ShopClues launches its offline payment solution; competes directly with PayTM

ShopClues, one of the largest ecommerce firms in India, has launched an offline payment solution called “Reach” for local merchants. The payment gateway will enable merchants to accept digital payments offline though wallets, credit/debit cards, online banking etc. though an SMS link. The customers need not to share any details with the merchants, and can pay the amount post received a link from the merchant.

Digital wallets and solutions have become the de-fecto currency in India post Government’s demonetization drive. PayTM has come out as clear winner due to its extensive offline reach among the small merchants. ShopClues is also trying to cater the offline merchants by offering services such as account management, soft credit, packaging, cataloguing etc. Besides the newly launched payments business, the company has over 5 lakh sellers on its ecommerce platform, and ships product to over 30,000 pin codes across India.

Sanjay Sethi, CEO and Co-Founder of ShopClues said, “In the wake of the unprecedented demand for digital payments, the launch of ‘Reach’ will most essentially offer a level playing field to the brick-and-mortar retailers across the country, who at present, are bearing the brunt due to unavailability of PoS machines at their store.” He is also targeting to onboard 1 lakh merchants on its payments platform by the end of 2017.