For more than a month, Jesús decided to publicly announce that those who wish to buy shoes in his establishment can pay through Transfermovil, an application that facilitates payment for services, online purchases, inquiries and banking procedures.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- Although so far, in this eastern Cuban province, applications for cell phones have already appeared that allow managing some commercial operations, payments continue to be in cash.

“Sometimes customers didn't have all their cash on them and had to move to the ATM. Then they got complicated and didn't come back,” said Jesús, who offers footwear of various types and models near Maceo Park, in the city of Las Tunas. This 23-year-old self-employed and also college student told that this is an option that many of his colleagues could explore further.

"What I did, he explains, was very simple: I allocated two magnetic cards, one in CUP and the other in CUC for those who wish to pay me in any of both currencies." So far he ensures that transfers are quick, so buyers don't wait too long to bring their shoes home. Generally, he points out, it is the younger buyers who are inclined to take advantage of this option.

In recent years, Transfermovil has expanded its payment gateway schemes only with state-owned companies such as Cimex, to channel purchases from its virtual store known as TuEnvío. The simple mechanism offered by self-employed workers like Jesús would not only speed up transactions, but also, in the current epidemiological scenario, it adds an additional advantage. "I avoid the manipulation of money that has passed through many hands," he concluded.