By 
Shop2Shop and Pay@ have launched a partnership that lets informal retailers facilitate everyday bill payments directly on their existing Shop2Shop card machines. The initiative turns neighbourhood businesses into a one-stop payment point for the communities it serves.
RELATED: Why virtual cards are East Africa’s next payments bridge
The solution sits inside the Shop2Shop vending application and offers traders access to Pay@’s network of more than 500 entities that can be paid (called a biller), including municipalities, retailers and store accounts, through a single connection.
The initiative launched at the end of April 2026 and already, more than 25, 000 transactions worth over R6 million have been processed through Shop2Shop traders, at an average transaction value of R240.
Bringing the formal economy into remote and rural communities
For a customer in a rural or township community, paying a bill has often meant a trip into town that costs time off work, wages and transport. The partnership removes the need for customers to take the journey, instead giving them the ability to settle their accounts at any Shop2Shop trader.
It takes seconds – the customer provides the trader with their reference number, which is entered into the terminal, the account payment is confirmed in real time, and the customer is provided with a valid receipt.
The model works for both banked and unbanked customers alike, as it doesn’t rely on a single preferred payment method. Customers can pay their bills in cash or by card as Shop2Shop and Pay@ don’t determine how a payment is made. The knock-on benefit is that the service makes it easier for customers to make their payments on time, reducing the risk of late payment fines or damaging their credit histories.
A new revenue stream for traders
For traders, the value of the new offering is twofold. First, the bill payment pulls customers into the store where they often buy essentials and pay for services at the same time, increasing the average basket size.
“What we love about this solution is that it makes payments accessible to underserved communities. The local shop becomes a little business-in-a-box and a neighbourhood payment point. The trader earns a new income stream with no new machine and no cost, customers get formal services on their doorstep, and the money stays inside the community instead of leaving it.” – Annelene Dippenaar, Chief Business Officer, Shop2Shop.
Secondly, traders earn commission on each transaction, which is instantly calculated and reflected in their Shop2Shop wallet in real time. Traders don’t need to invest in new hardware or machines, and there is no upfront cost, so they can start transacting within this ecosystem immediately.
Scaling on word of mouth
The early traction seen by the solution has been remarkable, with the service recording more than 11,000 transactions in May, its first full month, with no formal marketing. It matched this pace in June, growing to 18,000 transactions within four weeks.
“Pay@’s mission has always been to make payments as seamless, simple and accessible as possible. Partnering with Shop2Shop brings that to life. A customer no longer has to travel kilometres into town and lose time or wages just to pay a bill. The trader becomes a trusted hub for the community, and the growth we’ve seen, almost entirely on word of mouth, shows just how real that need is.” – Lani van der Merwe, Payment Network Manager, Pay@
The strongest demand has come from financing cell phone purchases and the fibre space, underlining the need for connectivity in the informal market. The strongest demand for payments has come in the form of PayJoy and FoneYam, which are both device financing solutions.
Taking the next digital steps
Pay@ and Shop2Shop believe there is significant room for growth and innovation. They plan on launching new capabilities such as payouts, cash deposits and additional biller onboarding. The goal is to expand the service across as many communities as possible while evolving how it empowers communities and customers, alongside providing traders with new avenues of growth and revenue generation.
Key insights
- 30,000 transactions processed through the Shop2Shop network since launch.
- R7 million in payments have moved through informal traders to date.
- R233 average transaction value.
- 11,000+ transactions in May alone, the first full month, with no formal marketing behind it.
- 500+ billers and 40+ payment networks accessible through a single Pay@ integration.
- Top Shop2Shop billers: PayJoy and FoneYam are led by device-financing payments.
