Season 13 Episode 6

Ian Thompson on digitising payments and fintech innovation in South Africa

21 July 2025 · 18:25 min

In this episode of Business Talk on BusinessTech, we sit down with Ian Thompson, Group CEO of Q LINK Holdings, to unpack the complex but critical role of payments, collections, and payroll in South Africa’s financial services landscape. From seamless debit orders to biometric verification for SASSA… grants, Q LINK is quietly powering over R300 billion in annual transactions—without the fanfare but with serious fintech firepower. Ian shares how the company has evolved over 27 years, meeting the rising demands of a rapidly shifting digital economy. We explore how APIs, embedded fintech, and collaborations with major institutions are redefining the payment value chain, and why trust, credibility, and innovation are key when choosing a payments partner. With insights into the future of digital IDs and South Africa’s slow but promising shift toward a modernized payment ecosystem, this episode is a must-watch for anyone invested in the future of financial infrastructure in the country. Show more