Coming to a retailer near you: China’s favorite mobile payment technology
Kroger adopts QR code in new payment app, following Walmart’s footsteps
It’s hard to visit a supermarket without seeing barcodes. But soon, shoppers at Kroger will run into another type of scannable codes -- one that’s already ubiquitous in China.
Kroger Pay, the grocery chain’s brand new payment app, uses QR codes.
How the QR code conquered China
At the checkout line, a customer enters a personal PIN on their phone -- or scans their fingerprint or face -- to bring up a unique code. Hold it up, and the cashier will scan the code with a handheld reader. Money is then drawn from any debit or credit card linked to the app.
On the other hand, the QR code is a lot less prevalent in the US. Less than a third of American smartphone owners use mobile payment, according to research firm eMarketer. And many of them use the likes of Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay -- all of which adopt wireless tech like NFC instead of the low-tech QR code.
But there could be a reason why Kroger is jumping on the QR code bandwagon.
QR codes are cheap to adopt and easy to use. Retailers just need to upgrade their scanners, instead of purchasing expensive NFC readers. And customers only need a smartphone that has an internet connection, rather than pricier ones equipped with NFC.
China’s favorite mobile payment technology has a security problem
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For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.