Zenda and Direct Debit System Collaborate to Digitize Education Payment Processes in the UAE
Zenda, a fintech startup, and Direct Debit System, the first Emirati non-paper-based platform for direct debit services, have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at facilitating the payment of tuition fees and related educational services in the UAE. This partnership aims to enhance the efficiency of fee collection for educational institutions and provide parents with monthly payment flexibility.
As industries accelerate toward automation and digitization, the education sector remains lagging, with half of the expenses still paid traditionally. This partnership integrates Zenda’s user-friendly payment application with the non-paper-based Direct Debit System to facilitate the payment of school invoices for parents, offering options for instant or deferred payment. In addition to tuition fees, families can explore other services such as student transportation, delivery, and meals, expanding payment options through the application.
The integrated technology has been specifically developed to align with platforms used in the education sector to facilitate seamless digitization, enhancing imposed controls, and cash flow forecasting, and eliminating the need for manual settlements. This system provides an opportunity for families to manage their budgets more effectively through tailored regular payment plans.
This collaboration comes amid the expansion of both Direct Debit System and Zenda in the UAE and beyond. Zenda has expanded into five countries, collaborated with over 400 schools, and served more than 100,000 families. In the local market in the UAE, Zenda controls over 30% of the market share.
Direct Debit System is one of the first entities to use digital identity, facilitating a completely non-paper-based process. Speaking about the recent collaboration, Mr. Umair Baig, Founder and CEO of Direct Debit System, stated that this agreement with Zenda is an important step further in their aim to provide an alternative to traditional practices.
Ramana Thiyagarajan, Co-founder of Zenda, emphasized the significance of this collaboration and their support for educational institutions to provide flexibility for parents and enhance fee collection efficiency simultaneously.
With this collaboration, it is expected that the education sector in the UAE will undergo a tangible digital transformation, facilitating administrative processes for educational institutions and providing parents with a smoother payment experience.
