Craig Patterson and Kris Zanuldin, head of KONEK at Interac Corp. (Interac), discuss how the new Canadian e-commerce payment solution was developed to address key gaps in online checkout experiences. KONEK focuses on accessibility, trust, and convenience—factors Zanuldin says are essential for driving adoption in payments. Built to give Canadians more choice, the system aims to solve pain points around rising payment costs, fraud, and increasingly demanding customer expectations.
Zanuldin outlines how KONEK benefits merchants by improving conversion rates while also reducing payment-processing expenses. By working collaboratively with major financial institutions, KONEK enables features like bank-grade fraud protection, liability shift, and a streamlined checkout flow. The platform also tackles cart abandonment by offering customers more payment options, particularly pay-by-bank methods that resonate strongly with Gen Z and trust-conscious shoppers.
He also highlights the advantage of a made-in-Canada solution built for Canadian regulations, consumer behavior, and security expectations. With Staples as the first national launch partner, KONEK is set to showcase a smoother checkout and improved customer experience. Looking ahead, Zanuldin expects KONEK to play a major role in Canada’s shift from offline to digital commerce, providing a trusted, lower-cost payment alternative as digital wallets and online retail continue to accelerate.
Merchants who are interested in learning more about KONEK can visit KONEK.ca.
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