Visa’s Pay and Get Paid 2026 report, based on a survey of Kenyan small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises, identifies the next digitisation opportunity as linking payments with everyday business management.

The study shows that 81% of surveyed SMEs find an all‑in‑one payment and business solution appealing, while only 19% currently use such integrated platforms.

Most Kenyan SMEs have moved beyond basic digital payment acceptance, but many still handle financial and operational tasks separately, creating friction in tracking invoices, payroll and reporting.

Specific pain points cited include difficulty tracking outstanding invoices (30% of respondents), organising payroll records (27%) and preparing financial reports (26%).

Perception barriers also slow adoption: 20% of businesses said they were unaware such tools exist, 14% felt their business was too small, and 12% saw insufficient benefit.

Among the minority using integrated platforms, 85% reported satisfaction and 81% noted efficiency gains, citing reduced time and effort in managing their operations.

Visa’s Vice President for East Africa, Anne Kinuthia‑Otieno, said the value for SMEs lies increasingly in what payments can enable after the transaction, and that integrated tools can give financial institutions richer data to tailor financing.

Why integrated platforms matter for Kenyan SMEs

Connecting payments with business management gives lenders a more holistic view of cash‑flow patterns, potentially improving risk assessment and enabling more relevant working‑capital financing.

The report underscores that while digital commerce is now a core part of Kenya’s small‑business economy, the productivity gap between payment acceptance and operational efficiency remains a key challenge.