Happy Pay and Ozow partner to simplify flexible payments

By Parth Prabhudesai

Happy Pay has partnered with Ozow to introduce zero-deposit, interest-free Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services across Ozow’s merchant network, expanding access to flexible payment options for retailers and consumers across South Africa.

The partnership allows merchants already connected to Ozow’s payment infrastructure to activate Happy Pay’s BNPL offering without additional integrations or major operational changes. The solution is embedded directly into Ozow’s existing payment flow, enabling businesses to offer instalment payments through a single integration process.

Ozow currently connects businesses to more than 47 million South African bank account holders through its digital payments network, covering e-commerce, QR payments, in-store transactions and payment links. The collaboration gives Happy Pay access to one of the country’s largest digital payment ecosystems as competition in South Africa’s FinTech and BNPL sectors continues to intensify.

The partnership reflects the growing shift toward embedded finance, where payment flexibility is integrated directly into commerce platforms to improve customer experience and increase merchant conversion rates.

Wesley Billett, Co-founder & CEO at Happy Pay said the partnership addresses changing consumer expectations around payments.

“BNPL is no longer a niche payment method. It is becoming a standard expectation at checkout,” said Billett. “By partnering with Ozow, we are able to extend this capability to a broader merchant base, while maintaining a seamless and responsible customer experience.”

Unlike traditional instalment products, Happy Pay’s model offers zero deposits and zero interest, with costs subsidised through merchant partnerships and an AI-driven advertising engine that uses purchase intent data to connect shoppers with targeted product promotions.

Lyle Eckstein, Co-founder Ozow said merchants are increasingly looking for payment tools that improve checkout performance without adding complexity.

“This partnership enables exactly that, giving merchants access to a proven payment method that can drive conversion and unlock new customer segments,” he said.

The announcement follows Happy Pay’s recent US$5 million seed funding round led by Partech as the company continues expanding its presence in South Africa’s digital commerce ecosystem.