On April 30, 2025, Visa unveiled a bold new direction at its Global Product Drop – launching us into an AI-powered era of payments. From smart cards to seamless digital identity, Visa’s announcements signal not just innovation, but a complete redesign of how we’ll interact with money in the coming years.

But what does this mean for Africa’s digital commerce ecosystem? At Suss Ads, we believe these shifts are deeply relevant, and here’s why.

Africa is Ready, and So Are We

With mobile-first economies, a booming informal sector, and rising internet access, African markets are primed for innovation. The real question isn’t whether we’ll adopt these technologies—it's how soon we can make them local, accessible, and impactful.

Visa’s announcements touch on several pillars that directly align with challenges and opportunities in our markets:

1. AI-Ready Cards & Smart Agents

Imagine your payment card or app not just processing transactions but also offering real-time financial coaching, alerts, and fraud detection. This isn’t science fiction — it’s what Visa’s AI-enhanced products aim to deliver.

Stat: According to GSMA, mobile money transactions in Sub-Saharan Africa processed over $911 billion in 2023, with over 80% of adults in some regions relying on mobile money.

In economies that are already cash-lite, intelligent financial tools integrated directly into payment flows could be a game-changer for inclusion and savings behaviour.

2. Personalized Commerce at Scale

Visa is championing hyper-personalized commerce, and we see that aligning perfectly with what we do at Suss Ads.

Through tools like Suss Quick Ads, we’re helping African SMEs run targeted, data-driven campaigns. When commerce becomes smarter, advertising must follow — precision is no longer a luxury; it’s the baseline.

McKinsey reports that companies using AI-powered ad tools achieve 30% higher conversion rates and 25% lower CAC (source).

3. Digital Identity & Flex Credentials

Visa’s emphasis on portable digital identity could remove friction for millions of unbanked users — especially for MSMEs trying to access platforms or credit.

According to the World Bank, nearly 500 million people in Africa lack legal ID — a huge barrier to financial services. A network-integrated identity solution could change that.

This has deep implications for onboarding, KYC compliance, and seamless participation in local and global digital markets.

4. Stablecoins & Real-Time Settlement

With Visa supporting stablecoin interoperability and real-time settlement, cross-border B2B commerce and affordable remittances are suddenly within reach.

We’re already thinking ahead: Suss Ads is exploring API-first payment integrations — and now, we’re proud to introduce FonBnk as a payment partner.

FonBnk’s decentralized, mobile-first platform enables airtime-as-currency, unlocking financial inclusion for users without bank accounts or cards.

FonBnk opens payment rails for over 1.4 billion unbanked users globally.

This is the future of AdTech payments in Africa — flexible, interoperable, and radically inclusive.

5. Visa Pay & Visa Accept

Visa is enabling frictionless payment initiation across online, in-app, and in-store channels. For Africa, where mobile commerce dominates, this could usher in a new wave of super app-style ecosystems and in-app monetization.

Statista reports that 74% of internet traffic in Africa comes from mobile devices — making mobile-first payment infrastructure essential.

Suss Ads is tracking these capabilities to empower digital sellers across the continent with plug-and-play ad monetization and fast, local checkout options.

AI + AdTech + Payments: The Power Trio Shaping Africa’s Future

What’s emerging is a powerful synergy:

• AI for personalization and smart commerce,
• AdTech for smarter acquisition and retention,
• Payments for seamless, inclusive transactions.

This trifecta is creating a closed feedback loop — where intelligent spending drives intelligent advertising, which fuels smarter commerce.

The Time to Build is Now

At Suss Ads, we don’t see these shifts as far-off futures — we see them as a blueprint for today.

With tools like Suss Quick Ads, seamless integrations with local payment systems like M-Pesa and FonBnk, and an in-depth understanding of Africa’s digital journey, we’re helping businesses get future-ready.

Because the future isn’t just coming — it’s being built, one smart transaction at a time.