> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usebila.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Pay for a Product
> A step-by-step guide to the checkout process for customers paying via mobile money on the Bila platform.
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
1. On the product page, use the **`+`** and **`–`** buttons to set the quantity you want.
2. Click **Buy Now** to open the cart drawer.
3. 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 |
Once all fields are complete, click the orange button to proceed to the payment gateway.
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
1. Select **Mobile Money Payment** as your payment method.
2. Enter your mobile money phone number.
3. Click **Pay via Mobile Money**.
4. 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 |