Even more than three years after demonetisation and all-out efforts to make most transactions through electronic, cash is still king, as it thrives in a digital India, said fintech start-up Paytm founder Vijay Sekhar Sharma.
"While cashless economy is not possible in India, less cash economy will be in the future. Less cash is the only solution, not the elimination of cash," Sharma told IANS in an interview after unveiling an all-in-one payment gateway on Tuesday.
Asserting that it would take 5-10 years for India to make the transition to digital payments from the traditional mode of cash, Sharma, 41, said the e-payment industry benefitted more from the November 8, 2016 note ban and withdrawal of old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations.
"I think it (demonetisation) helped the industry despite lack of specific help. But the world has changed since then. It is about the scale of distribution of merchants that is what is propelling digital payments," said Sharma.
Most of the cash not only came back into circulation, but also remains as the mode of payment for the majority due to its convenience for the people used to such transactions.
Expounding Paytm's zero service charge, Sharma said the strategy is sustainable as it leads to acquiring more customers and merchants, enabling newer business opportunities.
Paytm also does not levy a service charge to small merchants for its payments services, unlike organised players like Uber.
"Though there is a monetisation model, the merchants who are small shopkeepers, become our financial services customers as they open a bank account, which is profitable."
Paytm secured a Payments Bank license from the Reserve Bank of India to offer a savings bank account, Rupay debit card and money transfer services.
"We are banking on payment services acquiring customers and merchants who avail banking, lending, insurance, wealth and software services like billing software and business ledger software services eventually," Sharma noted.
The mobile first bank services include zero balance and zero digital transaction charge accounts.
"Basically, payments, cloud, commerce and financial services are a cohort we follow. So, payments is our customer as well as merchant acquisition. If it breaks even, we are happy because other line items make more money, he affirmed.
Noting that in a market like India, one cannot price services at a premium unlike in a developed country like the US, the billionaire businessman said a consumer in a developing country would not be able to afford such a hefty charge.
Forbes ranked Sharma as India's youngest billionaire in 2017, with a net worth of $2.1 billion.
While several countries operate on the model of higher service charges, Sharma said newer business models have to be discovered in India, as customer lifecycle value is accounted for more stages than in other nations.
Asked about an upscale retailer like Zara not giving a wallet payment option during its recent end of season sale in Bengaluru, Sharma said Paytm was addressing such hiccups with its all-in-one payment solutions.
"It's an opportunity, because if the retailer has our all-in-one point of sale machine, where in they enter the amount, it shows both the Quick Response code (QR) and card payment options," he observed.
Sharma compared older swiping payment machine to feature phones and modern ones to feature-rich smartphones.
"If you notice, they look like feature phones and the modern day card machine is more a smartphone like. You can add the smatphone components, which can add the features," reiterated Sharma.
Though Paytm's all-in-one QR point of sale machine integrates the billing system, its chief executive said it was not ideal to have an independent QR feature.
Paytm has 16 million strong merchant user base, which Sharma aims to raise to 26 million base in the next one year.
Sharma has launched in this tech city an all-in-one payment gateway and Paytm Business Payments solution, which enable digital payments through multiple methods for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and an Android point of sale machine.
With the new gateway solution, collecting digital payments through multiple methods can be achieved seamlessly while Paytm Business Payments solution enables automated vendor payments, including employee salaries and customer refunds among others.
The One97 Communications-owned Paytm aims to help SMEs streamline and digitise their business activities using its new solutions, which enhance the overall efficiency of both accepting and making payments.
Paytm has a data bank of over 200 million saved cards and bank accounts, a feature which enables partner apps to shorten transaction times and propel faster conversions while using the all-in-one payment gateway.
Complementing the two solutions, Sharma also launched an all-in-one Android point of sale machine, which can accept payments through all forms such as cards, wallets, UPI apps and even cash.
The device has a QR code that supports all contact and contactless payments, coming with integrated billing software customized solutions for different sectors such as catering, ticketing, parking and others.
The handheld Android device is equipped with an in-built printer, scanner and can also generate bills.
Valued at $16 billion, Paytm is not alone in the fiercely competitive Indian fintech space where a dozen players like PhonePe, MobiKwik, Kotak 811 and deep pocketed international giants Google Pay and Amazon Pay are in the fray.
"We Hindus offer Lord Krishna's package to Muslims--give us 3 temples and keep 39,997 masjids. I hope Muslim leaders don't become Duryodhans," Swamy tweeted.
Comments
Temple are filled with IDOLs, All idols doesnt speak, it cannot help itself, it cannot move,,,, & ALLAH say human are intelligent when they THINK. I wonder Y intelligent beings are not thinking ???????
VEDAS says NA Tasya Pratima Asti... There is no image, statues and pictures of God.. Why are u worshiping such thing which is life less.
WORSHIP THE CREATOR NOT HIS CREATION... (Quran speaks lot about our LIFE and the creation of all that exists..) If the creator says Mankind is intelligent .. Then FIND out Who is worthy of Worship rather than blindly following and worshiping the LIFELESS objects..
SEEK guidance from the one who gave us soul, Just say OH God, the one who gave me soul - GUIDE me to the TRUTH..
U will be on the path of those who are successful... GOOD LUCK May ALLAH guide those who look for HIM.
I say you give all your other temples to Muslims and keep that 3 temple.
BJP always keeps this Rama mandir issue open to contest in election, if they build Rama mandir issue is closed, then there will not be a big issue to contest in election. One thing is clear BJP wont build Rama mandir. They are following divide & rule.
BJP is counting downfall because of such morons in their party
And about this giving and keeping business....does he thinks that it's as easy as giving his daughter to a Muslim boy
Guys,
Why Swami is handling the Muslim community because his only one daughter ran away with Muslim guy that is why he is in pain so everywhere he is carrying that pain that he was not able to control his daughter. we should understand his pain. just ignore him.
Subramanya swine has nothing to do as his name is fading away from active politics, this is just a publicity gimmick.
He went on top list of jokers in BJP for this joke...see the pic, he himself is not controlling on his own joke..
He is a big joker, see how he is laughing on his own joke...
Swami dreaming in day time, Contraction of temple I am sure not in your this life. you should take a rebirth again.
To dear Fair Hindu Brothers,
Please have control on his tongue. Truly, he does not represent Hindu Community.
As in every community, there are black sheep. He could be one of them,
However once again, his comments has no bearing with Fair Hindus. The strange, why BJP does not want to stop such crazy leaders to be in their core committee.
Therefore even BJP is also not yet all representing real HIndus.
Now in India, we need a very strong party in the national level., like AAP in Delhi., consisting of like minded fair and open people. Let us encourage AAP in the next election.
In Delhi, they are success, God willing they can be successful in Centre.
A New deception to FOOL people & Unthinking saffron plan to loot. More deception will come when Elections are nearer & nearer...
Looting the country & destroying the peaceful society is the only agenda of Such LOOTERS...
Forget about 3 mosques, we will not give you a dust from them...
one of sardar's of stupid .... joker swamy :p
Susu Swami network begins for the year 2016..
Ye tho pagal swami hai. !
Why only such jokers are leaders in BJP.
BJP Credibility and fate of commons : Yatha raja - Ta tha praja.
It is better if this stupid concentrates himself on fixing unemployment problems around...temple construction is not an issue for people...
forget about 3 temples............even you can not get 3 hairs instead.............. if the Ram janmabhoomi issue is resolved , then saffronists have no issue to revolt innocents against Us
Swami very understanding Gentleman as well he assume Millions of Millions Hindustani's are big buffoons what he thinks so, probably he do not understand why Temples, Mosques, Churches or any other spiritual places, swami for you better stay in spiritual place as a puja that is best job for you or better to go Tamilnadu and join Cheala work very good or we have to have some different options to you Gentle man.
Jai Hindustan
election joke
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