AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Tell customers clearly and often that their Loans on Spaces credit works with you: at the door, at the till, online and to customers who have agreed to hear from you. Talk about what you sell and why to choose you; leave the loan terms to the app, and never suggest that anyone already qualifies.
Why marketing matters more inside Spaces
Customers with Loans on Spaces can only spend that credit with Spaces merchants, so they are actively looking for places where it works. That makes the message simple: you are one of them. The work is making sure they hear it, believe it and remember you when they need what you sell. A customer who does not know you are in the network will spend their credit at the Spaces merchant they do know about.
This guide focuses on channels and wording. For in-store signage basics, see How to tell customers you offer pay-later.
What to say
Keep the message about your business, not about the loan.
| Say this | Avoid this |
|---|---|
| "We are a Spaces merchant. If you use Loans on Spaces, you can pay here." | "Everyone gets credit here" |
| "Check your offer and terms in the Pryme app before you buy." | Telling anyone they already qualify or will be accepted |
| "Do your full monthly shop with us." | "Borrow more, buy more" |
| "Ask us which items you can pay for with Spaces." | Quoting loan costs, limits or repayment dates |
There are good reasons for this. A Loan on Spaces is offered to a customer by Solid Allianze MFB based on how their account is run; the customer sees the full agreement, including amount, cost and repayment date, and accepts before anything is drawn. You do not know a customer's limit or terms, and you should not guess. Under section 123 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, as listed by the FCCPC, businesses must give factually accurate information and must not make misleading representations.
Where to say it
At your premises
- A notice at the entrance that you are in Spaces
- A line on the menu, price board or treatment list
- A reminder at the till, where the payment decision is made
Online
- Your business social pages and pinned posts
- Your online listing description
- Any product or booking pages you run
Direct to customers
WhatsApp broadcast lists, SMS and email work well, but only for people who have agreed to hear from you. The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 says silence or inactivity is not consent (section 26), consent cannot rely on a pre-selected confirmation, and a person can object to direct marketing at any time, after which you must stop (section 36). Our guide Can you send WhatsApp promos to customers? explains how to build a list properly.
When to say it
Timing matters because customers plan bigger purchases around certain moments.
- Month-end and month-start for grocery, household and pharmacy shopping
- School resumption for schools and related purchases
- Public holidays and festive periods for eateries, cinemas, hotels and transport
- Wedding and event seasons for salons, spas and shortlets
Before and after a campaign
Make the first visit easy
Marketing that brings a customer to a confused cashier wastes the effort. Before any campaign, make sure every staff member knows how Spaces payments work at your business and who handles questions. See Getting your staff and till ready for Spaces customers.
A worked example
Example only. A restaurant joins Spaces in late November. It adds one line to its menu boards and a notice at the door, pins a post on its business page, and sends a short message to the 400 customers on its opt-in WhatsApp list: "We are now a Spaces merchant. If you use Loans on Spaces, you can pay for meals and group bookings here. Check your terms in the Pryme app." It times a second message for the week before Christmas, aimed at office party bookings. It records how many bookings mention Spaces so it can compare December with November.
Using Pryme tools
A Pryme Business Account includes a Sales agent and a Customer Support agent that prepare work such as draft messages and replies to common questions. A person approves above a set ceiling and actions are recorded. Use them to draft, but read every message before it goes out, especially anything that mentions credit.
Common mistakes
- Running a campaign before staff are briefed, so the first Spaces customers meet confusion.
- Messaging people who never agreed to hear from you, which breaks NDPA consent rules and annoys customers.
- Describing the credit, its cost or its availability, which only the app can show accurately.
- Promising that every item qualifies before checking with Pryme.
- Sending the same message every day until people mute you; once or twice around a key date is enough.
Measure what worked
Note when each message went out and watch sales and Spaces payments in the days after. Over a few months you will learn which channel and which timing brings Spaces customers to your door. See How to measure what Spaces is doing for your business.
Questions people ask
Can I tell customers they already qualify for Spaces credit?
No. Limits are offered based on how each customer's account is run, and the customer accepts the terms. Say you are a Spaces merchant and let the app explain the credit.
Can I send Spaces promotions on WhatsApp?
Yes, to customers who have actively agreed to hear from you. Under the NDPA, silence is not consent and people can object to direct marketing at any time.
Should I tell customers how much Spaces credit costs?
No. You do not know their terms. The full agreement is shown in the Pryme app before they accept.
What is the best time to promote Spaces in my shop?
Around the moments your customers make bigger purchases: month-end, school resumption, holidays and event seasons.
Sources
- FCCPC: Consumer rights and responsibilities · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (full text) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.