Mercurie’s Next-Gen Platform is Transforming Digital Payments in Africa

Africa are one of the continents with the highest remittance prices worldwide (Transaction fees-wise). Delays in payment processing can also last for several days, which poses problems for people and companies who rely on prompt money transfers.

Mercurie, a software as a service (SaaS) startup that integrates cloud implementation and optimization with software payment and subscription management, has formally launched its next-generation platform.

Foreign exchange turbulence, discontinuous payment methods, and the difficulty of handling numerous subscriptions are common problems for African firms. Mercurie resolves these challenges by providing one integrated platform to simplify software payments, manage licenses centrally and optimize digital service expenses.

Google Workspace, Google Cloud, and other vital SaaS tools can be easily managed and paid for in local currency by African businesses thanks to this platform, and by removing foreign exchange issues and lowering transaction costs, the platform increases African businesses’ access to international services and promotes trade both within and outside of Africa.

Ayode Akinfemiwa, the founder and CEO of Mercurie, talked about the company’s overarching goal of making software payments easier for African companies.

“Our goal has always been to make global technologies more accessible and useful to African businesses. By enabling naira payments for Google Cloud, we are removing one of the biggest barriers companies face—foreign exchange constraints,” Akinfemiwa said at a forum in Lagos in recent months

In addition to facilitating local currency transactions, Mercurie, will provide extensive consulting services that cover cloud evaluation, migration, security, and strategy development. The technology, which was initially designed to allow companies to pay for Google Ads in naira, has expanded with the introduction of Google Cloud payments via AdPay.

AdPay has onboarded more over 2,000 firms since its launch in 2022, assisting them in overcoming the FX conversion challenges that frequently accompany the acquisition of international technology services.

Mr Akinfemiwa recalls how difficult it was for Nigerian companies to pay for Google Ads in US dollars, particularly after 2017 when exchange rates were more volatile.

“At the time, the exchange rate was around N150 to the dollar; then suddenly it shot up to N200 and N250, and it became a full-blown crisis,” he said.

He and his colleagues pushed for local currency payment methods while they were employed at Google, but only a few major advertisers were first given access.

According to him, “The goal is to remove payment barriers that prevent African businesses from fully participating in the digital economy. AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping industries, but many African businesses remain locked out due to payment restrictions.”

Mercurie wants to make sure that African businesses can easily embrace AI and cloud computing without having to worry about sourcing foreign cash as these technologies continue to revolutionize corporate operations.

“The world is changing fast, and we need to equip businesses here with the tools to stay competitive. This is not just about payments; it’s about digital transformation,” Akinfemiwa added.

Early adopters of Mercurie have already noted notable advantages; in just three months, one client cut administrative costs associated with digital services by almost 40%.

The platform’s top priority at first is Google Workspace integration, which lets companies easily take advantage of its potent AI capabilities. Additionally, Mercurie has partnerships with AWS, Huawei, Digital Ocean, and Zoho. These and more cloud, SaaS, and advertising suppliers will soon be incorporated into the Mercurie platform.

African businesses are encouraged by Mercurie to ease their digital service management right now. Expanded information and processes of arranging a demo are fully explained on the Mercurie website.