Merchants See Gains As S Pay Global Adoption Grows

KUCHING, April 2 (Bernama) -- The growing adoption of Sarawak state-owned e-wallet S PAY GLOBAL is delivering clear benefits to merchants, particularly in enhancing operational efficiency and meeting evolving consumer preferences.

Lok Thian Group director Eugene Hu said the shift towards cashless payments is largely driven by younger consumers, who prefer faster and more convenient self-payment options over cash and credit cards.

He said the increasing use of digital payments is especially advantageous for merchants in the food and beverage sector, as it helps reduce waiting times in fast-paced outlets where speed and convenience are key priorities.

“Younger customers tend to favour self-payment as it speeds up transactions and allows them to avoid queuing when making payments,” he told Bernama in an interview recently.

Hu added that some customers now complete their payments while still dining, effectively shortening the overall dining duration and enabling quicker table turnover.

He noted that features such as transaction records also encourage broader e-wallet adoption by offering customers and businesses greater transparency and ease in tracking their spending.

From a business standpoint, Hu said offering e-wallet payment options is no longer optional but essential to remain competitive, as merchants risk losing customers if they do not keep pace.

He added that the use of S PAY GLOBAL has streamlined daily operations through instant payment verification, faster settlement cycles and reduced cash handling, while enhancing its business image as modern and customer-focused.

Meanwhile, a musical instrument retailer in Kuching, Chang Chaik Chiong, 47, highlighted that the adoption of S PAY GLOBAL has improved convenience, safety and efficiency for both customers and merchants.

Sharing his experience, he said the transition to cashless payments has been well-received, particularly for its practicality in everyday transactions.

“Many customers now prefer using S PAY GLOBAL as it eliminates the need to carry large amounts of cash or make frequent visits to Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

“Customers feel safer because they don’t have to bring cash around. If money is lost, it’s gone. With cashless, that risk is reduced,” he said, adding that reduced cash handling has also contributed to smoother and more secure operations.

Chang, who operates Zoso Music Sdn Bhd, said the adoption of cashless systems accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic as the public became more conscious about hygiene.

“People are more aware of germs on physical money. Cashless payments make transactions cleaner and safer,” he added.

S PAY GLOBAL is a digital payment platform that aims to transform Sarawak’s financial ecosystem and bring it into the digital age.

Originally launched as Sarawak Pay before being rebranded as S PAY GLOBAL, the e-wallet application was developed by SiliconNet Technologies Sdn Bhd and introduced in 2017 as part of a broader digitalisation initiative.

The platform, one of the Sarawak state government’s key initiatives, has since expanded to include additional features and is also used to distribute aid to the public, driving wider adoption across the community. 

S PAY GLOBAL supports DuitNow QR, Malaysia’s national QR payment standard, allowing users to scan and pay at participating merchants with fast, secure, and interoperable transactions across banks and e-wallets.

-- BERNAMA