With eclectic independent businesses blossoming around Kuwait, it’s hard to keep up with methods of payment and track down transactions. Both Ali and Mohammed Abulhasan found that online payments always seemed slow and inconvenient in this region, so they gifted the nation with Tap, the easy online payment service provider that simplifies the process of enabling online payment acceptance and collection for businesses, guaranteeing consumers to pay online securely on PCs, tablets and smartphones on the go!

For consumers, Tap has also gifted you the goTap app that allows you to check off your pay list of mobile, internet and TV bills, your cupcake delivery tab received from your favorite bakery, and your brand new dress ordered from the new trendy store for next week’s dinner in a matter of finger-scrolling-and-tapping minutes! It’s all so easy with goTap!

Since the May 2013 launch of Tap, small businesses in Kuwait have been booming. The entrepreneurial nation has increased activity of consumers and owners of their favorite pastime, starting a business. Because of this innovative service, online payment adoption for businesses in Kuwait has progressed from taking a few weeks to a few hours of your time. Also, this solution integrates with global e-commerce platforms, which means we aren’t in the dark anymore! Finding a glitch in the system? No problem! Tap has an extremely comprehensive technical support team available around the clock to help solve any issues you may be facing.

This service has been designed and perfected by locals who understand the realities of the Kuwaiti market, their businesses and their customers. The seamless interface has strict security standards with developer friendly tools (don’t go forgetting your passwords!) Also, it’s easy on the eyes, and by the end of 2014, Tap has grown to help over 1,000 registered companies accept payments online. That’s helpful! We were lucky enough to chat with co-founder and CEO of Tap, Ali Abulhasan, and he explains to us why Tap is sure to revolutionize (and has already been revolutionizing) businesses in Kuwait. He also gives us the scoop on the September 2015 release of the user-friendly app goTap, and lets us know why the nation should leave behind the complicated payment behaviors of the digital dinosaur dynasty. So what are you waiting for, Kuwait? Get tapping!

How did you feel inspired to start Tap?

My co-founder (Mohammed Abulhasan) came to me wanting me to assist him in setting up an online website. As we were sorting through the details, we realized how complicated it was for businesses to get online, and because businesses needed to run faster, we decided to resolve the issue in a business-friendly way connecting it with the bank. We decided to build a platform connected to the banks to make it much simpler for businesses to get online payments in a secure, regulatory way while providing a consumer centric approach in our approach by keeping things simple, quick and secure for the average user while paying online.

How did you envision for Tap to revolutionize small businesses in Kuwait?

If you keep something simple to grasp and quick to implement, at the same time maintaining security, things move much faster because people can collaborate more quickly. The way we’re revolutionizing businesses is by letting them focus on their product, brand and not worry about the little things that comes with every operating business, such as payments. We want them to let us worry about the little things.

How does Tap benefit the general community, other than the small business owners?

We are making it easier for local businesses of all shapes and sizes to get online, for developers to create their own thing and consumers to pay with ease. If you’re an average small business owner, we recommend for you to work with suggested platforms that we’ve already integrated with, where you enable the plugins, enter your credentials and it’s done. People don’t have to worry about hiring the right person to take care of these details; we’re giving them the easy option to do it themselves. If you’re a developer who’s trying to do something on your own, we open up our tools for people to explore. We’re very much into keeping things simple, open, quick and secure. There is literally something to offer for everybody, and we have everyone’s back.

How does the service work?

If you’re a business owner, register everything online, provide your information and the integrated platform of your choice – we’re also open to other suggestions, as we’re all about integration. Regarding the billing service, plug in all the necessary information, send the customer a link, or if they have the app, they will receive an invoice via email or SMS to review and pay. There are also reminders for late payers to avoid awkward confrontation. As for the consumers, we have kept everything quick, simple and secure where the user inputs their bank card information to enjoy hassle-free payments.

What is new with Tap?

We’ve recently released goTap, an app that allows users to check off their pay list from bills, subscriptions and purchases easily (and all at once!) from our growing network of businesses. It’s only available for iPhone users right now, but we’re working on an Android app as well that will be released shortly.

Do you envision this app to be successful in the long run?

We have high hopes and we’ve grown so much since 2013. We’re changing how payments are adopted and done in Kuwait while involving all the related stakeholders and we aim to do the same in the region. Serving businesses, collaborators, developers, consumers in an organized and clear manner factors into the inevitable success of this being a regional payment solution.

Has the app spread to countries outside of Kuwait?

Right now, the service is exclusive to Kuwait, but we’re working on spreading it to the rest of the Middle East – in fact, we are currently piloting out of Kuwait, but it’s a step-by-step process. We have strong faith that Tap will have its fingerprint in payments throughout the region.

Do you have any entrepreneurial words of encouragement to our readers?

We need to see more innovative people that could help us move the region faster. Collaboration is key. We will never stop growing, and neither should you.

For more information on Tap and their goSell, goCollect and goTap services, visit www.gotapnow.com. Follow them on Instagram @gotapnow and download their iPhone app goTap! on the App Store or by visiting www.gotap.io/download.

Photography by Muneera Al Khulaifi, Instagram @i9ora.