Visa has launched Tap to Add Card in East Africa, a feature designed to streamline the process of adding Visa contactless cards to digital wallets. This innovation eliminates the need for manual entry, reducing errors and enhancing security. The feature was also recently introduced in Ukraine, Georgia, and South Africa, further expanding Visa’s global rollout of secure digital payment solutions.
How ‘Tap to Add Card’ Works
The feature allows cardholders to add their Visa contactless cards to digital wallets simply by tapping them on a mobile device. This process generates a one-time unique code, validated through Visa’s Chip Authenticate service, ensuring that the card’s credentials are securely provisioned. Compared to traditional manual entry, this method is not only faster but also significantly more secure, reducing the risk of fraud.
A More Secure and Seamless Process
Security concerns have long hindered digital wallet adoption, with manual entry being a common vulnerability for fraudsters. By eliminating this step, Tap to Add Card mitigates risks associated with card data compromise while providing a frictionless experience for users.
According to Chad Pollock, Vice President and General Manager of Visa East Africa, this feature gives consumers “greater peace of mind” by securing their card details with advanced security measures.
Global Success and Regional Impact
Tap to Add Card has already gained traction globally since its introduction in September 2024, becoming a key part of Visa’s digital payment innovation strategy. Its arrival in East Africa is expected to accelerate digital wallet adoption, making digital transactions safer and more convenient for consumers and merchants alike.
Benefits Across the Digital Payment Ecosystem
The feature is designed to benefit all stakeholders in the payments ecosystem:
- For Consumers: Offers a fast, convenient, and secure way to add cards to digital wallets, encouraging wider adoption of digital payments.
- For Issuers (Banks and Financial Institutions): Reduces provisioning fraud risks, lowers customer service inquiries related to card addition errors, and improves transaction approval rates.
- For Digital Wallet Providers: Enhances security standards, reduces the likelihood of card entry errors, and increases the token provisioning rate, making the digital wallet experience more seamless.
A Step Forward for Digital Payments in East Africa
Visa’s launch of Tap to Add Card in East Africa marks a significant step in the region’s fintech evolution, where mobile payments continue to grow rapidly. With high smartphone penetration and increasing consumer preference for digital transactions, this innovation is set to reinforce Visa’s commitment to advancing secure and reliable digital payments.
As digital wallets gain prominence in everyday transactions, features like Tap to Add Card are crucial in enhancing both security and user experience, ensuring that more consumers confidently embrace digital financial services.
Discover more from Techish Kenya
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
