Retail Asia 2018 RA September.October 2018 (Online) | Page 37

RETAIL TECHNOLOGY
Going mobile
Mobile POS systems are also great for the
retailer’s bottom line. Perhaps, it is the
sheer convenience of skipping the line or
the ability to ‘click and collect’, whatever
the reasons, data shows that retail stores
with mobile payment devices consistently
ring up higher average transaction values
than those using only fixed or countertop
terminals. For larger items such as
furniture, retailers can also offer greater
convenience with a mobile POS system by
allowing customers to pay upon delivery.
Overall, the possibilities for bricks-
and-mortar retailers in Asia are endless.
The fact that the customer journey now
spans both the online and offline space
allows retailers to create an endless aisle
and countless incredible experiences to
closer relationships with their customers.
With a customer base that is eager to
explore and adopt newer ways to shop,
brands have more leeway than ever to
build truly amazing retail experiences. ra
With young, mobile-first audiences,
Asia-Pacific just might be the region
to accomplish the reinvention of the
shopping experience and save the bricks-
and-mortar store.
Alipay to strengthen cashless experience
in Japan for tourists before 2020
MOBILE and online payment platform
Alipay, operated by Ant Financial Services,
announced in September that it will
collaborate with a wider range of local
Japanese partners to build a cashless
environment for tourists coming to Japan,
in particular for the Tokyo Olympic Games
in 2020.
This will allow the large number of
visitors from China the chance to enjoy
easy payment methods that they are familiar
with and provide business opportunities for
local merchants in Japan, the company said.
In addition, efforts will continue to extend
Alipay coverage throughout Japan.
“Alipay is dedicated to enhancing user
experience and creating value for small and
micro businesses through technology. The
Tokyo Olympics and the hike in visitors
that [the event] will bring is a good target
for us to ensure that the Alipay platform is
the bridge between inbound visitors and
local merchants here in Japan. It is also
important that we are collaborating with
partners not only in the metropolitan areas
and big cities but also in smaller cities with
popular tourist attractions. We look forward
to working with a wide range of Japanese
partners to achieve this ambition, and in
doing so, contribute in some way to driving
the local economy of areas across Japan,”
said Eric Jing, executive chairman and CEO
of Ant Financial.
The number of Chinese tourists visiting
Japan continues to increase year over year,
according to the Japan Tourism Board
(JNTO), and this trend is likely to continue.
The Olympic Games in 2020 is expected
to be a peak with visitors attracted to the
international sporting spectacle as well as
the country’s famous locations.
According to Alipay’s statistics,
Chinese visitors’ spending through mobile
payment is also growing rapidly. From the
beginning of July to the end of August
this year, the average consumption of
each Chinese Alipay user in Japan reached
nearly RMB3,900 (US$569). This average
spending represented an increase of 52%
compared with the previous year, and the
total transaction volume grew by 165%.
Ant Financial added that its
collaborations to date with Japanese regional
banks, such as Hida Credit Union and
Kyoto Shinkin Bank, have allowed Alipay
to make its payment services available in
tourist spots and shops out of the major
cities. To further expand its merchant
network, Alipay is also seeking to work
with more small and micro merchants by
cooperating with local mobile payment
platforms in Japan such as Line Pay and
Paypay.
Alipay, which currently has over
700 million active users in China, was
introduced to Japan to provide services
to Chinese visitors at local merchants in
December 2015 and is currently available in
all 47 prefectures across the country. ra
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