AS THE sun sets in Malaysia, local Ramadan bazaars transform into one of the country’s most intense retail environments.
For vendors, the “buka puasa” rush is a whirlwind of peak-hour surges, long queues and the constant mental math of manual cash management.
Amidst the heat and a sea of hungry customers, the risk of missed payments or the struggle of handling physical cash while serving food can turn a successful day into a logistical nightmare.
The recent launch of EPOS360 – an industry-first, all-in-one digital and payments solution available as a mini-programme within TNG eWallet – alongside EPOS360 BlueTap, Malaysia’s first tap-to-pay experience using TNG eWallet, aims to transform this narrative.
As part of joint efforts to support local merchants with Touch ’n Go Group, and Communications Minister and Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, EPOS – the all-in-one SME transformation platform of Ant International’s Antom – has partnered with TNG Digital to enable vendors at selected Ramadan bazaars in Lembah Pantai with 100 EPOS360 BlueTap units, simplifying payments and streamlining daily business operations during the busy festive season.
By embedding EPOS360 directly into the TNG eWallet, even small bazaar stalls can access tools that help them manage payments and track sales more effectively.
This solution bridges the gap between SMEs and enterprise-level tools, making digitalisation a practical reality rather than a complex hurdle.
Solving the bazaar rush
For a bazaar merchant, speed is the difference between a sale and a lost customer.
Instead of juggling multiple QR codes or counting change manually during peak hours, vendors can rely on the EPOS360 BlueTap device to process multiple payment methods quickly through a single terminal.
BlueTap provides clear audio payment confirmation at the point of sale, letting vendors keep their hands on the food and eyes on the queue with immediate assurance of a successful transaction – without stopping to check every sale, especially during peak hours.
BlueTap brings together tap-to-pay for TNG eWallet, instant payment confirmation and future card payment acceptance in one device, enabling merchants to easily track every transaction.
By allowing customers to pay with any NFC-enabled smartphone, BlueTap democratises tap-to-pay and makes contactless payments more accessible and convenient for everyone.
Beyond just enabling merchants to accept a suite of payment options, EPOS360 addresses the hidden work that often exhausts small business owners.
Traditionally, many vendors spend late nights manually reconciling sales, managing their products and juggling different platforms for payments, operations and marketing.
EPOS360 removes this burden by offering real-time transaction insights and product management, allowing a satay vendor or an air balang seller to track their performance accurately, just like a major franchise.
Merchants can also easily access the mini-programme’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools to create digital menus, marketing campaigns and promotions to reach TNG eWallet’s base of over 25 million users nationwide.
The app’s “Near Me” feature will soon be integrated with EPOS360, enabling nearby users to discover participating merchants’ stalls.
Making SMEs future-ready
SMEs account for 97% of all business establishments nationwide and provide employment to around 48% of the Malaysian workforce, making them the backbone of the domestic economy.
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation chief executive officer Anuar Fariz Fadzil noted that such initiatives are vital milestones in the nation’s journey to becoming an “AI nation” by 2030.
By making digital tools affordable and easy to adopt, the initiative enables businesses, particularly SMEs, to remain resilient and competitive.
“It ensures that businesses of all sizes have access to affordable, relevant and easy-to-adopt digital tools to scale sustainability and compete more effectively,” he said.
“By embedding AI-powered business tools and innovative payment capabilities into a platform that millions of Malaysians already use, this initiative enables digital entrepreneurs to participate more meaningfully in the digital economy.”
Meanwhile, EPOS chief executive officer and Ant International vice president Alan Wang emphasised that digitalisation is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for viability.
“SMEs are the heart of our communities, yet they face real challenges in a competitive environment,” Wang said.
“By putting the right technology into their hands, we empower them to unlock new opportunities.”
As Malaysian SMEs continue to evolve, initiatives like this show that even small stalls and businesses can benefit from digital tools that were once mainly accessible only to large retailers and keep pace in Malaysia’s evolving retail landscape.
Find out more about BlueTap here.
