Bila’s checkout uses instant USSD push — no app download needed. The entire process takes under a minute.
Watch: How to Pay for a Product
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- A registered MTN Mobile Money or Airtel Money account
- Sufficient funds in your mobile money wallet to cover the total
- Your mobile money PIN available
Step 1: Select and Review Your Cart
- On the product page, use the
+ and – buttons to set the quantity you want.
- Click Buy Now to open the cart drawer.
- Review your order total and click Proceed to Checkout.
Double-check your quantity before proceeding — you will need to return to the product page to make changes after this step.
Step 2: Enter Your Checkout Details
Fill in your details accurately to ensure smooth delivery and order communication:
| Field | What to Enter |
|---|
| Full name | The recipient’s legal name |
| Phone number | A valid Zambian number — used for SMS order updates |
| Email address | Used to send your digital receipt |
Your phone number is used exclusively for SMS order updates. You will receive a confirmation message as soon as your payment is approved.
Step 3: Pay via Mobile Money
- Select Mobile Money Payment as your payment method.
- Enter your mobile money phone number.
- Click Pay via Mobile Money.
- A USSD prompt will appear on your phone — enter your Mobile Money PIN to authorise the payment.
Bila supports the following providers:
| Provider | How to Pay |
|---|
| MTN Mobile Money | Enter any registered MTN mobile money number |
| Airtel Money | Enter any registered Airtel Money number |
The USSD prompt expires after a short time. Have your PIN ready before clicking Pay via Mobile Money — if the prompt expires, you will need to restart the payment step.
Step 4: Order Confirmation
Once your PIN is entered and the network approves the transaction:
- The screen updates to show Payment Initiated.
- You receive an SMS confirmation to the phone number entered in Step 2.
- The merchant receives an instant notification of the successful order.
Both you and the merchant are notified at the same moment the transaction is approved — no delays, no manual confirmation needed.
Payment Status Reference
| Status | What It Means |
|---|
| Payment Initiated | Your PIN was accepted and the transaction is being processed by the network |
| Order Confirmed | The network approved the payment — your order is placed |
| Payment Failed | The transaction was not completed — check your balance and try again |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | What to Do |
|---|
| USSD prompt did not appear | Confirm your mobile money number is correct and your network has signal, then retry |
| USSD prompt expired | Return to Step 3 and re-enter your mobile money number to trigger a new prompt |
| Payment failed | Check that your wallet has sufficient funds, then retry — your order will not be placed until payment is confirmed |
| No SMS confirmation received | Check that the phone number entered in Step 2 is correct — contact the merchant if the issue persists |
