STARTUP-STORIES
Wibmo, Owned by PayU, Gears Up for Growth with Payment Gateway Solutions and Strategic Initiatives
SUMMARY
Wibmo, a PayU-owned payments processor, is developing a payment gateway solution to help banks and financial institutions improve their digital distribution capabilities. They've also created a tokenization solution for secure e-commerce transactions and launched a prepaid issuance platform for businesses to offer branded cards.
These initiatives align with PayU's plans for an IPO in India. PayU has seen a leadership change with an experienced CFO and got regulatory approval to operate as a payment aggregator. They've also partnered with NPCI to offer credit lines on UPI, showcasing their focus on innovation and growth.
Wibmo, a leading online payments processor owned by PayU, is making significant strides in the digital payments landscape. As per a recent report by ET, Wibmo is actively developing a comprehensive payment gateway solution designed to empower large banks and financial services firms with enhanced digital distribution capabilities.
Wibmo's Payment Gateway: A Boon for Banks and Businesses
Suresh Rajagopalan, CEO of Wibmo, sheds light on the company's payment gateway solution. He clarifies that Wibmo's expertise lies in seamlessly routing e-commerce transactions to various stakeholders, including payment aggregators, card schemes, and networks. This streamlined approach has garnered Wibmo several large contracts both within India and internationally.
Compliance-First Tokenization Solutions
Wibmo's commitment to secure transactions extends beyond payment gateway solutions. The company has also developed a robust tokenization solution that ensures compliance with the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) guidelines. This innovative solution empowers consumers with a secure checkout experience on e-commerce platforms while upholding regulatory standards.
Expanding Offerings: Prepaid Issuance Platform
Wibmo has further diversified its offerings by launching a dedicated prepaid issuance platform. This platform caters to consumer-facing platforms, allowing them to create and manage their own branded payment solutions, including both physical and virtual cards.
"While we had a prepaid issuance offering in the past, it didn't gain significant traction then," explains Rajagopalan. "However, over the past few years, we've ensured compliance with all necessary prepaid regulations and successfully launched the platform in collaboration with major brands."
Strategic Initiatives Align with PayU's IPO Plans
Wibmo's recent developments come at a crucial time for its parent company, PayU. As PayU gears up for a potential initial public offering (IPO) in India later this year, its strategic initiatives reflect a focus on growth and market leadership.
PayU's Leadership Restructuring and Regulatory Nod
PayU has undergone a strategic restructuring of its top leadership, appointing Arvind Agrawal, with his experience as Nykaa's CFO during their IPO, as the new Chief Financial Officer. This move signifies PayU's commitment to a successful public listing.
Furthermore, PayU received a significant boost with the RBI granting them in-principle approval to operate as a payment aggregator – a regulatory hurdle they had been navigating for over a year. This approval opens doors for wider business opportunities for PayU.
Strengthening UPI Offerings
Demonstrating its commitment to innovation across payment methods, PayU has also partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to provide merchants with access to credit lines on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This initiative has the potential to revolutionize credit access for businesses within the UPI ecosystem.
Financial Performance and Growth Trajectory
PayU's financial performance reflects its strong market position. The company reported a 21% year-on-year revenue increase to $497 million in the first half of fiscal year 2023-24 (H1 FY24) compared to $412 million in H1 FY23. This growth trajectory underscores PayU's potential for continued success.
With Wibmo's innovative payment solutions and PayU's strategic initiatives, the PayU group is well-positioned to capitalize on the burgeoning digital payments landscape in India. Their focus on regulatory compliance, platform expansion, and strategic partnerships positions them as a key player in the evolving financial technology ecosystem.