Southport‘s BPS Technology banks on Alipay to open up Chinese tourist market

BPS Technology executives are confident they’re on to a good thing with Chinese eCommerce platform Alipay.

BPS Technology CEO Iain Dunstan and George Lawson from Alipay launch Alipay, which allows Chinese visitors to pay via their smartphones. Picture: Glenn Hampson

BPS Technology executives were looking for a sign their tieup with Chinese eCommerce platform Alipay was a smart move and happily at the launch party there was one right on cue.

At the Skypoint bar on level 78 at Q1, an Alipay point-of-sale system (demo model) was set up for a promotional photo shoot.

Within minutes it was swamped by Chinese tourists seeking to pay for their purchases via the POS terminal.

When they found out it was a non-working model, they were annoyed, and it is easy to see why.

Alipay is among the top payment types in China, where credit card use is uncommon and cash or mobile transactions are prevalent.

Consumers can use Alipay via their mobile­ phones to purchase products and services, including accommodation, entertainment and food.

The app also enables payment of bills and just about every other aspect of managing day-to-day finances.

CHINESE ECOMMERCE GIANT LAUNCHES ON COAST

Newly minted BPS Technology chief executive Iain Dunstan said the deal with Alipay, whereby the platform will be rolled out to 36,000 Bartercard merchants among others, was a “pure win win” for all parties involved.

“Chinese tourists come here and it is a struggle because they can’t use their credit cards,” he said.

Mr Dunstan said Chinese tourists would soon be able to go to a range of shops and attractions, including Skypoint, Dreamworld, The Fish House, Moo Moos and Chemist Warehouse, and use their Alipay app for transactions.

BPS is in the process of installing the POS terminals and expects to have 150 at different locations on the Gold Coast in the next few weeks.

Mr Dunstan said Alipay users were also able to claim discount vouchers on the app from Entertainment Publications – a BPS-owned company that distributes a restaurant and activity guide.

BPS TECHNOLOGY INKS DEAL WITH ALIPAY

Mr Dunstan said Alipay had huge potential but it was too early to say how much revenue could be raised.

“We need to see what the numbers look like in three to six months’ time.”

Alipay Australia manager George Lawson, an ex-Visa executive, said it has 10,000 merchants across Australia and New Zealand.

“It is mainly five key areas were Chinese people go to such as university locations, residential areas, airports, high-end retail and tourist locations,” he said.

Mr Lawson said calling the Gold Coast an ‘Alipay smart city’ was about rolling out the payment system across the Glitter Strip and making sure it was easily accessible for users.

He said while Unionpay was a “formidable competitor,” it was a card-based, not mobile-based, system that did not have the features Alipay used in its app.

Dreamworld general manager of sales Annette Pearce said Alipay offered an opportunity for companies in the tourism sphere to boost sales.

“The growth for China is out of the free independent traveller market,” she said.

SUBSCRIBE FOR LESS THAN 50c A DAY

“The new generation of travellers have embraced Alipay as part of their lives. For us to be ready for them we need to make it easy for them through transactional platforms such as Alipay.”

She said it had plans to start using Alipay POS systems within the next 12 months.