Airtel Payments Bank is supercharging India’s digital payment infrastructure through a strategic partnership with Hitachi Payment Services. The collaboration will deploy end-to-end Soundbox solutions across urban and rural India, transforming how merchants accept digital payments.
Table of Contents
Partnership Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Partners | Airtel Payments Bank & Hitachi Payment Services |
| Solution | End-to-end Soundbox with multilingual alerts |
| Coverage | Pan-India (urban & rural) |
| Target | Small and medium businesses |
| Focus | Merchant onboarding, training, device deployment, analytics |
Beyond Basic Payment Confirmation
This isn’t your average Soundbox. The device provides multilingual audio confirmation of payments while doubling as a dynamic promotional channel. Merchants can communicate offers effectively, turning payment confirmations into marketing opportunities.
The comprehensive solution covers the complete merchant lifecycle—from onboarding and training to real-time analytics and settlements—ensuring businesses operate efficiently with minimal friction.
Why This Matters
“Through this collaboration, we aim to bring greater ease and convenience to both merchants and customers by simplifying digital payments,” said Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, COO of Airtel Payments Bank.
Hitachi Payment Services brings serious infrastructure muscle—managing over 79,000 ATMs and processing 10 million daily transactions. Their partnership with Airtel’s 5 lakh+ banking points creates unprecedented merchant acceptance coverage.
Anuj Khosla, CEO of Digital Business at Hitachi Payment Services, emphasized that combining digital payment expertise with Airtel’s merchant network enables businesses across India to experience “innovative digital payment technology” that instills trust and fosters growth.
Digital India, Accelerated
Airtel Payments Bank initially launched Soundbox in 2024. Growing merchant demand prompted this expanded partnership while maintaining collaboration with existing partners—a smart move that scales deployment without disrupting established relationships.
The initiative aligns perfectly with the government’s Digital India and financial inclusion goals, bringing secure digital banking to every Indian’s doorstep. For more fintech updates, check TechnoSports.
With secure technology, real-time confirmation, and promotional capabilities, this Soundbox deployment could redefine merchant confidence in India’s cashless economy.
FAQs
What makes this Soundbox different from others?
It offers multilingual payment alerts plus a dynamic promotional channel for merchant offers, with complete lifecycle management from onboarding to settlements.
How many merchants will this partnership reach?
With Airtel’s 5 lakh+ banking points and Hitachi’s infrastructure managing 3 million+ merchant touchpoints, the reach spans urban and rural India.
