The Smart Store Program from Amazon Pay which was launched recently in Coimbatore has already started providing digital empowerment to 100+ local merchants and shop-owners here, and has also started making the offline shopping experience for customers totally new.


Girish Krishnan, Director, Rewards and Merchant Services, Amazon Pay India shared on Thursday that Amazon Pay’s Smart Store Program is something first of its kind in the world. The program is built specifically to complement the in-person sales experience customers have in the store by providing them with info about local shops that can provide products they are looking for, and also facilitate affordable credit solutions.


So what is Amazon Pay’s Smart Store Program?

The focus is to help local sellers/merchants, small businesses become discoverable to the customers. The
sellers who get registered under this program can launch a digital storefront of their shops with assistance from Amazon, and start promoting their stores as they are without any need for extra modifications.


A dedicated QR Code for the Smart Store will be kept on display at the shop after the products available for sales are updated to Amazon.


When a customer just walks in to one of these shops, all they need to do is just scan the QR code with the Amazon App, and every product that is available inside the shop will be before the customer with all the information.


Customers get a clear idea about the product, its features and all specifications in addition to the details provided by the sales persons there. This helps the customers to take well-informed decisions.


Amazon App users, (currently 10 crore in India) who shop online can easily discover these offline sellers near them, offering the products they are looking for, right from the comfort of their homes.


They can walk into these stores, look at the product, experience it and then instantly take it home by paying via any digital modes like UPI, Amazon Pay Balance, Credit& Debit cards besides flexible EMIs, and other bank offers or go for cash.


Merchants who have launched smart stores see a 10-15 % increase in sales and 10% new customers coming from the Amazon app. More than 90% of customers who have visited these shops have given very positive feedback about this kind of shopping experience, Girish Krishnan said.


Smart Store programs are now open for Electronics and Apparel Shops to sign up. Many categories are expected to be added under this program soon. 18000+ merchants have signed up across India, and 700+ shops have already become Smart Stores in Tamil Nadu.