Mobile money has emerged as a game-changer in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, particularly in emerging markets. With over a billion people in these regions owning cell phones but lacking access to traditional banking services, mobile money has bridged the gap by providing financial services through mobile devices.
However, establishing robust agent networks becomes crucial for mobile money to thrive and scale profitably truly.
In this blog post, we will explore the significance of agent networks and their role in scaling mobile money, drawing insights from McKinsey’s findings in their article “Mobile Money: Getting to Scale in Emerging Markets.”
What is Mobile Money?
Mobile money uses mobile devices to store, send, and receive money, enabling users to conduct financial transactions securely and conveniently. This innovative technology has revolutionized how people in emerging markets access financial services, removing barriers such as high transaction costs and vulnerability to theft associated with informal networks.
The research revealed the three most critical success factors to implement after a provider has launched its deployment and starts to face execution problems:
- Pay close attention to managing the agent network;
- Create a compelling product offering;
- Maintain a corporate commitment
As the exhibit shows, there are four additional success factors. Still, they are more critical when deciding whether to enter a market and design a new deployment than during the immediate postlaunch phase.