Marks & Spencer expands ‘scan-and-pay’ to all stores

UK retailer, Marks & Spencer, is expanding use of its ‘scan-and-pay’ app across all of its 573 stores in the UK. The app was first trialled in March. Other retailers using similar apps include Sainsbury’s, Co-op, and Tesco.

Shop Safely

The new app allows shoppers to pay for their groceries using an app on their smartphones without having to visit a till. The shopper only needs to scan the item code, just as it would be done at the till. Payment is effected immediately via cards and payment options already linked to the app.

Marks & Spencer’s ‘scan-and-pay’ app prevents shoppers from aggregating at the same place for a long time. Shoppers can pick up their items, scan them via the app, and then walk out with their groceries after making an electronic payment.

How Stripe Became #1 on CNBC’s Disruptor 50

CNBC’s #Disruptor50 features private companies whose cutting-edge breakthroughs are changing the face of business. Now in its 8th year, this year’s #Disruptor50 features change-makers in tech, education, cybersecurity, and online payments. At the head of that 50 strong list is San Francisco-based e-commerce-enabler, Stripe.

Email(required)

Send

Δ

Stripe is #1 on CNBC’s Disruptor 50

Stripe is a global e-payments solutions provider that helps businesses accept online payments. Started in 2010 by brothers Patrick and John Collison, the startup developed an instant payments service that has seen it win clients like Amazon, Lyft, and Zoom.

Lockdown Boon

While many brick-and-mortar businesses suffered under lockdown measures necessitated by covid-19, the pandemic opened up e-commerce channels. More businesses moved online, and individuals making online purchases increased the demand for e-payment systems like Stripe.

Clients like Zoom saw their numbers rise some 20 times during the lockdown, while Slack rose by 80%. Meanwhile, another client Instacart rose by 300% in the same period. All of these added to Stripe’s 2.9% + 30 cents fee, boosting the company’s prospects.

This helped Stripe secure $600m in funding in the heat of the coronavirus pandemic in April. The investment from Andreessen Horowitz and co brought Stripe’s valuation to an estimated $36b.

Stripe is Developer-Focused

The rise of Stripe could be attributed to its developer-focused platform. As reported before, Stripe’s platform required companies to write only a few lines of code to scale up their operations.

Stripe is looking to provide lending solutions to its customers through Stripe Capital. The Stripe Atlas platform which helps startups to register and start business enjoyed more than 200% rise in new registrations in April. All of these could lead to a rise in revenue streams for the company that’s been described as the internet’s toll collector.

Have you used Stripe to accept payments before?

Buy and sell directly on Google Pay

US shoppers will soon be able to buy and sell products directly on Google Pay, according to news reports. Users will not have to leave the Google Pay app to make purchases from their favourite merchants when this is rolled out.

1. How will Google Pay Help Merchants?

Google Pay will allow merchants to set up branded buttons on the app. That way, users can make purchases on the Google Play app without visiting the merchant’s online store.

2. When is Google Pay Available?

Google is trying to create a one-stop-shop for buyers in America. So far, Google is working to convince merchants to buy into the idea. They are talking to groceries, gas stations, delivery companies and others.

3. Why Now?

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for contactless payments. In addition to avoiding physical cash at payment terminals inside shops, Google Pay allows buyers to store their debit cards in one secure location.

4. What is Google Pay?

• Google Pay is a payments platform that allows you to make fast and secure payments to merchants all over the world.
• To use Google Pay, you have to add a payment method like a debit/credit card.
• After that, you can use it to make payments for products purchases online.
• You can also use is to make payments in select physical stores if you have allowed NFC on your smartphone.
• Google Pay allows you to send money to friends and family.
• Google Pay is available on the Google Play Store.
• You can use Google Pay to make payments for in-app purchase on your favourite mobile games.

Do you use Google Pay?