Despite the widespread adoption of digital funds amongst small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, many companies nonetheless wrestle to combine their monetary and operational actions, counting on disconnected techniques to handle their every day operations, a brand new Visa report has revealed.
The Pay and Get Paid 2026 report, based mostly on a survey of 251 Nigerian SMEs, discovered that solely 29 per cent of companies surveyed use built-in platforms that mix fee companies with different enterprise administration capabilities.
The findings spotlight a digital administration hole amongst Nigerian companies, with 94 per cent of respondents expressing curiosity in an all-in-one platform that may allow them to handle funds and day-to-day enterprise operations in a single place.
According to the report, the fragmented strategy to enterprise administration has contributed to administrative difficulties, notably in monitoring excellent invoices, organising payroll information and making ready monetary experiences.
It discovered that 14 per cent of SMEs wrestle with monitoring excellent invoices, 19 per cent face challenges organising payroll information, whereas 16 per cent have difficulties making ready monetary experiences.
The report additionally recognized some of the explanations companies have but to undertake built-in platforms, together with satisfaction with current guide processes (eight per cent), issues that new techniques might disrupt their operations (eight per cent) and a scarcity of belief in counting on a single supplier (seven per cent).
However, SMEs already utilizing built-in options look like recording enhancements of their operations. The report discovered that 93 per cent of Nigerian SMEs utilizing such platforms had been glad with their expertise, whereas 88 per cent reported improved operational effectivity, together with lowered effort and time spent managing their companies.
Commenting on the findings, Vice President and Cluster Head, Visa West Africa, Andrew Uaboi, mentioned the subsequent part of digital adoption amongst SMEs would rely upon connecting fee techniques with the instruments companies use to handle their every day operations.
“Digital payments are now a core part of how many SMEs in Nigeria operate. The next opportunity lies in helping businesses get more value from those transactions by connecting payments with the tools they use to manage their day-to-day operations,” he mentioned.
Uaboi added that integrating fee and enterprise administration techniques might present monetary establishments with higher insights into money move patterns, enhance decision-making and create alternatives to supply extra related services, together with financing.
Similarly, Group Head, SME Banking at Access Bank, Abiodun Olubitan, mentioned the main target for Nigerian SMEs ought to shift from merely adopting digital funds to utilizing expertise to enhance enterprise administration and help progress.
“We remain committed to supporting businesses with relevant financial solutions and digital capabilities that help them navigate challenges, scale sustainably and contribute more meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development,” she mentioned.
The research was performed by means of face-to-face interviews with enterprise homeowners and monetary decision-makers between March and April 2026 throughout 11 markets.
