Commercial lawyer turned payment innovator, Schaan O’Hara, is transforming how local businesses transact in a digitised economy. As co-founder of Pebl Payments, Schaan has spearheaded the development of an app that simplifies commerce by allowing businesses to accept payments directly on mobile devices or via desktop, streamlining operations and championing economic inclusivity.
We recently spoke to Schaan to discover how a combination of personal challenges and professional insights led Schaan to launch Pebl and to learn more about the platform that is empowering merchant capabilities in today’s fast-paced marketplace.
What sparked the creation of Pebl Payments?
The genesis of Pebl Payments was deeply rooted in previous payment business experience and our conversations with customers. My personal interest in the payments industry occurred much earlier and stemmed from the granting of some patents invented by my father and myself and owned by my family in 1999.
When the first patent for payment tokenisation was approved in 2000, my father’s illness prevented him from commercialising it, so I left my job as a commercial petroleum lawyer to enter the payments space. My goal was to commercialise our patents that aimed at reducing card fraud and protecting merchants and consumers better.
After some years and raising four children, I entered a joint venture arrangement with a purported IT consultant in the hope of developing and commercialising the patents. While the venture failed to produce the commercialised patent solution, my eldest son Elliot and I regained control of our company and began offering EFTPOS terminals and payment gateways to merchants.
Whilst dealing with our many merchants, we were approached to supply terminals for a large charity dinner event. As the supply of terminals can take around ten business days to fulfil, we were unable to help them at short notice, which weighed heavily on our minds. This was the inspiration behind the first Pebl app. We figured, what better way to accept payments than to do so using a mobile – the same device where so many aspects of our lives reside.
What motivated the official launch of the Pebl app?
We recognised a significant need for an in-person payment method that was not only secure but also quick to set up. This led to the development and successful pilot of the Pebl app, which swiftly onboarded 200 Australian merchants.
After initial testing of the app, we incorporated Pebl Payments and added features that would assist merchants in operating their businesses smoothly and efficiently from just their phone without any need for extra hardware, dongles or expense.
Being bank agnostic, Pebl is inclusive, catering to all merchants regardless of their banking affiliations or financial pedigree. We continually expanded its capabilities, allowing businesses of all sizes to accept various payment forms, including cards, wallets, and PayID, directly from their customers.
How does Pebl support Australian businesses in their daily operations?
Pebl is designed to alleviate the financial pressures faced by Australian businesses. The Pebl app is free to download and free to sign up with no contracts, setup fees or extra hardware costs, unlike many of our competitors.
With just a single transaction fee of 1.8% regardless of card type or $1.50 for PayID transactions regardless of transaction size, Pebl provides a simple to understand, inclusive and cost-effective payment solution at a time in particular where many businesses are doing it tough. The app’s Tap to Pay feature on iPhone and Android allows for quick, seamless payments, either card-on-phone or phone-on-phone, catering to the everyday needs of all Australian businesses.
Pebl can also assist Not-For-Profits and fundraiser businesses by facilitating easy setup for volunteers and team members within the app, ensuring full control remains with the organisation. Each volunteer can collect donations on their phone with all money settled directly into the NFP’s bank account. For added versatility, payment QR codes can be generated and displayed on posters, menus, merchandise enhancing the customer payment experience.
Our integration with Xero invoicing also means businesses can manage payments and invoicing efficiently, automatically reconciling transactions — a significant time and cost saver, particularly for those in the trades and services sectors.
What are some of the key challenges you’ve observed since launching Pebl?
One of the main challenges was establishing a robust authentication process. Pebl sets a high standard to ensure the legitimacy of the businesses and the people who operate that business.
We rigorously selected the best Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) services to ensure legitimacy and minimise fraud risks, which are highly prevalent in the payments acceptance space. Another significant challenge, albeit a positive one, is ensuring that we put aside enough time to speak to as many of our customers as possible so we learn about them, their business challenges and how we can tailor our services to help them achieve their goals.
What are some of the main technological milestones for Pebl so far?
One of our earliest and most significant milestones was the development of our Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This initial version of Pebl proved that Pebl was solving a real-world problem for merchants and delivered customer value, validating its value and utility in the marketplace. From there, we worked hard to expand Pebl’s features to increase its relevance across a diverse range of business needs.
These enhancements included enabling businesses to create donation and product pages, toggle surcharging options, generate QR codes for media and marketing purposes, set up unlimited team members or volunteers to accept payments as well as enabling Xero invoicing and direct transfer payments — the list goes on.
Pebl can also be used overseas with funds settling in Aussie dollars. Our rapid growth, evidenced by a 600% increase in merchant uptake within just four months, alongside accolades such as the APAC Payments Excellence Awards 2023 for Most Innovative Merchant Service and a nomination for the NSW Business Awards 2024 for Excellence in Innovation, underscore Pebl’s commitment to revolutionising in-person mobile payments.
Dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of Australian businesses, it’s our mission to become the nation’s go-to in-person mobile payments solution, offering unprecedented access and flexibility.
In your view, what are the biggest challenges facing the future of the payments space?
Currently, merchants rely heavily on physical EFTPOS terminals and dongles to accept in-person payments. Alternatively they’ve had to manage card information over the phone and deal with the risks and delays associated with invoicing.
Transitioning to a mobile point of sale, or SoftPOS, represents a natural evolution in payment technology. This shift not only reduces the environmental impact and costs associated with physical hardware, but also enhances convenience and familiarity for users. More importantly, it broadens inclusivity in the payment sector, facilitating increased commercial activity and providing merchants and consumers alike with unprecedented freedom and choice in how they transact.
What role do you think mobile payments will play in the future of small businesses?
Mobile payments are perfectly aligned with the needs of many businesses, enabling them to set up quickly and securely to accept payments. This allows businesses to focus on growth without the technical and financial burdens of traditional payment systems. As mobile technology continues to advance, I see mobile payments becoming a cornerstone in the operational strategy of many businesses, offering both security and efficiency in customer transactions.
What advice would you give to aspiring tech entrepreneurs looking to enter the field?
Having a good idea is a great start, but you need to ask yourself: is my idea solving a real problem? If so, you need to surround yourself with a trusted team with people skilled in business, finance, technology, law and marketing to help you develop your idea and break into the market. And above all, be honest, be kind to yourself and learn continuously on the job.
Under Schaan’s leadership, Pebl Payments continues to set new standards in inclusivity and efficiency in the Australian mobile payments space, ensuring local businesses continue to thrive in our evolving digital economy. For more information about Pebl and how it can transform your business operations, visit their website.