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RESEARCH, ANALYSIS & TRENDS

properly settle into the corporate landscape. Smoope's the most popular payment methods used by Chinese
mobile app is similar to Whatsapp, but focuses on busi- nationals today in and outside of China. Now, both
ness interaction, enabling timely communication without online and brick and mortar retailers can accept this
queuing or long response times. Data protection is just incredibly popular Chinese payment method in their
as important as enhancement and integration possibili- own or local currency, thanks to the new partnership.
ties in existing business processes, e.g. CRM systems According to the Chinese messaging and social media
and mobile applications. The point is that the potential giant, the agreement with SafeCharge enables online
of chat and messenger services goes far beyond pure merchants to offer Chinese visitors the opportunity to
dialogues. Even campaigns or bulk mailing to selected pay quickly and easily with their preferred payment
customers can be put into action with the advantage method when visiting other countries. Not to mention
that every customer response ends again directly in a that smoothing the payment experience and reducing
dialogue that can seamlessly continue the campaign. A the trouble of forex exchange could mean for Interna-
personal sales discussion may even occur, if the cus- tional brands becoming far more accessible for Chi-
tomer accepts the video chat function. nese tourists. That’s what I am taking about: Messen-
Just look at the recent announcement from Tencent ger services are opening new doors for businesses by
Holdings, China’s leading provider of internet value providing inspiring new opportunities, innovations and
added services that owns WeChat, and its new partner- technologies, but they also have to keep more than
ship with the payments technology company ever an eye on data security and privacy issues as they
SafeCharge that adds WeChat Pay on its global pay- are the kind of connector the marketing industry was
ments platform. With more than 700 million monthly waiting for. ◊
active user accounts in China, WeChat Pay is one of By Daniela La Marca

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