{"id":10354,"date":"2026-05-05T14:30:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T12:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/?post_type=insights&p=10354"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:30:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T12:30:59","slug":"driving-financial-inclusion-through-digital-services","status":"publish","type":"insights","link":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/insights\/driving-financial-inclusion-through-digital-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving Financial Inclusion Through Digital Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In a context where Africa\u2019s rapid digitalization is profoundly reshaping access to financial services, mobile solutions play a central role in the adoption of new customer behaviors, particularly in the field of microfinance in Africa<\/strong>.\u00a0 They enable clients to check their balances, track transact, and carry out basic banking operations remotely in a simple, secure, and 24\/7 accessible way.<\/p>\n

These innovations directly contribute to strengthening financial inclusion across Africa, particularly for populations that have traditionally been excluded from the conventional banking system.<\/p>\n

In this interview, we highlight MyAdvans<\/em>, our main client application through the perspective of Dorian Pratmarty, currently Digital Transformation Program Coordinator (AIR+) at Advans Congo<\/a>. He played a key role in the deployment and user adoption of Advans client app and other USSD services such as Mobibank in Ghana during his time as Product Owner at Advans International. He shares his experience, the challenges encountered, and the tangible impact of these solutions on access to financial services.<\/p>\n

What has your career path at Advans been like?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I joined Advans Ghana in 2020 as part of a two-year VIE program, within the Business Development department. There, I worked on the development of alternative distribution channels, particularly USSD services under the Mobibank project.<\/p>\n

My responsibilities included migrating the legacy service to a new platform, designing the new user journey, and supporting both the deployment and go-live of the service.<\/p>\n

I later worked on a second distribution channel: the network of field collectors, also known as Mobile Banking Officers. These agents visit clients directly to collect loan repayments and savings, helping improve access to financial services. As part of the AIR+ project, operations that were previously paper-based were digitalized through a mobile application allowing transactions to be recorded in real time. After three years at Advans International headquarters, I returned to a subsidiary to take up the position of Transformation Program Coordinator, in charge of deploying AIR+<\/a> at Advans Congo.<\/p>\n

Before introducing MyAdvans, could you tell us about the USSD services offered by the Group, particularly Mobibank, which you led in Ghana?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Advans\u2019 Mobibank project is a mobile banking service that allows clients to perform banking transactions through a menu accessed via a USSD code. Launched in 2022, the latest version had reached 99,100 subscribers as of January 2026. USSD<\/a> is a technology that is free for the client and similar to SMS: it operates over the GSM network, with very limited data exchanges, and does not require an Internet connection or any application installation.<\/p>\n

Accessible from any type of mobile phone, USSD enables users to check balances, transfer funds, or pay for services. Mobibank therefore makes financial services simple, fast, and accessible, even for customers who do not own a smartphone.<\/p>\n

Could you introduce MyAdvans by reminding us when the application was launched and which subsidiaries currently benefit from it?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

MyAdvans is a mobile banking application similar to those offered by traditional banks. Before the launch of the AIR+ program, this type of application existed only at Advans La Fayette<\/a> our Nigerian subsidiary, where the digital financial services market is highly competitive.<\/p>\n

The development of MyAdvans<\/em> took place in a context where digital usage, particularly electronic payments, is especially mature in West Africa, making this type of application highly relevant from a customer experience standpoint.<\/p>\n

Against this backdrop, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire<\/a> became the first country to launch MyAdvans<\/em>. The application was officially rolled out there in August 2024, before being deployed in Ghana in November 2024.<\/p>\n

Today, MyAdvans<\/em> is being progressively rolled out, taking into account both local regulatory constraints and the level of digital ecosystem maturity in each subsidiary.<\/p>\n

What needs was this application designed to address? Who is it for, and how many clients actively use it today?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

MyAdvans<\/em> was developed primarily to meet digitalization and service modernization needs. I see the customer app as a natural complement to the USSD services we offer. Compared with USSD, a mobile banking app offers major advantages: it enables a richer, more intuitive user experience and, above all, significantly stronger security.<\/p>\n

Beyond security, MyAdvans also responds to the need to expand our digital service offering. It allows us to go far beyond what USSD can provide: account opening, loan applications and simulations, fully digital credit journeys, and detailed transaction histories. Overall, the experience is more comprehensive and comfortable for customers.<\/p>\n

Finally, MyAdvan<\/em>s also addresses branding and positioning challenges for Advans. Offering a mobile banking application strengthens our image as a modern and innovative financial institution. In Ghana, for example, we were among the first savings & loans institutions to offer a customer-facing mobile app, whereas such tools had previously been reserved for banks. This sends a clear message to our clients: we invest in secure digital solutions and are ahead of our market.<\/p>\n

This dynamic is reflected in adoption figures, with 8,300 subscribed clients in C\u00f4te d’Ivoire in March 2026 and 7,000 in Ghana in April 2026, confirming growing customer interest in this type of service.<\/p>\n

How can an institution like Advans protect client data in the face of cybersecurity challenges?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Security was a key pillar in the development of MyAdvans<\/em>. In environments where fraud risks exist, it is essential for an institution like Advans to implement robust safeguards, both on the client side and within its systems.<\/p>\n

On the customer side, we apply well-established security standards. Access to the application is protected by strong passwords, and users can also log in using biometric authentication such as fingerprint recognition or facial recognition (Face ID), depending on their device capabilities.<\/p>\n

For sensitive operations, particularly high-value transactions, we have implemented OTPs (One-Time Passwords). When a client initiates such a transaction, they receive a unique code by SMS that must be entered to validate the operation. Without this code, the transaction is automatically blocked, ensuring that the person initiating the transaction is indeed the account holder.<\/p>\n

We have also introduced daily transaction limits, both in terms of volume and amount. These caps provide additional protection: in the event of phone theft or unauthorized access, they prevent an entire account from being emptied in a single day.<\/p>\n

On the technical side, security is also ensured at the system level. All API data exchanges are encrypted in line with industry standards, and backend systems are protected through secure connections, notably VPNs, ensuring that client data remains protected throughout its entire lifecycle.<\/p>\n

In short, Advans\u2019 cybersecurity approach is comprehensive: secure client access, transaction protection, and a robust technical infrastructure, all designed to deliver digital services that are practical, modern, and reliable.<\/p>\n

Could you walk us through your journey to your current role and explain your responsabilities today, particularly regarding the deployment of AIR+ in Congo, the final stage of the Group’s digital transformation?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Today, I hold the position of AIR+ Transformation Program Coordinator. In this role, I work closely with David Fidami, Director of Transformation, essentially acting as his right-hand support. My main responsibility is to relieve him of part of the operational workload so that he can fully focus on the strategic and business dimensions of the AIR+ program.<\/p>\n

In practice, I act as a cross-functional support resource, contributing both to the structuring of local projects and to IT-related topics. In DRC, for example, one of the current priorities is the launch of a USSD service. I therefore support local teams by providing a project management framework designed to accelerate deployment and secure each stage of the process.<\/p>\n

Functional and business oversight is partly handled by local teams, with support from the Group\u2019s Business Analysts, notably Christine Guyard, Head of Business Solutions and Processes. At this stage, my involvement in those aspects remains limited.<\/p>\n

As part of the AIR+ rollout in DRC, an essential milestone in the Group\u2019s digital transformation, I therefore wear multiple hats: methodological support, IT coordination, and operational assistance.<\/p>\n

To learn more about our Group\u2019s digital solutions, discover the Staff App, a mobile application that enables loan officers to collect customer data directly in the field, secure data reliability, and speed up request processing<\/a>, further supporting the developement of micro lending<\/strong> in Africa.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n \n

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    VIE (Volontariat International en Entreprise) is a French program that allows young professionals to work abroad for French companies, gaining international experience.<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n \n [2]\n <\/span> \n

    Savings & Loans refers to a category of financial institutions in Ghana that are more robust than microfinance institutions and offer savings products, while being better suited to the needs of small entrepreneurs than traditional commercial banks.<\/p>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":10410,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"insights_types":[144],"insights_tags":[164],"class_list":["post-10354","insights","type-insights","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","insights_types-interview-en","insights_tags-interview"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insights\/10354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insights"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/insights"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insights\/10354\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"insights_types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insights_types?post=10354"},{"taxonomy":"insights_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advansinternational.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insights_tags?post=10354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}