Alipay, a leading digital payment platform has collaborated with Blackhawk Network, a financial technology company to expand its mobile payment acceptance and engagement offering to some US retailers.

Harnessing Blackhawk’s technology, the partnership will give an opportunity for Blackhawk’s network of retail partners to engage with visiting Chinese travellers. Alipay currently boasts more than 520 million active Chinese users. Blackhawk’s retailers will be able to connect with Alipay customers travelling in the US by accepting in-store payments via Alipay.

Through this collaboration, retailers can increase their brand visibility and drive sales while reducing payment friction. Furthermore, Alipay and the participating retailers can gain much more valuable insight into a consumer’s preferences.

Talbott Roche, CEO and president of Blackhawk, stated: “Until now, Chinese tourists lacked convenient access to information on what payment methods were accepted at US retailers they wished to visit. Alipay is ubiquitous in China and represents an effective way for retailers to engage with Chinese travellers.

“We are excited to offer our retail partners a way to better connect with Chinese consumers by alleviating the major pain points of shopping, researching and paying while visiting and ultimately, providing Alipay users with an excellent shopping experience while they travel here in the US.”

Souheil Badran, president of Alipay Americas, added: “Approximately 4 million Chinese tourists visit North America every year. Many of those travellers are Alipay consumers already and are looking for the payment safety, convenience and efficiency they are accustomed to at home.

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“We partnered with Blackhawk for its robust network of top-tier retailer partners, its innovative solutions and proprietary technology, and we are pleased to continue to provide Chinese travellers with a seamless shopping and payment experience in North America.”

Blackhawk’s solution leverages in-store QR codes to access Blackhawk’s proprietary platform. This platform then allows instant issuance of a retailer’s branded stored-value e-gift. Alipay users can also access local recommendations, search for hotels, buy cinema tickets and even make a doctors’ appointment directly from the app.