Paytm introduces Nearby feature on its platform

As part of its ongoing mission of helping India go cashless, Paytm, a mobile payment and commerce platform,  introduced the ‘Nearby’ feature on its platform. This will enable Paytm customers to get information about their nearest Paytm merchant.

Paytm ‘Nearby’ will carry a directory of 800,000 Paytm’s offline merchants and partners across India. In the first phase this list is 200,000+ & will continue to grow everyday. Customers on their Paytm app or web can now browse through a list of shops & locations near them that offer services like accepting Paytm, adding cash to Paytm wallet & upgrading accounts by doing KYC. This not only provides convenience to customers but also provides visibility to thousands of small and medium merchants by connecting them to millions of Paytm customers.

Commenting on the announcement, Sonia Dhawan – DGM, Paytm, said, “At Paytm, our approach has always been to build an ecosystem that benefits both merchants & customers. I am confident that while our customers will appreciate the increased convenience of finding Paytm services near them, our merchants & partners will value the exponential increase in visibility and new business ‘Nearby’ feature will bring. This is a great example of how mobile technology can drive business across the retail industry by redefining the hyperlocal space.”

The new ‘Add Cash’ feature allows customers to find the nearest points such as ICICI & Axis bank branches where they can get cash loaded in their Paytm wallet. Paytm users can use any of these add cash points across the country. The ‘Upgrade your Wallet’ option lets customers become a Paytm VIP and earn benefits worth Rs 5000 by doing KYC at the nearest Paytm agent.

Paytm can be used to pay for just about everything in our daily lives be it online or offline. Local taxi/autos, petrol pumps, CNG stations, grocery shops, restaurants, coffee shops, multiplexes, parking, pharmacies, local tea/vegetable vendors, newspaper vendors, all prefer Paytm because of its convenience. Paytm can also be used to pay at thousands of apps & websites for services like recharges and bill payments, movie tickets, travel bookings, food ordering, shopping and much more.

The company is aiming to get a larger market share in O2O categories by reaching every nook and corner of the country. As millions of Indians take to using Paytm to transact offline, the company has set a bolder target to achieve its goal of helping India go cashless. Currently India’s largest payment network, Paytm wants to touch 4 million offline merchants by March 2017.