Microsoft Integrates Payments For Mobile Workforce On Kaizala

Microsoft is enhancing its payments capabilities by integrating peer-to-peer (P2P) payment functionality on its Kaizala solution in India, the technology firm said Tuesday (April 3).

Microsoft rolled out Kaizala in India last year as a communications platform for the enterprise, with a particular focus on mobile chat for firstline workers — the employees who are the first point of contact with a company’s customers. Microsoft said in its announcement that adding payment functionality enables firstline and mobile employees “to participate and complete business workflows.”

The solution supports employee expense reimbursements, micro-payment disbursements and employee travel allowances to support businesses’ mobile workforces, Microsoft added.

“We see an opportunity for technology to give firstline workers more intuitive, immersive and empowering experiences — and thereby help organizations achieve greater efficiency, enhance their customers’ experience and increase both innovation and employee satisfaction,” said Microsoft Executive Vice President, Office Product Group Rajesh Jha in a statement. “Office 365, including Microsoft Kaizala, Microsoft Teams and Outlook, aims to connect this mobile-first and mobile-only workforce for modern collaboration and teamwork.”

Microsoft Kaizala is collaborating with YES BANK and MobiKwik, integrating each of these partners’ mobile payments infrastructure into the Kaizala solution. The company noted that the feature supports payments without having to leave the mobile app, allowing employees to make payments in both a one-to-one and group chat setting.

MobiKwik’s mobile wallet technology and YES BANK’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) are integrated into the app, the firms noted.

According to Microsoft, there are nearly 1.9 billion firstline workers across the globe, many of whom are based in India.

“When we launched Microsoft Kaizala in India in July 2017, we provided consumers as well as businesses with a secure chat platform to collaborate and be productive, on the go,” added Microsoft Corporate Vice President, Office Product Group Rajiv Kumar in another statement. “Microsoft Kaizala is used by thousands of organizations across different industry verticals for their day-to-day workflows today and is growing. Payment transactions within the app was a key demand from our users for getting work done, and we are happy to offer it today in collaboration with YES BANK and MobiKwik.”