BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec.14
By Sadraddin Aghjayev - Trend:
E-PUL payment service, PASHA Bank and Visa have launched an innovative payment solution in Azerbaijan at the SOCAR petrol station network based on QR code technology, Samir Nasibov, CEO of PaySis, the legal owner of the E-PUL payment system, told Trend.
According to Nasibov, owing to the solution the customers will be able to easily pay for fuel using the E-PUL mobile application at each of the 35 filling stations of the SOCAR network located in Azerbaijan.
"We are pleased that the retail segment of the oil sector has taken this project so seriously and promptly by presenting an innovative QR-payments service to consumers, thus contributing to the further transition to a digital economy with less dependence on cash," he said.
Kristina Dorosh, Visa Regional Manager for the Caucasus Region, noted that QR payments technology is so versatile and easy to use that it will be equally useful both for large businesses that seek to expand their client base, and for small and medium segment looking for a way to save costs.
"QR codes also simplify the payment process for users who no longer need to carry cash or even a payment card in their pocket to check out quickly and conveniently at a gas station," she added.
This service will allow replacing the use of POS terminals for making and receiving payments and will reduce the number of physical contacts while increasing the throughput of filling stations, which is a particular advantage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy General Director for Innovation of SOCAR PETROLEUM CJSC Elnur Mustafayev said that non-cash payments and limitation of physical contacts are important characteristics of the innovative QR-payments service, reflecting the features of the key trends of today's retail market.
"The introduction of Visa QR payments and the E-PUL mobile application at the SOCAR filling station network will create new comfortable and safe payment terms for our customers, contributing to their satisfaction, which is a priority for SOCAR," he stressed.
The close strategic cooperation between Visa and its partners makes the introduction of innovative QR payments a reality and covers a significant share of acquiring in Azerbaijan, allows even more business representatives to use a convenient, safe, and cost-effective service. For users, the advantage of technology lies in the choice of payment method and ease of the payment process.
"Being one of the leading financial institutions of the country, introducing modern technological solutions in the local market, PASHA Bank is pleased to support the implementation of a project to expand the coverage of QR payments in Azerbaijan," said Board Member and Chief Operating Officer of PASHA Bank Jalal Orujov.
"The possibility of making payments at gas stations using this technology not only opens up new business opportunities, allowing to optimize the cost of acquiring and equipment for accepting non-cash payments but also makes the usual process even easier and more convenient for the end-user," he further noted. "I’m sure that the expansion of the scale of application of QR-payments technology will continue to make a significant contribution to the implementation of the state program for the development of cashless payments in Azerbaijan."
Customers of the SOCAR filling station network must have a Visa card and an E-PUL mobile application to make cashless payments for fuel using QR payments.
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