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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.

Overview

Bila’s checkout uses instant USSD push technology — no app download needed. From selecting your item to receiving your confirmation SMS, the entire process takes under a minute.

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:
FieldWhat to Enter
Full nameThe recipient’s legal name
Phone numberA valid Zambian number — used for SMS order updates
Email addressUsed 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:
ProviderHow to Pay
MTN Mobile MoneyEnter any registered MTN mobile money number
Airtel MoneyEnter 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

StatusWhat It Means
Payment InitiatedYour PIN was accepted and the transaction is being processed by the network
Order ConfirmedThe network approved the payment — your order is placed
Payment FailedThe transaction was not completed — check your balance and try again

Troubleshooting

IssueWhat to Do
USSD prompt did not appearConfirm your mobile money number is correct and your network has signal, then retry
USSD prompt expiredReturn to Step 3 and re-enter your mobile money number to trigger a new prompt
Payment failedCheck that your wallet has sufficient funds, then retry — your order will not be placed until payment is confirmed
No SMS confirmation receivedCheck that the phone number entered in Step 2 is correct — contact the merchant if the issue persists

Next Steps

Contact the Merchant

Reach out directly if you have questions about your order.