companies.

Visa Accept is already operational in over 25 countries, providing millions of merchants with a practical solution to modernize their payment processes. This move reflects an increasing need for adaptability in commerce, where convenience can significantly impact customer satisfaction.

### Real-Time Payouts with Visa Direct

Additionally, Visa is expanding its Visa Direct service, offering businesses the ability to send real-time payouts directly from their smartphones. This enhancement is particularly useful for paying employees, contractors, and delivery personnel, as well as for issuing customer refunds and transferring money across borders.

Shahebaz Khan, Visa’s Senior Vice President for a crucial region, stresses the growing expectation for seamless payment solutions. By allowing businesses to handle multiple types of transactions on one device, Visa is shifting how service providers operate, enabling them to focus more on their customers and less on payment obstacles.

### Growing Demand for Digital Payment Solutions

Visa’s recent research highlights the urgency for digital financial tools in today’s marketplace. A significant majority of small businesses are already employing some form of digital payment solution, and many have reported positive effects on their operations. However, the study also reveals ongoing challenges—like cash flow shortages—that impact nearly one in five small businesses regularly.

By integrating payment acceptance and money movement features into smartphones, Visa not only simplifies financial transactions but also supports faster digital commerce. This approach is particularly vital for the 530 million unbanked adults globally who own smartphones and could vastly benefit from these services.

### What this means for you

For everyday consumers and small business owners, these new features mean easier and faster transactions, whether you’re accepting payments or managing payouts. If you ever need to review payment agreements related to your business, legal-document-to-plain-english-translator/”>AI legalese decoder can help you translate the fine print into plain English in seconds. Understanding your rights and responsibilities in any financial agreement is essential to ensure smooth operations and compliance.

Source: https://techtrendske.co.ke/2026/07/03/visa-smartphone-payments-small-businesses/