WeChat Pay and AliPay
The Parnell Business Association has embarked on a social media and payment platform together with a marketing campaign via The Chinese Herald, in order to give Parnell and select businesses more exposure in the growing Chinese market in Auckland.This market continues to grow with more Chinese visitors arriving in New Zealand.
It comprises a mini WeChat programme and payment options via both AliPay and WeChat Pay.
The initiative is aimed at Chinese patrons who have a ‘mobile wallet’ in China – whether they be tourists or migrants, giving them the option to access their mobile wallet by the two main providers – AliPay and WeChat Pay.
What is AliPay and WeChat Pay?
AliPay and WeChat Pay is the Chinese equivalent of Visa & Master Card, the difference being they are a mobile phone based digital wallet. In China, 82% of all payments are mobile phone based, 90% of these are processed through AliPay and WeChat Pay.
The opportunity for New Zealand businesses is to charge for products and services in New Zealand Dollars, while allowing Chinese to pay from their AliPay and WeChat Pay digital wallet in RMB (Chinese currency).
For most businesses, accepting payments using AliPay and WeChat Pay is the first and simplest step to engage with Chinese customers. Local businesses can also adopt a presence and marketing strategy from AliPay and WeChat Pay beyond payment.
How Does it work?
How does the mini programme work and how do I sign up?
The WeChat mini programme is like a mini website on the WeChat Social media platform. The Parnell Business Association is funding this programme. It will feature certain general details about Parnell pertinent to a tourist (Attractions) and will then only feature those businesses who offer the WeChat Pay and AliPay payment options. This comes under 3 categories – Eat and Drink, Shopping and Services.
Parnell businesses who have signed up for the payment options via PayPlus will be given FREE listings. If you have signed up via another provider, there will be a cost for this.
As you will have seen from the video above, you do not need to change any of your payment terminals. Payment can simply be created between the mobile phone of the customer and your computer in store ( as long as you have an internet / WiFi connection).
All you need to do is sign up here http://www.payplus.co.nz/payplus-wechat-pay-application-form/. Your information and photos from your listing on Parnell.net.nz will be sent to PayPlus for publication.
Additional benefits and marketing
Marketing via The Chinese Herald
The Parnell Business Association will be using The Chinese Herald WeChat media platform to drive awareness to the Parnell site. This will be used at various times of the year, aligned to promotions – thus giving Parnell listed businesses additional exposure.
Marketing through AliPay
When you sign up to offer AliPay, PayPlus can also provide you with a customised listing in the AliPay discovery platform. The listing is translated and can provide Video content, coupons/vouchers with offers to drive digital impressions to your door, photos showcasing your offering, location & key contact information, a description of your business and offering. Used by 520M Chinese its your chance to stand out from the crowd and get noticed.
Why PayPlus?
The Parnell Business Association has chosen to partner with PayPlus for the following reasons.
- PayPlus can seamlessly offer your Chinese customers both AliPay & WeChat Pay. It’s simple and easy for your staff to use and there is not set up fee or monthly fees to offer this payment method. The system is flexible and allows merchants to either seamlessly pass on the merchant fee or absorb it, aligning this payment method with your policy for other credit card fees.
- PayPlus has developed a payment engine that is easy and customisable, offering a variety of methods to process a transaction including a static QR code, tablet solution or using a scanning gun. Often the best solution is dependent on what equipment is already in use. Currently PayPlus has integrated with swiftpos through ACR, coming soon will be available through Vend and Advanced Retail POS. PayPlus also have website e-commerce solutions for Shopify and woocommerce.
- PayPlus offer both the marketing opportunity via the WeChat mini programme and AliPay discovery platform, as well as the payment solutions.
- Should any business wish to extend their marketing beyond the Parnell listing, via coupons, special offers etc, PayPlus are in a position to offer those solutions directly to merchants.
- PayPlus is unique as they are the only authorised AliPay and WeChat service provider that has the payment engine fully developed and hosted in New Zealand.
