The AITEC Mobile Money, West Africa, Conference, which took place on the 8th and 9th of June at the Accra Conference Center was a gathering of the biggest regional players in the mobile money solutions industry. From mobile network operator representatives to mobile merchants to banking industry aficionados to eager innovators in the developer community, it seemed as if all of the branchless banking stakeholders in all West Africa were present. Comviva, Clydestone, PesaPal, FinBank, UBA, CalBank; the big-brand roster was endless.

Rancard was center stage with a snazzy exhibition stall and a coffee bar to showcase our mobile money solution, RMPM. The software solution was a particular hit for its ability to integrate mobile-based micropayment capability and enable mobile service/content/app providers to monetize. Its network operator/carrier-based content and service billing can be used by service providers and integrates 3rd party mobile payment engines so that users of our platform have the convenience of recurring and one-time payment options. As a VAS technology enabler, the AITEC conference proved a perfect stage for Rancard to demonstrate that its products bridge the gap between many different parts of the mobile money ecosystem. Our booth offered fliers, QR codes, folders and t-shirts to spread the word about our m-retailing and in-app billing innovations, products and services.

We expected a great turnout but far exceeded expectations of the number of attendees at our exhibition booth. Our panel session was even better-attended. The discussion titled "Enabling the technology value chain for mobile payments” was intended to broaden the conversation on carrier and non-carrier mobile payments for mobile apps, content and other services. The talk, which focused on the open and proprietary technological innovations within the current regulatory environments in the Nigerian and Ghanaian mobile money markets, was one we expected to be spirited and interesting. Our panelists, Tayo Oviosu, Managing Director of Pagatech, Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, Managing Director of Multichoice-Ghana and Kola Sonola, Country Director of Airtel had rich insights they brought to bear on the discussion.

However, even we did not expect to have such a well-attended event that chairs had to be set up outside the discussion room to accommodate the numbers and we even had to turn some attendees away. Rancard’s winning streak was just beginning it turns out. During the conference’s awards ceremony we took home the highest prize: company with the best exhibition stall. Experts say West Africa is the next frontier in branchless banking. With this showing it would be safe to say that Rancard and its mobile money solutions will be leading the charge.