Google is now ready to roll out its SoundPods for small merchants across the country. These SoundPods make it easier for them to handle payments by giving audio confirmations for each payment they get.
Google Pay SoundPods is similar to the Paytm Soundbox, which you may have seen in different shops. Google started testing the device in a limited pilot last year and received positive feedback.
Merchants have two different plans for SoundPods. In the daily plan, merchants need Now, shopkeepers have two options for SoundPods. In the daily plan, they pay a one-time fee of Rs. 499 and then Rs. 5 every day for 25 days in a month. The yearly plan costs Rs. 1499 for the whole year, and there’s no daily deduction. The subscription cost already includes taxes.
Google also says that if shopkeepers get 400 payments in a month, they are guaranteed Rs. 125 cashback.
It looks like Google is bringing out the SoundPods at just the right moment. Paytm is having some trouble with the RBI, and shopkeepers are unsure about what will happen. Even though the RBI says Paytm QR, Soundbox and card machine will still work, shop owners are worried about their money. Now, with Google offering something similar, many might switch from Paytm Soundbox to Google Pay SoundPods.
Google Pay is the second-largest UPI app in the country. It processed 444.28 crore transactions worth Rs 6,35,945.58 crore last month. So, it won’t be difficult for the company to roll out Google Pay SoundPods.
