Mobile money has revolutionized payments in Africa, with MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) leading the way in many countries. For pharmacies, accepting MoMo payments is no longer optional—it's essential. This guide walks you through integrating MTN MoMo with your pharmacy POS system.
Why Accept MTN Mobile Money?
Customer Convenience
- Customers don't need to carry cash
- Instant payment confirmation
- Payment receipts sent via SMS
- Preferred by younger demographics
Business Benefits
- Reduced cash handling risks
- Automatic reconciliation
- No counterfeit note worries
- Faster checkout times
- Access to digital customers
MTN MoMo Merchant Options
1. Basic Merchant Code
- Customer initiates payment
- You provide merchant code
- Manual confirmation needed
- Good for low volumes
2. MoMo Pay (QR Code)
- Customer scans QR code
- Amount auto-populated
- Faster than basic method
- Good for medium volumes
3. API Integration
- Direct system-to-system connection
- Automatic payment confirmation
- POS displays payment status
- Best for high volumes
PharmaPOS MTN MoMo Integration
Features
- Integrated payment option at checkout
- Automatic amount transfer to MoMo
- Real-time payment confirmation
- Transaction matching with sales
- Daily reconciliation reports
Setup Process
Step 1: MTN Merchant Registration
- Visit MTN Business center with business documents
- Complete merchant application form
- Provide business registration certificate
- Submit pharmacy license
- Wait for approval (typically 3-5 business days)
Step 2: Receive Merchant Credentials
- Merchant ID number
- API keys (for integration)
- QR code materials
- Training on merchant portal
Step 3: Configure PharmaPOS
- Go to Settings → Payment Methods
- Enable MTN Mobile Money
- Enter Merchant ID and API credentials
- Configure settlement account
- Test with small transaction
Transaction Fees
Typical merchant fees (may vary by country/agreement):
- 0.5% - 1.5% per transaction
- No minimum transaction fee
- Settlement: Same day or next day
- Monthly statement: Free
Compare to credit card fees of 2-4%—MoMo is very competitive!
Daily Operations
Accepting Payment
- Complete sale in POS
- Select MTN MoMo as payment method
- Customer enters phone number (or scans QR)
- Customer confirms on their phone
- POS shows confirmation
- Print receipt
Reconciliation
- PharmaPOS tracks all MoMo transactions
- Compare with MTN merchant portal
- Match settlements to bank deposits
- Investigate any discrepancies
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Payment Not Confirming
- Check customer has sufficient balance
- Verify phone number is correct
- Ask customer to check MoMo PIN
- Check internet connection
Transaction Timeout
- Customer took too long to approve
- Initiate new transaction
- Verify original didn't complete
Settlement Delays
- Check MTN merchant portal for status
- Contact MTN business support
- Verify settlement account details
Security Best Practices
- Never share API credentials
- Train staff on fraud detection
- Verify payment confirmation before releasing products
- Keep reconciliation records
- Report suspicious transactions immediately
Other Mobile Money Providers
PharmaPOS also supports:
- Vodafone Cash (Ghana)
- AirtelTigo Money (Ghana)
- M-Pesa (Kenya, Tanzania)
- Airtel Money (Uganda, Nigeria)
- Orange Money (West Africa)
Ready to accept MTN Mobile Money at your pharmacy? Contact MedSoftwares for assistance with setup and integration.
