Alternative payment tools lead e-Commerce payments in Asia-Pac image credit shutterstock

Alternative payments are the most popular payment tools for e-commerce payments in Asia-Pacific (APAC), with payment solutions such as mobile and digital wallets displacing traditional payment methods like cash and bank transfers. China led the way in 2023, with alternative payments accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total e-Commerce payments value in 2023, reports GlobalData, publishers of EPI.

Already popular in countries like China and India, alternative payments are gaining traction in other APAC markets as well. GlobalData’s E-Commerce Analytics reveals that, even cash-intensive countries in the region such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, are witnessing a similar trend.

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Shivani Gupta, Senior Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, said: “While most Asian markets are traditionally cash-dominated, the adoption of alternative payment methods for both online and in-store payments is growing across many markets in the region, outpacing the West. This trend is driven by the rising smartphone and internet accessibility, increasing convenience of electronic payments, and the proliferation of mobile and QR code-based payment solutions.”

GlobalData 2023 Financial Services Consumer Survey

Within the region, China and India have higher adoption rates compared to their peers. According to GlobalData’s 2023 Financial Services Consumer Survey, alternative payment solutions account for more than 65% of the e-commerce transaction value in China, the largest e-commerce market globally. This represents a significant increase from 53.4% in 2018. China is home to one of the most mature mobile wallet markets in the world, with mobile wallets being widely used for day-to-day transactions as well as for online payments. Alipay and WeChat Pay are household names and are widely accepted among the merchants.

On the other hand, India has seen the fastest jump in alternative payment share in the region, from 20.4% in 2018 to 58.1% in 2023, and thereby reaching the second place. This significant uptake of alternative payment solutions can be attributed to the widespread usage of mobile wallets, largely driven by UPI, which facilitates mobile payments in real-time simply by scanning QR codes. 

Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines market growth

Other Asian markets like Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines are also seeing high adoption of alternative payment solutions.

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Gupta concludes: “Alternative payment solutions account for lion share in e-Commerce markets across many APAC countries, supported by rising internet and smartphone penetration, and growing acceptance of digital payments by merchants. With the convenience, speed, and security they offer, coupled with high expected growth in overall e-Commerce market in the region, these payment tools are anticipated to further gain traction and disrupt the consumer payment space in the region.”