Frequently asked questions regarding accepting Alipay+ payments

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As global business becomes more connected, merchants have a big chance: reaching more cross-border travelers and online shoppers. Alipay+, a cross-border digital payment solution, is leading this trend. It enables merchants to accept multiple popular Asian e-wallets and payment methods through a single integration.

But adding new payment methods always brings up questions.

To ensure European merchants and staff can deliver a perfect payment experience for customers, this article addresses common queries about accepting Alipay+ payments, provides corresponding answers, and outlines how Silkpay can help European merchants integrate Alipay+ simply.

What exactly is Alipay+? Is it the same as Alipay?

Alipay is a specific digital wallet primarily used by consumers in mainland China.

Alipay+ is a merchant solution. It enables merchants to accept not only Alipay but also all other major Asian payment methods through a single integration. Merchants can think of it as a ‘payment hub’ connecting them to numerous payment partners.

Some of the included e-wallets in Alipay+:

• Alipay (China)

• Kakao Pay (South Korea)

• GCash (Philippines)

• Touch 'n Go eWallet (Malaysia)

• TrueMoney (Thailand)

• Dana (Indonesia)

• Naver Pay (South Korea)

• Toss Pay (South Korea)

• Etc.

Alipay is one payment method within the Alipay+ ecosystem, yet Alipay+ supports far more than just Alipay. Learn more about the differences between Alipay and Alipay+.

How does Alipay+ payment work?

Alipay+ offers flexible integration and operational methods, adaptable to the specific business requirements of different merchant types.

1.Online payment (e-Commerce)

When placing orders on e-commerce platforms, if your website has integrated Silkpay's payment plugin or API, customers selecting Alipay+ or its partner wallets (e.g., GCash, Kakao Pay) during checkout will be redirected to the corresponding wallet payment interface. 

Customers will complete their online payment exactly like they always do on any other website.

2. POS machine 

Merchants using Alipay+-enabled POS terminals (e.g., Silkpay’s PAX A920 Pro) can either: 

• Select “Generate QR code” to display a QR code for customers to scan using their wallet’s app and confirm payment.

• Or alternatively, select “Scan QR code” to scan their customer’s payment code generated from their wallet’s app.

Watch our tutorial to learn how to accept Alipay payments on a POS terminal using the two different methods.

Besides Alipay+, Silkpay’s PAX A920 Pro POS machine also supports WeChat Pay, UnionPay Yunshanfu, Visa, Mastercard, CB, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

3. Static QR code (scan-to-pay)

At the checkout, merchants need to only display or present the Alipay+ collection QR code provided by Silkpay (printed image or digital photo). Customers open their e-wallet app, scan the code, enter the payment amount, and then confirm the payment.

4. Silkpay App 

After registering a Silkpay account, merchants use the Silkpay App to accept not only Alipay+ but also WeChat Pay, UnionPay Yunshanfu.

The merchant only needs to input the payment amount and generate a payment QR code customers can scan to complete the payment. 

Alternatively, merchants can use the Silkpay App to scan the customer's payment code to complete payment.

Why should I integrate Alipay+? How does it benefit my business?

Integrating Alipay+ offers multiple advantages for your business, particularly in attracting cross-border consumers from Asia:

Expand your international customer base

By integrating Alipay+, your store can reach over 1.6 billion users, encompassing cross-border consumers from China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and other countries and regions. 

Whether welcoming overseas visitors in physical stores or serving international buyers on e-commerce platforms, Alipay+ helps you easily expand your customer base and allows more potential customers to choose your brand and products.

Increase sales opportunities

After integrating Alipay+, customers can pay with their usual digital wallets without needing currency exchange or bank cards they are not used to. This fast and easy payment process greatly reduces waiting times and payment difficulties, which improves customer satisfaction and encourages repeat purchases from your store. 

Cross-border shoppers usually have stronger spending power, especially in areas such as tourism, retail, and dining. By giving customers more ways to pay, merchants make shopping smoother and also boost sales, gaining both higher revenue and 5-stars reviews.

Accept 20+ e-wallets via one integration

By using Alipay+, merchants need only one integration to accept many major Asian payment methods at the same time, which removes the need to handle separate accounts and payment processes for each wallet. 

Transaction records from all payment methods are combined in one place and easy to be managed, so merchants can improve operational efficiency and focus more on growing their business and serving customers.

Improve your brand’s image

By integrating Alipay+, merchants support multiple international payment methods, projecting a modern, global brand image to overseas customers. 

This not only elevates the shop's professionalism and credibility but also helps stand out during peak travel seasons or cross-border e-commerce competition, encouraging more international consumers to choose your brand first.

How can we let our customers know that we accept Alipay+?

Active promotion is very important to attract international shoppers. Show Alipay+ and its partner wallet logos clearly at store entrances, checkouts, and windows so customers can see them as soon as they arrive. 

At the same time, train staff so that all salespeople know the payment methods available in the store and can tell customers directly: “We accept Alipay, Kakao Pay, and other e-wallets.”

Online merchants should also clearly display the Alipay+ payment logo on official websites, e-commerce platforms, social media, and online booking pages to further enhance international customers' trust and willingness to pay.

If merchants want their store to appear on the Alipay+ homepage, Silkpay can also provide full support. We not only help merchants set up a dedicated storefront on the Alipay platform but also assist them in distributing store coupons or discount vouchers to consumers through Alipay+. 

This approach increases the store’s visibility on the platform, attracts more potential customers to visit, and connects online traffic with in-store sales, which maximizes both sales opportunities and brand impact.

How much time does the account opening take? 

Opening an Alipay+ account generally takes about one to two weeks. During this time, the relevant review and verification of documents are carried out according to the process to ensure the account information is accurate. 

Simply register in our 100% online process. Our team will then ensure everything is complete and meets the requirements. After submitting the application, The team will constantly stay in contact with the merchant to verify all information promptly and speed up the account opening process.

What are the required documents to open an account?

To open an Alipay+ account, the following documents are required:

• Business license: To prove the company is legally registered and authorized to operate;

• Articles of association: To provide information on the company’s structure and scope of business;

• Valid passports of legal representative and major shareholders: For identity verification;

• Company bank account information: For fund settlement and receiving payments;

• Contact information: Including phone number and email to ensure smooth communication;

• Website or App information, along with photos of the company or store interior and exterior, to verify the merchant’s actual operations.

Rest assured, all documents you provide are handled with the highest level of security and confidentiality. 

Silkpay strictly adheres to data protection standards and ensures full compliance with Alipay+ account opening requirements and registration procedures.

Can I accept payments in my currency?

When merchants integrate Alipay+ and other Asian payment methods through Silkpay, customers can still pay in their familiar currency, with the system converting the amount at the real-time exchange rate. 

And the merchant ultimately receives the payment in euros in their account. In other words, merchants are never impacted by exchange rate fluctuations, they will always receive payments in their currency (EUR).

This ensures a convenient payment experience for customers while making it easier for merchants to manage funds and not be impacted by exchange rates.

Conclusion

Integrating Alipay+ is not just adding another way to pay; it gives your business access to customers from all over the world. By learning about these common points in advance, you and your team can confidently welcome international customers and give them a payment experience that is easy and familiar, just like in their home country. This will help your business stand out in a very competitive market.

About the author: Silkpay

Based in Paris, Silkpay provides omnichannel and secure payment solutions to help physical stores and e-commerce in Europe and the Americas 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.