Alipay recently announced a significant milestone for its Alipay Tap! service, which now exceeds 100 million daily transactions, highlighting the growing popularity of tap-based payments and services in China.
Launched in July 2024, Alipay Tap! integrates QR code and NFC technologies, allowing users to make payments by simply tapping their phones against a merchant terminal or Tap! tag, eliminating the need for app launches or scanning.
Since its inception, Alipay Tap! has attracted more than 200 million users, with 100 million joining in the past four months alone.
The service is particularly popular among younger consumers, older adults, and individuals with visual impairments; at the same time, it offers international visitors the convenience of linking their debit or credit cards to Alipay for seamless transactions whilst in China.
More than payments
Beyond payments, Alipay Tap! connects users to over 2,200 services, including restaurant ordering, shared-bike unlocking, parcel collection, and instant tax refunds.
Alipay is expanding the service to wearables through partnerships with companies like Xiaomi, Rokid, and RayNeo; users can now activate payments on AI smart glasses with a simple voice command, providing a hands-free transaction experience.
As Alipay continues to evolve from a digital wallet to a comprehensive digital platform, it remains committed to enhancing user experience and operational efficiency for merchants.
The company is also developing an AI-driven open platform to offer more personalised services and support the digital transformation of the service sector.
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