Amazon Pay has launched a smart and contactless way for its customers in India to discover products at local shops, make payments, pay by monthly instalments and earn rewards.
 
The Smart Stores concept means shoppers simply scan the store’s QR code using the Amazon app to begin exploring the products available within the store. After selecting the products, they wish to buy, they checkout with Amazon Pay, which gives them a choice of using UPI, balance, or credit or debit cards.
 
Customers can on-the-spot convert a transaction into an easy monthly instalment (EMI), and from time-to-time avail rewards from their banks or through Amazon Pay. The bill is delivered digitally, making the entire journey contactless.
 
Smart Stores can help local shops increase footfalls, improve the customer experience and generate more sales.
 
A local shop can generate a digital storefront thereby enabling its customers to discover products, read reviews, and evaluate offers while in the store or from anywhere using the Amazon app.
 
Banks can let merchants offer the entire suite of contactless payment options including UPI, balance, credit and debit cards, EMIs, and bank offers, and send a digital bill to reduce contact and save costs.
 
Local shops can offer Amazon Pay reward coupons to attract customers, as well as incentivise customers to come back to them for their next purchase, thus increasing footfalls.
 
“Amazon Pay is already accepted at millions of local shops,” said Mahendra Nerurkar, CEO of Amazon Pay. “We are trying to make customers’ buying experience at local shops even more convenient and safe through Smart Stores. Further, through EMIs, bank offers and rewards, we seek to make these purchases more affordable and rewarding for customers, and help increase sales for merchants.”
 
Thousands of local shops across India have already signed up as Amazon Pay Smart Stores. These include Sri Balaji Kitchens in Vishakapatnam, Usha Company Store in Jabalpur and outlets of brands such as Big Bazaar, MedPlus and More Supermarkets.
 
Amazon Pay makes it possible for millions of cash customers in India to start making digital transactions and support the government’s vision of encouraging electronic payment leading to a less-cash society.