Enhancing Transparency in Mobile Payments: Introducing Owner Name Notification in pawaPay Integration PHP SDK

In today's digital economy, seamless and transparent payment processes are crucial for building trust between service providers and their customers. Recognizing this, we have introduced a new feature in the pawaPay Integration PHP SDK that enhances user awareness during mobile money transactions. This article delves into the significance of this addition, explaining how it works and the benefits it brings to both merchants and customers.

Understanding the Challenge

When customers initiate a payment through mobile money services, they often expect to see the merchant's name (e.g., "Katorymnd Freelancer") displayed on their mobile devices during the transaction. However, due to regulatory and operational frameworks in different countries, the payment request might display the name of the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) or an intermediary company associated with the transaction, rather than the merchant's name.

This discrepancy can lead to confusion or concern among customers who might be hesitant to confirm a payment request from an unfamiliar entity. They may wonder if the transaction is legitimate or if their funds will reach the intended recipient.

Introducing the Owner Name Notification Feature

To address this challenge, we have enhanced the pawaPay Integration PHP SDK to include an "Owner Name" notification in the payment confirmation step. This feature informs customers about the entity from which they will receive the payment request, clarifying that it is acting on behalf of the merchant.

How It Works

1. Data Retrieval: The SDK fetches the Owner Name associated with the selected country and operator from the active_conf.json configuration file provided by pawaPay. This file contains up-to-date information about available operators and their corresponding owner entities.

2. Updating MNO Correspondents: The SDK updates the mnoCorrespondents object to include the ownerName for each operator, ensuring that this information is readily accessible during the transaction flow.

3. User Interface Enhancement: In the payment confirmation step, the SDK dynamically displays a professionally crafted notice using Bootstrap alerts. This notice informs the customer that they will receive a payment request from the specified Owner Name acting on behalf of the merchant (e.g., "Katorymnd Freelancer").

   <div class="alert alert-info mt-4" role="alert">
     <strong>Important:</strong> You will receive a payment request from <strong>Owner Name</strong> acting on behalf of <strong>Katorymnd Freelancer</strong>. Please confirm the payment to proceed with your transaction.
   </div>
   

Example Scenario

Consider a customer in Uganda using MTN Mobile Money to pay for services from "Katorymnd Freelancer." Due to the integration with pawaPay, the payment request might show "QUIDEXPLUS UGANDA LIMITED" as the entity requesting the payment. Without prior notice, the customer might be unsure about confirming this request.

With the new feature, before confirming the payment, the customer sees:

1. Country: Uganda
2. Operator: MTN Uganda
3. Amount: UGX 1,000,000
4. Phone Number: +256782345678
5. Description: Payment for services

And the following important notice:

Important: You will receive a payment request from QUIDEXPLUS UGANDA LIMITED acting on behalf of Katorymnd Freelancer. Please confirm the payment to proceed with your transaction.

This message reassures the customer that the payment request is legitimate and connected to their intended transaction.

Benefits of the Feature

For Customers

1. Clarity and Transparency: Customers are informed about who is requesting the payment, reducing confusion and building trust.
2. Enhanced Security: Being aware of the transaction details helps customers feel secure in confirming the payment.

For Merchants

1. Reduced Payment Friction: Clear communication decreases the likelihood of customers abandoning transactions due to uncertainty.
2. Improved Customer Trust: Demonstrating transparency strengthens the merchant's reputation and customer relationships.

For Developers

1. Easy Integration: The feature is integrated into the SDK, requiring minimal effort to implement in existing applications.
2. Customizable Messaging: Developers can tailor the notification message to align with the brand's voice or specific needs.

Implementing the Feature

Updating the SDK

Developers should ensure they are using the latest version of the pawaPay Integration PHP SDK, which includes the necessary functions to fetch and display the Owner Name.

Code Overview

1. Loading Configuration Data: The SDK loads both mno_availability.json and active_conf.json to obtain real-time data about operator availability and owner names.

   
     // Function to load the availability data
         async function loadAvailabilityData() {
           try {
             const [availabilityResponse, activeConfResponse] = await Promise.all([
               fetch("../data/mno_availability.json"),
               fetch("../data/active_conf.json"),
             ]);
   
             if (!availabilityResponse.ok || !activeConfResponse.ok) {
               throw new Error("Network response was not ok");
             }
   
             const availabilityData = await availabilityResponse.json();
             const activeConfData = await activeConfResponse.json();
   
             return { availabilityData, activeConfData };
           } catch (error) {
             console.error("Error loading availability data:", error);
             return null;
           }
         }
   

2. Updating Correspondent Information: The SDK updates the mnoCorrespondents object with the availability status and owner names for each operator.

   
   // Function to update the availability in mnoCorrespondents
         function updateMnoAvailability(availabilityData, activeConfData) {
           if (!availabilityData || !activeConfData) {
             console.error(
               "No availability or active configuration data to process."
             );
             return;
           }
   
           // Create a mapping from MNO apiCode to availability status and ownerName
           const availabilityMap = {};
           const ownerNameMap = {};
   
           // Build the ownerNameMap from activeConfData
           if (activeConfData.countries) {
             activeConfData.countries.forEach((countryData) => {
               countryData.correspondents.forEach((correspondentData) => {
                 const apiCode = correspondentData.correspondent;
                 const ownerName = correspondentData.ownerName;
                 ownerNameMap[apiCode] = ownerName;
               });
             });
           }
   
           // Build the availabilityMap from availabilityData
           availabilityData.forEach((countryData) => {
             countryData.correspondents.forEach((correspondentData) => {
               const apiCode = correspondentData.correspondent;
               const allOperational = correspondentData.operationTypes.every(
                 (op) => op.status === "OPERATIONAL"
               );
               availabilityMap[apiCode] = allOperational;
             });
           });
   
           // Now update the mnoCorrespondents object
           for (const country in mnoCorrespondents) {
             mnoCorrespondents[country].forEach((mno) => {
               const apiCode = mno.apiCode;
   
               // Update availability
               if (availabilityMap.hasOwnProperty(apiCode)) {
                 mno.available = availabilityMap[apiCode];
               } else {
                 mno.available = false;
               }
   
               // Update ownerName
               if (ownerNameMap.hasOwnProperty(apiCode)) {
                 mno.ownerName = ownerNameMap[apiCode];
               } else {
                 mno.ownerName = "N/A";
               }
             });
           }
         }
   
   

3. Displaying the Notice: In the confirmation step, the SDK constructs the summary and includes the owner name in the notice.

   function updateConfirmation() {
   
    // Get the MNO details
           let selectedMnoName = "";
           let ownerName = "";
           const mnos = mnoCorrespondents[country];
           if (mnos) {
             for (let i = 0; i < mnos.length; i++) {
               if (mnos[i].apiCode === selectedMnoCode) {
                 selectedMnoName = mnos[i].name;
                 ownerName = mnos[i].ownerName || "N/A";
                 break;
               }
             }
           }
   
     // Build the summary HTML
     // Craft the professional notice message
   }
   

Customization

Developers can customize the notice message or styling as needed. For instance, they might choose to include additional information or modify the alert type (e.g., alert-warning).

Conclusion

The addition of the Owner Name notification feature in the pawaPay Integration PHP SDK represents a significant step towards enhancing transparency and trust in mobile money transactions. By proactively informing customers about who will send the payment request and on whose behalf, we bridge the information gap that can lead to confusion or hesitation.

This feature not only improves the user experience but also supports merchants in providing a seamless payment process, ultimately contributing to higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

Next Steps

1. For Developers: Update your integration with the latest SDK version and test the feature to ensure it aligns with your application's workflow.
2. For Merchants: Communicate with your customers about this update and assure them of the security and legitimacy of their transactions.
3. For Customers: Feel confident in confirming payment requests that include this notice, knowing that your payments are being processed securely and will reach the intended merchant.

About pawaPay Integration PHP SDK

The pawaPay Integration PHP SDK is a powerful tool that simplifies the integration of mobile money payment services across various African countries and operators. By providing a unified interface and robust functionalities, it enables developers and businesses to offer seamless payment experiences to their customers.

For more information, documentation, and support, please visit the pawaPay Developer Portal. You can also find the source code on our GitHub repository.

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