The original version of this article was published by Terrapay. Click here to read the article.

Introduction

Founded by and for migrants in 2022, Bless Payments understands the critical role of instant, affordable, and secure money transfers in helping migrant families and their home communities flourish, across developed and developing nations. The company focuses on empowering families and communities, and leveling the financial playing field globally with reliable, affordable transfers for all.   

Bless Payments was on the lookout for a partner who would not only meet the company’s speed-to-market, coverage, infrastructure, and commercial requirements but also show the same understanding and commitment to their mission.

The Challenge

Local presence & understanding
Operating in unique markets, Bless Payments required a partner who was locally rooted and had a solid understanding of the distinct cultural, social as well as regulatory nuances that shape customer experiences. These insights were critical for building trust, loyalty, and establishing credibility across different regions.   

Market inequality
Bless Payments targeted key corridors that represented 44% of all remittances from Australia, prioritizing regions like Pakistan, Egypt, and others. Traditional services in these regions were lacking in speed or cost-effectiveness, obstructing the flow of payments in more ways than one. The company sought a partner who would help enhance their speed-to-market and provide infrastructure support for instant payments.

Why TerraPay

Vast Global Network and Coverage
Integrating with TerraPay’s extensive global network and platform helped Bless Payments reach newer markets, reduce transaction delivery times and offer reliable, affordable payment solutions to their customers, without worrying about onboarding delays.

Cultural Sensitivity
For Bless Payments, TerraPay’s understanding of the unique cultural contexts of the regions was a key differentiator. Integrating this deep local know-how, TerraPay was able to help Bless Payments provide better localized customer support. In key regions like Egypt, for instance, TerraPay’s sensitive and pragmatic KYC processes helped avoid unnecessary delays and enhance payment experiences for customers.

Customer Support & Feedback Integration
TerraPay and Bless Payments worked together to actively address operational pain points, incorporating feedback to continuously enhance and tailor services to meet the unique regional requirements; further strengthening the partnership.

Streamlining the experience for Bless Payments, TerraPay provided its trademark 24×7 customer service through its robust partner portal that allows for real-time tracking and monitoring of transactions, easier and faster transaction query resolution, enhanced transparency, and more.

Collaborative Partnership
The ability to adapt quickly is crucial in the fast-changing payments landscape. TerraPay’s adaptability in overcoming initial operational challenges by collaborating closely with Bless Payments helped the two companies navigate these hurdles, refining processes to provide better service and ensure operational success.

The Result

20+ countries reached across Asia and Africa, including:

• Pakistan
• Nigeria
• Philippines
• Egypt
• Turkey
• Indonesia
• Bangladesh

“At Bless Payments, we would like to believe that we are not just any other money transfer service. Our focus on empowering migrant communities and families across the globe has been steadfast and that is why it’s been a pleasure to have TerraPay as a partner. They help us deliver payments faster while also enabling us to expand our reach. What stood out for us is TerraPay’s ability to understand and respect the diverse needs of different regions and the local nuances at play. This has proved to drastically improve payment experiences for customers.”

Affy Bhatti Co-founder & CEO  at Bless Payments

Mo Zaatar Co-founder & CTO  at Bless Payments

“One of the reasons we chose TerraPay as our partner was because we looked at the countries and people they were focused on empowering. It resonated with our goal to reduce inequalities in this complex cross-border payments space. After all, it’s not just about building the tech but also about leveraging it in a way that helps solve real-world issues faced by millions across the globe.”

“Bless Payments and TerraPay are united by a common mission. This goal of enabling financial empowerment at scale forms the foundation of our partnership. Together, we have been able to provide underserved and overlooked communities across the globe with reliable, affordable and secure payment solutions. As our relationship grows, we look forward to supporting Bless Payments’ expansion goals across borders.”

Ritesh Singh Senior Director, Oceania at TerraPay