Facebook with more than 1.55 billion active users each month, has entered into the payment sector recently. Hence proving it can be more than just a social media, and a platform for commerce as well. With such a large growing community, Facebook is taking this slow as a one-time chance to get it right.
Best payment experience than a rushed job: There are several strong competitors in the payments sector like Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, Paypal, Venmo etc… Now the point comes which of theses gives the best payment experience. Of course right now these apps may have the best experience, but Facebook gets its users slowly by releasing updates gradually to make sure it will give a best payment experience. Then the very fact that Facebook is getting the large population of eyeballs will set a huge service differentiator from the rest of them. Therefore, Facebook is taking its time to give its users a best payment experience rather then just getting the job done.
Potential for growth in markets of third world nations: Considering growing mobile market in third world nations like India, and Facebook’s efforts to connect the rural parts of the nation with its ambitious plans of giving free internet, its potential keeps growing with added user base. As people get more aware of taking advantages of these freely accessible technologies in the palm of their hands, Facebook will reach immense scales in the payment industry too. So basically Facebook may some day be a social currency with more than billions of customers.
Considering the advantages, it has over its rivals like billions of users in social media platform, and how it has acquired the giants in communication sectors like WhatsApp and Instagram, rolling out the payments in its Messenger app seamlessly will have a huge potential for the company’s strategy heading forward in the growing FinTech industry.
Source: https://blog.faisalkhan.com/how-facebook-s-messenger-payments-will-win-big-2c0259764097#.lel2pv29h
Interesting article. I agree with the point that one of the major advantages for facebook is its user base. Also, I see its potential to get into the payment market, after seeing it already go to sales market and job searching market.