Testing Mobile Money APIs Before Compliance

The biggest roadblock in African mobile money integration isn't technical—it's bureaucratic. But what if you could start building and testing immediately, without waiting for compliance approval?

The Traditional Problem

What Usually Happens

1. Research APIs → Find provider documentation
2. Request Access → Fill out compliance forms
3. Wait for Approval → 2-8 weeks of waiting
4. Get Limited Access → Basic documentation only
5. Request Sandbox → More forms, more waiting
6. Finally Test → 3+ months later

Why This Sucks for Developers

• No way to prototype before committing to a provider
• Can't estimate development time accurately
• Stakeholder buy-in is harder without demos
• Integration surprises discovered too late

The FundKit Workaround

1. Instant Sandbox Access

Get immediate access to test environments for all major providers:

import { PaymentClient } from "@fundkit/core";

const client = new PaymentClient({
  apiKey: "sk_test_your_key", // Instant access
  environment: "sandbox",
  providers: ["mtn", "airtel", "mpesa", "easypay"],
});

2. Virtual Mobile Money Network

Test with realistic mobile money flows without real money:

// Test MTN Mobile Money
const mtnPayment = await client.collection({
  provider: "mtn",
  amount: 5000,
  currency: "UGX",
  accountNumber: "+256700000000",
  description: "Test payment",
});

console.log("Payment ID:", mtnPayment.id);
console.log("Status:", mtnPayment.status);

Step-by-Step Testing Guide

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

npm install @fundkit/core

// Initialize with sandbox
const client = new PaymentClient({
  apiKey: process.env.FUNDKIT_SANDBOX_KEY,
  environment: "sandbox",
  providers: ["mtn", "airtel", "mpesa"],
});

Step 2: Test Basic Collection

async function testCollection() {
  try {
    const payment = await client.collection({
      provider: "mtn",
      amount: 1000,
      currency: "UGX",
      accountNumber: "+256700000000",
      description: "Test payment from FundKit",
    });

    console.log("Payment created:", payment);
    return payment;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Payment failed:", error);
  }
}

Why This Approach Works

1. Immediate Feedback

Test your integration logic before committing to a provider.

2. Accurate Estimation

Know exactly how long integration will take.

3. Stakeholder Confidence

Show working demos to get buy-in.

4. Risk Mitigation

Discover integration challenges early.

Get Started Today

Ready to start testing mobile money APIs without waiting for compliance?

1. Sign up for FundKit (free, instant access)
2. Get your sandbox API key
3. Start testing immediately

Get Started Free →

Additional Resources

• Complete API Documentation
• Integration Examples
• Provider-Specific Guides
• Webhook Testing Guide