Google Pay launches ‘Tap to Pay’ feature: Here’s how it will work

Digital payment is all set to be a breeze with Google Pay’s new ‘Tap to Pay’ feature for UPI-based transactions. Under the recently-launched feature, users wishing to make online payment, instead of scanning a QR code or entering a UPI-linked number, will just have to tap their phone on the POS terminal and authenticate the payment from their phone by punching in their UPI PIN.

The ‘Tap to Pay’ feature so far was only offered by debit and credit cards. Google Pay has launched the new feature in collaboration with Pine Labs.

The feature will be available to UPI users who wish to use their NFC-enabled Android smartphone to transact using Pine Labs Android POS terminals.

The feature which was launched on a pilot basis with Reliance Retail will be now made available to other merchants across the country.

“Tap to Pay for UPI has profound implications for high traffic retail outlets, with queue management hassles poised to be greatly reduced, and taking digital payments at POS well beyond cards,” Sajith Sivanandan, business head Google Pay told Money Control.

“We are delighted to witness the popular Tap and Pay technology being pioneered for UPI. With the growing adoption of UPI, this first-of-its-kind functionality with Google Pay and Pine Labs will augment the customer experience and pave the way for a smarter and faster payment experience. Interoperability has always been a winning proposition for UPI, and this will be a step ahead in transforming the way real-time digital transactions are conducted especially in retain merchants,” Nalin Bansal, chief of corporate and fintech relationships and key initiatives, NPCI told TOI.