How is Alipay fueling the Asian Games?

From 22 September until 8 October, millions of merchants across the country joined forces with Alipay to hold the "Golden Autumn Consumption Festival". The campaign took two important steps to support the Asian Games economy. 

In China, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, two important festivals, are occurring consecutively, which can be referred to as "two festivals in one". Coupled with the economic boom of the Asian Games, this year's long holiday in October can be said to be the busiest "Golden Week" in the past five years.

The first major initiative was Alipay's efforts to help small and micro-merchants better serve global travelers and provide them with business opportunities. 

The second major initiative is that Alipay has also prepared red packets worth a total of RMB 300 million. Alipay users in China can participate in the campaign by scanning the QR code of the red packets from merchants offline or searching for "Golden Autumn Consumption Festival" on the Alipay APP, then receive these red packets and various benefits to use in various service scenarios, such as travel, dining and scenic spots.

In this article, we will introduce two measures of Alipay that fuel the Asian Games and the strategies for global merchants during this opportunity. This not only promotes the digital transformation of merchants' services, but also provides users with more benefits and convenience.

The first measure: Alipay empowers global small businesses

During the 'Golden Autumn Consumer Festival,' which coincides with the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Alipay, as the official payment partner of the Asian Games, is fully committed both inside and outside the event. It is helping small and micro-businesses thrive in the global market. 

Currently, global visitors can use Alipay for payments in China, and 10 international wallets can be directly scanned for in-country transactions.

Simultaneously, to assist small and micro-businesses in preparing for welcoming international visitors, Ant Group's Alipay and Alipay+, in collaboration with Zhejiang International Studies University and representatives of small businesses in Hangzhou, have jointly released the 'Small Business Global Service Manual.' This manual includes answers to frequently asked questions, common communication phrases, universal gestures, and more, aiming to empower small businesses to conduct international transactions right at their doorstep.

The second measure: Alipay ignites Chinese offline consumption with red packets

Alipay is also contributing to the Asian Games economy by offering an additional 300 million yuan in consumer red envelopes for Chinese citizens. "Have you claimed your red envelope today? If not, just scan here," is a phrase that consumers have been hearing frequently at markets and stores lately. 

Many have noticed that Alipay's "scan to claim red envelopes" feature is now available. During the "Golden Autumn Consumer Festival," Alipay is increasing its investment in the "earn money red envelopes" campaign on its platform. Any offline business with more than ten million participants can join this campaign. Consumers can scan codes to claim discounts, while businesses earn rewards, bringing more foot traffic and spending to small and micro-businesses.

What does this mean for overseas merchants? 

For overseas merchants, the convergence of this year's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, along with the economic boost from the Asian Games, presents a unique opportunity. This October's long holiday can be regarded as the busiest "Golden Week" in the past five years, and Alipay's initiatives have a significant impact on overseas businesses. 

By leveraging the opportunities below, overseas businesses can boost their sales and expand their presence in the Chinese market during this busy and prosperous "Golden Week."

1. Increase global customer base by integrating Alipay

With Alipay's support for global payments and transactions, overseas merchants have the opportunity to cater to a diverse and international customer base. The ability to accept Alipay provides greater convenience for visitors from China who are already familiar with the platform.

To further enhance your ability to increase your global customer base by integrating Alipay, consider utilizing solutions like Silkpay. Silkpay specializes in helping global merchants seamlessly integrate Alipay into their payment systems, offering a convenient and efficient way to tap into the vast Chinese market. 

By partnering with Silkpay, businesses can seamlessly integrate Alipay into their payment systems, making it easy and convenient for international visitors to make transactions. This not only enhances the shopping experience for customers from China, who are already familiar with Alipay, but also opens doors to a broader audience seeking the familiarity and convenience of this popular payment platform. With Silkpay's support, merchants can tap into the vast potential of cross-border commerce and maximize their reach in the global market.

2. Participate in "Golden Autumn Consumption Festival"

Overseas merchants can leverage the advantages of Chinese festivals to join or create campaigns. By joining this initiative, businesses can offer discounts and promotions through the platform, making their products or services more appealing to consumers.

In addition to integrating Alipay, Silkpay offers services that can significantly benefit overseas merchants looking to maximize their outreach during Chinese festivals and special events. 

With Silkpay, you can implement location-based marketing strategies, create tailored Chinese festival marketing campaigns, and effortlessly offer discounts, coupons, and timely news updates to your target audience.

For instance, during the "Golden Autumn Consumption Festival," Silkpay can help you create and execute marketing campaigns that resonate with Chinese tourists. Through Alipay, you can offer attractive discounts and promotions that align with the spirit of the festival, capturing the attention and interest of potential customers. 

Whether it's offering special discounts on traditional Chinese products or showcasing unique festival-themed experiences, Silkpay can help you make your products or services more appealing and relevant to consumers during these special occasions.

By leveraging Silkpay's capabilities, overseas merchants can not only integrate Alipay seamlessly but also optimize their marketing strategies to effectively engage with Chinese tourists and enhance their overall business performance during Chinese festivals and beyond.

Conclusion

Alipay's significant role in supporting the Asian Games and coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day celebrations has created a "Golden Week".

For overseas merchants, this presents a golden opportunity to tap into the Chinese market. By integrating Alipay and partnering with Silkpay, businesses can effortlessly offer Alipay payments, enhancing the experience for Chinese visitors who are familiar with the platform. This facilitates international transactions and expands businesses' reach.

Participation in campaigns like the "Golden Autumn Consumption Festival" allows businesses to leverage Chinese festivals for marketing. Silkpay offers services such as location-based marketing and customized festival promotions, making products and services more attractive to consumers.

By seizing these opportunities, both local and overseas merchants can flourish during this unique "Golden Week" and establish a strong presence in the global marketplace.

Resources:

https://www.mpaypass.com.cn/news/202309/25160735.html 

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About the author: Silkpay

Based in Paris, Silkpay provides omnichannel and secure payment solutions to help physical stores and e-commerce in Europe accept more than 30 of the world's most popular payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, CB, UnionPay, Alipay+, WeChat Pay as well as Asia-Pacific’s major e-wallets.

Silkpay is a winner of the LVMH Innovation Award. The company was also selected as a finalist for the "Money 20/20" Best Startup and in the "MPE Berlin” Startup Awards. Silkpay also won the "Best Fintech" awards from Capgemini and BPCE.

Silkpay helps merchants deliver the smoothest payment experience to their customers. We are a talented and international team driven by a single goal: to improve the customer experience and make payments simple and secure.