Digital means of payment are here to stay. Proof of this was the explosion in 2018 of the use of the smartphone both to cancel an amount and to charge in retail stores.
What a cash register used to do, today resolves a smartphone, and in very few steps. Little by little, apps are consolidating not only as another option when making a transaction, but as the most agile and secure way for money to pass from one hand to another.
In Argentina there are almost 64 million cell lines, 45 million savings banks with associated debit cards and 35 million Internet users who spend their most time browsing on mobile devices.
Such figures are eloquent proof that the conditions are in place for mobile payments to become a reality and their implementation to become massive.
QR codes are the stars of this trend that, in a short time, will be the norm. Also the mobile POS that are expanding throughout the country, changing consumer habits. Where once there was a ticket exchange, there is now a portable reader that in just seconds allows to pay with both credit and debit.
This year, through Decree 933/2018, it was established that "the payments that can be made through the use of rapid response codes (QR) that use the standard established by the Central Bank regulations" are equivalent to using the Debit. This accolade did nothing but give another impulse to a segment that already shines by proía light.
And the cash? While it will not die, the paradigm shift is inevitable. With barely covering the dozens of fairs distributed by Federal Capital during the weekends, it is easy to detect how digitization reached sectors where bancarization struggled to enter but could not do it.
In restaurants, clothing stores, cinemas and pharmacies, the picture is the same: slowly, the smartphone "kills" the wallet.
With a mobile phone and an associated payment application, thousands of informal sellers today have embraced new ways of transacting, since they allow to boost sales with a solution that is within reach of any pocket.
This panorama will be transferred, in the summer season of 2019, to the main tourist points of Argentina. Therefore, it is advisable to be prepared for the payment alternatives that will be deployed on the beach, in the pedestrian areas and in almost any leisure place during the holidays.
What tools do you need? on the consumer side, very few. In the case of apps, Mercado Pago is today the most popular option for making payments via QR. The Mercado Libre platform has been consolidated in just one year as the main alternative to operate from the mobile.
The data supports it: it already has more than 200,000 associated businesses and processes more than 2.4 million monthly transactions. Through the app it offers promotions of up to 20% in local gastronomy, kiosks, service stations, supermarkets and neighborhood stores.
As for Mercado Point, its POS for mobiles, already has more than 2 million devices distributed in Latin America.
"We always try to take actions to massify the use of the QR Code as a means of payment and payment," Paula Arregui, senior vice president of Mercado Pago Product, explained to iProUP.
"If we think that the general public already uses their cell phone for almost everything in their daily routine, it is natural that to pay in shops prefer to use the same tool instead of cash or cards," added the executive.
It is difficult for the points of sale to think about how to build customer loyalty if they are not banked. First, because of the inconvenience of paying large amounts in cash. Second, for not being able to access the discounts proposed by the cards with the banks.
In this sense, Arregui clarified: "The application can be used without having a bank account, in our country, half of the population is not banked, but there is a high degree of connectivity due to the massification of smartphones."
The consolidation of the product may be its alliance with McDonald's, the largest chain of fast foods in the world. In Argentina, since December 20 accepts QR and, in a promotional way, offers a 25% discount.
"From McDonald's we are always in search of new innovations that improve the experience of our customers in the premises. The incorporation of Mercado Pago will allow consumers to make the purchase in an easier way, from their cell phones, and access benefits, "said Martin Faigelbaum, IT Director of Arcos Dorados. "This is just the beginning, we are constantly looking for new ways to simplify and speed up the moment of purchase".
Prisma, by the hand of Todo Pago, is another player that this summer will have a strong presence with its digital payments.
"During 2018 we tripled the amount of downloads of the application, both to pay in shops and services, top-ups and cell phones," assured iProUP Santiago Benvenuto, manager of New Business Development of the company.
The company also puts its chips to mPos: it has already shipped 210,000 devices in Argentina.
Regarding operations with QR, revealed that they have doubled month by month during the last quarter. Its advantages are already known: consumers highlight the convenience and speed of paying with the cell phone, without carrying cash or credit cards.
On the side of companies, it improves customer service by offering new means of collection and with lower operating costs. In addition, there are benefits for not using physical money, such as security at the point of sale.
"A good shopping experience always helps to retain customers," said the executive. According to surveys made to the users of the Todo Pago app, 74% rated it as very good and indicated that it gained time, it was innovative and it seemed safe.
So far, the company has made alliances with 100 YPF service stations and 50 Farmacity branches.
"We see that users already take it as a means of frequent payment, so we will be launching more agreements with other companies," said Benvenuto.
Another way to build customer loyalty is through discounts. In YPF, the Todo Pago application offers a 40% discount for those who pay with QR.
For their part, Axion's clients - the first oil company to accept payments with this technology - obtain a 5% discount with Mercado Pago. In dialogue with iProUP, they highlighted that since the end of 2016, when they implemented the service, sales under this modality have multiplied more than 50 times.
"This innovation allowed consumers to shorten the fuel loading time, they no longer depend on the beach vendor to carry out the transaction and do not need to get out of the car, as they receive the receipt by mail," they highlighted.
Red Link is another of the companies playing strong in this market. His first concrete initiatives were seen in 2017, when he developed the Mob Professional app, which allows charging with QR codes the professional services and products that are acquired in small shops.
According to Jorge Larravide, commercial manager of Red Link, "the generation of the payment is made from the VALEpei wallet, that is, a VALE user who, for example, goes to the psychologist and who has Mob Profesional, generates the QR. he scans with his cell phone and pays. "
"The average transaction per user VALE is 13 monthly operations, and the relationship between those who have the application is about 75,000 in conditions to pay and about 2,000 that can charge with QR," concluded Larravide.
The ice cream man, the seller of drinks and even the artisan who walks with his jewelry on the beach. Also the restaurant of the main avenue or the parador from where the waves of the sea can be seen.
All will be reached by the "QR revolution" that was born in the cities, but from January to March will make season on the Atlantic coast. Maybe, I'm here to stay.
