Africa multi-vendor marketplace = needs splits payments: split platform commission + vendor amount. Wave Business API enables via custom logic. Here's the 2026 architecture.
TL;DR
- Marketplace = 5-25% commission per transaction.
- Wave: no native splits, custom logic required.
- Architecture: escrow + vendor payouts.
- Rigorous reconciliation = critical.
Marketplace splits architecture
`
- Customer pays 100K XOF (product):
- Wave Checkout: 100K → platform account
- Platform receives:
- 100K - 1K (Wave fees) = 99K
- Platform commission 10%: 10K
- Vendor remainder: 89K
- Vendor payout (D+7 per policy):
- Wave Business → vendor: 89K
- Payout fees: 0-500 XOF
`
Marketplace DB schema
`sql
-- Order
CREATE TABLE orders (
id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
customer_id UUID,
vendor_id UUID,
amount_total INT, -- 100000 XOF
amount_commission INT, -- 10000 (10%)
amount_vendor INT, -- 89000 (after Wave fees)
status ENUM ('pending_payment', 'paid', 'shipped', 'delivered', 'refunded'),
wave_session_id VARCHAR,
wave_transaction_id VARCHAR,
paid_at TIMESTAMP,
payout_to_vendor_at TIMESTAMP,
created_at TIMESTAMP
);
-- Vendor account
CREATE TABLE vendors (
id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
name VARCHAR,
wave_phone VARCHAR, -- vendor Wave number
bank_account VARCHAR, -- bank alternative
pending_payout INT DEFAULT 0,
total_payout INT DEFAULT 0
);
`
Vendor payout via API
`typescript
async function payoutVendor(vendorId: string, orderId: string) {
const order = await db.orders.findOne({ id: orderId });
const vendor = await db.vendors.findOne({ id: vendorId });
if (order.status !== 'delivered') {
throw new Error('Order not delivered yet');
}
if (order.payout_to_vendor_at) {
throw new Error('Already paid out');
}
// Wave B2B transfer
const res = await axios.post(
${WAVE_API}/payouts,
{
currency: 'XOF',
receive_amount: order.amount_vendor.toString(),
mobile: vendor.wave_phone,
name: vendor.name,
client_reference: payout_${orderId},
},
{
headers: { Authorization: Bearer ${WAVE_TOKEN} },
}
);
// Update DB
await db.orders.updateOne(
{ id: orderId },
{
payout_to_vendor_at: new Date(),
payout_wave_id: res.data.id,
}
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);
await db.vendors.updateOne(
{ id: vendorId },
{
$inc: { pending_payout: -order.amount_vendor, total_payout: order.amount_vendor },
}
);
return res.data;
}
`
Batch payouts cron
`typescript
// Every Friday: payout vendors orders delivered +7 days
cron.schedule('0 9 * * 5', async () => {
const sevenDaysAgo = new Date(Date.now() - 7 * 24 * 3600 * 1000);
const ordersToPayout = await db.orders.find({
status: 'delivered',
payout_to_vendor_at: null,
deliveredAt: { $lt: sevenDaysAgo },
});
for (const order of ordersToPayout) {
try {
await payoutVendor(order.vendor_id, order.id);
await sendVendorEmail(order.vendor_id, {
subject: 'Payment received',
body: ${order.amount_vendor} XOF for order ${order.id},
});
} catch (err) {
console.error(Payout failed: ${order.id}, err);
await alertAdmin('Payout failed', err);
}
await sleep(1000); // Rate limit
}
});
`
Commission calculation
`typescript
function calculateSplit(grossAmount: number, commissionRate: number) {
// Wave fees: 1% of gross
const waveFee = Math.ceil(grossAmount * 0.01);
const netAfterWave = grossAmount - waveFee;
// Platform commission: on net after Wave
const platformCommission = Math.ceil(netAfterWave * commissionRate);
// Vendor remainder
const vendorAmount = netAfterWave - platformCommission;
return {
grossAmount,
waveFee,
netAfterWave,
platformCommission,
vendorAmount,
};
}
// Example: 100K XOF, 10% commission
const split = calculateSplit(100000, 0.10);
// { grossAmount: 100000, waveFee: 1000, netAfterWave: 99000,
// platformCommission: 9900, vendorAmount: 89100 }
`
FAQ
Q: Native Wave splits?
A: No. Custom logic required in platform.
Q: Vendor payout delay?
A: Variable. Standard: 7 days after delivery + return period.
Q: Cash flow risk?
A: Yes. Platform holds cash between customer payment and vendor payout. Critical cash flow management.
Conclusion
2026 Wave Business marketplace splits: custom logic + escrow + cron payouts. Rigorous architecture + reconciliation = success. Splits calc + cash flow management = critical.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
