Curious to know what the experience is like? We've gone through the Spectabill journey from signing up to implementation to give a clear picture of what to expect.
Getting Started: The Sign-Up Process
Onboarding at Spectabill is refreshingly minimalist. No info overload—just a simple "Sign up" button that leads straight to registration. Unlike global platforms, Spectabill prioritizes M-Pesa Ratiba from the onset.
After registering and verifying, users arrive at a simple, user-friendly dashboard. The design draws inspiration from international incumbents such as Stripe but with localization for the domestic market, so navigation is easy. API credential setup is handled straightforwardly, and there is an obvious reminder to save sensitive details before moving further.
Configuring Products & Billing
For SaaS businesses offering subscription-based services, Spectabill provides a structured approach to setting up products. The "Products" section allows users to define various plans—whether fixed subscriptions or flexible pricing structures.
Among the highlights is "Billing Blueprints," enabling businesses to establish different pricing plans for the same product. Monthly and annual subscriptions can be established easily, accommodating different customer requirements.
Managing Usage-Based Pricing
For metered billing-reliant businesses, Spectabill introduces a "Meters" feature that tracks usage in real-time. Spectabill is completely integrated with Safaricom's M-PESA Ratiba service, offering seamless management of dynamic usage-based billing. The integration allows businesses to offer precise and flexible pricing models according to actual usage data without resorting to tier-based workarounds.
Personalizing the Checkout Experience
Branding is critical for customer trust, and Spectabill offers customization options to align invoices and checkout pages with a company's brand. Businesses can upload logos, select brand colors, and customize email templates to present a professional image in all billing interactions.
Integration with SaaS Platforms
For developers, Spectabill makes the integration process painless. Having SDKs for instance, the Python SDK for Django clients — makes implementation a breeze. The overall steps are:
- Registering customers when they sign up
- Creating checkout sessions for subscription purchases
- Redirecting users to the Spectabill checkout page
- Handling webhook notifications for payment events
The API documentation provides explicit guidelines on handling different billing scenarios, making integration smooth even for less experienced teams dealing with payment systems.
The Customer Payment Journey
Spectabill's checkout experience is optimized for Kenyan users, eliminating unnecessary friction. Customers are only required to enter their phone numbers—no credit card details or lengthy forms. There is an immediate M-Pesa prompt to verify the transaction, an SMS receipt, and an email confirmation.
For SaaS businesses, this ease reduces drop-offs and ensures payments are completed in just a few clicks.
Automating Subscription Management
One of the most powerful features of Spectabill is its webhook system, which notifies businesses of important subscription events. From new sign-ups to failed payments, these automated notifications allow businesses to respond in real time.
Dashboard Monitoring
The Spectabill dashboard is our command center for managing subscriptions:
- Customers tab: View all subscribers and their details
- Subscriptions tab: Monitor active and expired subscriptions
- Invoices tab: Track payment history and billing status
For customer support inquiries, the dashboard enables us to quickly locate accounts, view transaction history, and make adjustments as needed.
Conclusion
For SaaS entrepreneurs in Kenya who are fed up with the hassle of billing, Spectabill is a worth considering option. Simple setup, seamless M-Pesa Ratiba integration, and the developer-friendly API are all good reasons to use it.
While every business is unique, those looking for a localized, efficient, and scalable billing solution will find that Spectabill fits seamlessly into their business operations—saving potentially months of development time.
To learn more about Spectabill and how Spectabill works, Get early access or book a personalized demo.
