Shoppers Stop, ToneTag tie-up for sound-based contactless payments

Leading retail chain ​ Shoppers Stop​ will soon enable sound-based contactless payments at its stores. The retailer​ has partnered with ToneTag, a proximity communications firm, ​for the same. This technology will enable customers to make ‘cardless’, ‘cashless’ and ‘contactless’ payments at Shoppers Stop stores across India. The ToneTag technology will use sound-waves from mobile phones to make electronic payments at all 84 Shopper Stop stores spread across the county.

With ToneTag’s sound pay technology, customers can make secure payments within a matter of seconds and experience a faster check out. This launch is a fintech revolution and a significant step towards the adoption of cashless payments in India – in line with the vision of Digital India​, the company said in a statement. ​

Govind Shrikhande, Customer Care Associate & Managing Director, Shoppers Stop Ltd. said “Our collaboration with ToneTag is yet another step in the direction of digitizing all our Shoppers Stop stores. Our paramount focus is to offer our customers a convenient, fast and enhanced shopping experience. With ToneTag’s sound-based technology, our customers will now have multiple payment options for a smooth, fast and convenient shopping experience.”

“Shoppers Stop’s contribution towards digitization has been exemplary. I am a strong believer that Shoppers Stop and ToneTag will continue to strive for best consumer experience by bringing great retail technology with simple user interface.” said Kumar Abhishek, CEO, ToneTag.

ToneTag’s breakthrough technology uses audio signals or ‘tone tags’ for data exchange between devices. Payment instructions can be transmitted, using a sound signal, through a traditional phone line, without any additional hardware or software requirements or dependencies. This makes highly inter-operable and secure cashless payments possible from any mobile phone to another phone or computing device.