Visa has introduced an innovative new feature in South Africa called Tap to Add Card, making it easier and safer for consumers to add their Visa contactless cards to digital wallets. This new feature eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing errors and minimizing the risk of fraud.

    ALSO READ: Tap Payment Safety in South Africa: Separating Myths from Facts on Contactless Transactions

    What is Tap to Add Card?

    Tap to Add Card is designed to simplify the process of linking Visa contactless cards to digital wallets. Instead of manually entering card details, users can now tap their physical Visa card on their mobile device to instantly add it to their digital wallet.

    This process is powered by Visa’s Chip Authenticate service, which generates a unique, one-time code to validate the card’s authenticity. This ensures a faster, more secure way to add a card compared to traditional methods.

    Why Tap-to-Pay Solutions Are Thriving in South Africa

    Tap-to-pay technology has been gaining traction in South Africa, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, when consumers sought contactless payment options to minimize physical contact at checkout points. The ease and efficiency of tap payments have kept consumers loyal to this method long after the pandemic.

    Visa South Africa’s head, Lineshree Moodley, believes that Tap to Add Card will further accelerate the adoption of digital wallets in the country by addressing security concerns and improving user convenience.

    Key Benefits of Tap to Add Card

    1. Enhanced Security

    • The feature eliminates manual card entry, reducing opportunities for fraudsters to exploit sensitive card details.
    • Visa’s Chip Authenticate service ensures every tap generates a unique, one-time code, preventing unauthorized use.

    2. Faster & More Convenient Card Linking

    • Adding a card to a digital wallet takes just a few seconds with Tap to Add Card, compared to manually inputting card details.
    • The experience mirrors the ease of in-store tap payments, making it intuitive for users already familiar with contactless transactions.

    3. Reduced Fraud & Improved Approval Rates for Banks

    • Banks (issuers) benefit from fewer cases of provisioning fraud and improved approval rates for digital wallet transactions.
    • With fewer customer service inquiries related to card setup issues, banks can streamline their operations.

    4. Better User Experience for Digital Wallets

    • Digital wallet providers gain a higher token provisioning rate since fewer errors occur when adding a card.
    • This feature opens doors for new customer experiences, enhancing the overall digital payment ecosystem.

    A Growing Trend in Digital Payments

    The launch of Tap to Add Card in South Africa follows its successful rollout in several markets worldwide since September 2024. The feature is expected to revolutionize digital payments in the country by making it easier and safer to integrate Visa cards into mobile wallets.

    As South Africans continue to embrace digital payments, Visa’s Tap to Add Card provides a secure, seamless, and efficient way to manage transactions. This innovation is set to reshape the payments landscape, ensuring that digital wallets become a more trusted and widely adopted payment method across the country.

    Final Thoughts

    With the increasing reliance on digital wallets, Visa’s Tap to Add Card is a game-changer for both consumers and financial institutions in South Africa. By simplifying the card-linking process and enhancing security, this feature will likely encourage even more people to switch to cashless, digital transactions.

    Are you ready to experience the future of payments? Tap to Add Card is making digital payments safer and more convenient than ever before.

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