Emergent Integration with PiP iT: FAQ’s for Emergent Merchants

What is the new service Emergent is offering?
Ghanaians in the UK and Canada can now make direct cash payments to Emergent merchants.

This payment service is possible through our integration with PiP iT, a UK based payment solution company that makes online payments easier and more secure by enabling online payments to be made via cash.

We’re excited about this payment model as it disrupts the remittance market by making it cheaper for Ghanaian expats in the UK and Canada to pay bills for themselves or for their friends or relatives in Ghana (as they don’t have to send the money to Ghana for the bills to be paid).

Why should my company sign on to receive payments from Canada and the UK?

There are over 120,000 Ghanaians living in the UK (over 94,000) and in Canada (over 30,000). Although they are abroad, these expatriates maintain connections with Ghana through regular remittances (for their friends or relatives in Ghana to pay bills). Some of them may also own property, have investment portfolios, or pay insurance premiums in Ghana.

Thus, they are interested in making direct payments to companies such as yourselves either for themselves or on behalf of someone in Ghana; they therefore present a large audience through which you can receive payments for your goods and services.

Are there any charges for signing on and receiving payments from Canada and the UK?

No, there are no additional charges for receiving payments from Ghanaians in Canada and the UK. The customer in the UK bears the cost for converting your bill or invoice from Ghana Cedis to British Pounds or Canadian Dollars.

How does payment work?

• The user in the UK or Canada visits your company’s Emergent webPOS or Open Merchant page
• The user selects “Pay with PiP iT” from the drop down menu of local and international payment options
• The user generates a barcode bill by completing a form with information such as his or her country, mobile number, and the amount to be paid, and, if applicable, the details of the individual in Ghana that the user is making payment on behalf of. The barcode can be printed or sent to an e-mail address or mobile phone.
• The barcode is taken to any UK or Canadian Post Office, presented over-the-counter and paid using cash or a debit card. It is also possible for bills to be paid at Post Office self-service kiosks in Post Offices where this facility is available.
• The user is issued with a receipt, followed by an email confirmation of their payment (this is issued on the following day) and you, the merchant, are notified of the payment (up to one working day after payment is made)

There any system requirements I must complete once I sign on?

No, there aren’t any requirements on your end. We will handle the creation of the “Pay through PiP iT” option on your Emergent webPOS and/or Open Merchant platform. PiP iT will handle the barcode generation and payment notification.

How long will it take for payment to reflect?

It will take up to 9 working days for payments from the UK to reflect on your Emergent dashboard.

How will I receive payments in my bank account?

You will receive payments on the next practicable Friday after the payment has reflected on your Emergent dashboard. We will transfer payments from Canada and the UK to your bank account along with your other payments from Ghana.

I’m interested in signing on, what’s next?

Let us know you’re interested, send us a high resolution PNG or JPEG version of your logo (for online marketing on social media and on our website) and tell all your customers about the new service!

How will my customers in Ghana and Ghanaians abroad know about this new payment service?

Together with PiP iT, we will embark on a 360 digital marketing campaign that include landing pages on our website, Facebook ads, and ads on websites that our target demographic most frequents.

you have any more online and offline marketing ideas specific to your company, please share, we’ll be happy to consider them.