India - February 25, 2024 - Google Pay has announced the nationwide rollout of its SoundPods in India, an audio device designed to simplify QR code payments for small and medium businesses (SMBs). Following a successful pilot program, SoundPods will now be available to merchants across the country, offering real-time audio alerts for every successful Google Pay transaction.
SoundPods function as portable speakers that connect to a merchant's smartphone or tablet. Whenever a customer scans the associated QR code and completes a Google Pay payment, the SoundPod plays an instant voice notification, confirming the transaction and its amount. This eliminates the need for merchants to constantly check their phones, streamlining the checkout process and improving efficiency.
"We're thrilled to bring SoundPods to all SMBs in India," said Ambarish Kenghe, VP- Product at Google Pay India. "The pilot program received positive feedback, with merchants appreciating the reduced checkout time and improved transaction visibility. We believe SoundPods will be a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes, helping them manage their payments more effectively."
SoundPods are available through two subscription plans:
Daily Plan: ₹499 one-time fee + ₹5 per day for 25 days in a month
Yearly Plan: ₹1,499 one-time fee (includes ₹500 discount)
Additionally, Google Pay is offering a cashback incentive of ₹125 per month to merchants who receive 400 or more Google Pay transactions through SoundPods.
The rollout of SoundPods comes amid Google Pay's growing focus on the Indian market, where digital payments are rapidly gaining traction. The company faces stiff competition from local players like Paytm, which also offers a similar audio notification device called Soundbox.
Analysts believe that SoundPods could be a game-changer for small businesses in India, providing them with a convenient and affordable way to manage their finances. The audio notifications can help reduce errors, improve customer experience, and ultimately boost sales.
The settlement of payments will be carried out on a daily basis in addition to being done on demand. The bank account of the company's choosing can be linked to the business.
Additionally, in January, Google worked together with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to make it possible to make payments using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) outside of India and to facilitate the adoption of frameworks similar to the UPI in countries other than India.
However, Google has informed users that the version of the Google Pay app that is available in the United States will no longer be accessible after June 4. It claims that using Google Wallet, which is five times more popular than using the Google Pay app in the United States, is the reason for the transition.
Key Points:
Google Pay SoundPods are now available across India.
The device provides audio notifications for successful Google Pay QR code transactions.
Two subscription plans are offered: daily and yearly.
Merchants can receive cashback incentives for using SoundPods.
SoundPods could be a valuable tool for small businesses in India.
