A Recap on Peach Payments’ Journey and Vision

Peach Payments recently hosted its first-ever Think Bigger Summit, an event that brought together merchants, industry experts, and visionaries to reflect on the company’s evolution and look toward the future. Below, we delve into some of the key topics discussed during the summit, shedding light on Peach Payments’ journey, innovations, and upcoming plans.

Welcoming the Community: A Reflection on Growth

The Think Bigger Summit kicked off with a warm welcome from the host, Joshua Shimkin. Setting a relaxed and engaging tone, Joshua shared an amusing anecdote involving his son, Luca, highlighting the importance of connecting genuinely with the audience. This personal touch set the stage for an intimate and insightful event.

“We’ve been thinking bigger about our product roadmap,” Joshua mentioned. “We’re going to tell you more about what you can expect from us over the next several months in our releases.”

12 Years of Innovations and Firsts

Rahul Jain, the cofounder and CEO of Peach Payments, took centre stage to offer a retrospective on the company’s remarkable 12-year journey. Moving from a modest two-person team to a thriving enterprise boasting over 200 employees, Peach Payments has consistently been at the forefront of payment solutions across Africa.

“Sometimes it feels longer, but it’s been 12 years since Peach set out to build the modern payment stack for merchants in Africa,” Rahul noted.

This journey saw Peach expand its operations to South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, and Eswatini, with plans for further continental expansion.

Pioneering Payment Solutions

Since its inception, Peach Payments has been a trailblazer in the African payment landscape. The company’s commitment to innovation has yielded several landmark developments, each instrumental in shaping digital commerce in the region.

Rahul highlighted several key milestones:

• One-Click Checkout (2014)

  Peach Payments introduced the first functional one-click checkout in South Africa, a significant leap in streamlining the online shopping experience.

• Subscription Enablement (2015)

  The platform offered solutions for merchants to sell products via subscription models, catering to diverse markets from groceries to meal kits.

• 3D Secure Solutions (2016-2017)

  Faced with frequent 3D Secure outages, Peach innovated an alternative solution, ensuring that merchants remained operational during peak sale days.

• Payment Orchestration (2018)

  Long before it became industry jargon, Peach pioneered automated failovers and multiple acquiring banks, ensuring seamless transaction processes.

Expanding Horizons and Thinking Bigger

Peach Payments’ continuous pursuit of innovation doesn’t stop at payment solutions. The company has also been enhancing its orchestration capabilities. Today, Peach Payments orchestrates over 20 different payment methods across four countries, allowing merchants to operate effortlessly across borders.

“With one integration, with one partner, you can now build a Pan-African or a multinational e-commerce business across the continent,” Rahul emphasised.

This focus on integration and simplicity underpins Peach Payments’ mission to foster growth among merchants.

Strategic Partnerships: A Platform for the Future

Peach Payments has also forged crucial partnerships, propelling its platform to new heights:

• Wix Integration (2020)

  Peach became Wix’s first partner in Africa, extending its reach and capabilities.

• Apple Pay Partnership (2021)

  The company introduced Apple Pay in ecommerce, in addition to supporting Google Pay and Samsung Pay.

These partnerships illustrate Peach Payments’ commitment to staying ahead of trends and offering cutting-edge solutions to its merchants.

The Road Ahead: Sneak Peeks and New Features

As part of the summit, Peach Payments’ product teams provided a sneak peek into upcoming features and services. Attendees were encouraged to explore these innovations in the exhibition area, signaling an action-packed agenda designed to inspire and engage.

“It’s time to think bigger. Payments is not just about accepting a pay card on your website,” Rahul remarked, hinting at the transformative potential of their new offerings.

Trust and Transformation

The Think Bigger Summit 2024 underscored the trust Peach Payments has garnered from its merchants and its relentless drive to innovate. Rahul Jain’s reflections and the various innovations showcased demonstrate Peach Payments’ integral role in transforming Africa’s digital commerce landscape.

As the company gears up for more groundbreaking developments and broader geographical expansion, the future indeed looks promising for Peach Payments and its ever-growing community of merchants.

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, think bigger.