FairPrice supermarkets is now offering Visa payWave contactless payments at all of its 116 outlets Singapore-wide.
The rollout marks one of the largest implementations of contactless payment acceptance by a Singapore retailer, lending momentum to the mass adoption of the technology in the city state.
“Visa payWave makes everyday transactions faster and easier for consumers. It is just as secure as paying with Visa credit or debit cards – but faster,” said Visa group country manager in Southeast Asia Peter Maher.
Before implementing Visa payWave acceptance across all stores, FairPrice ran a pilot program in February to test receptiveness among its customers. After a popular uptake, FairPrice made the decision to install Visa payWave terminals at all of its outlets, a program now complete.
With Visa payWave, the card doesn’t need to be swiped by the sales assistant, and no signature or PIN (Personal Identification Number) is required for purchases under SGD$100, which makes it a faster way to pay while still being a secure Visa transaction.
Singaporean consumers have readily gone cashless, and according to Visa findings the overwhelming perception to using contactless payments is positive. Usage of Visa payWave cards has more than tripled in May 2013, compared to May 2012.
Earlier this year, the number of Visa payWave cards issued in Singapore hit a major milestone with more than one million cards issued, and that number is expected to double by the end of the year. There are currently more than 12,000 Visa payWave retail acceptance points across the country.
