Cashless Payment

Cashless payment encompasses all non-cash payment methods: credit cards, debit cards, electronic money, QR code payments, and NFC payments.

QR code payment stands out for its low deployment cost. Credit card and NFC payments require dedicated terminals, but QR code payment needs only a smartphone and a printed QR code. Stores simply print a QR code for the counter (MPM) or scan customer QR codes with a smartphone (CPM). This simplicity brought cashless payment to small shops, street vendors, and flea markets.

Internationally, QR code payment dominates cashless in China (WeChat Pay, Alipay), India (UPI), and Southeast Asia (GrabPay, GCash) - regions where low credit card penetration made smartphone-QR combinations the primary cashless path. In Japan, PayPay and similar services have rapidly expanded QR code payment since 2018.

Challenges include network outage risks, digital divide for elderly users, and merchant fees. Static QR codes display offline, but payment processing requires server communication.