A lifelong entrepreneur, Erns acquired vast knowledge in the retail environment from the start of his career in 1990. Building on his experience, he became skilled in various aspects of food retailing, sales, marketing, and EdTech.
In 1995, Erns shifted his focus to the microfinance industry and became a prominent player in the field. Realising the potential in the collections and payments environment, he conducted extensive market research on time-sensitive recurring payments solutions for Africa. Erns founded RealPay in 2003, and in 2006 he launched his first African payments solution in Botswana. He spearheaded the rapid expansion of RealPay to eight territories throughout Africa. Erns exemplifies the customer-service orientated attitude that underpins the RealPay company value set. His personal vision and business development drive form an integral part of what sets RealPay apart from other service providers.