Billionaire Jack Ma steps up battle with WeChat to win merchants

Alipay is targeting 40 million merchant and services providers to use its mini programs – a lite app that sits on top of its interface and provides quick access to an array of services. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

Alipay, the mobile payment app owned by billionaire Jack Ma, is stepping up its competition with WeChat to get more of its 900 million users to tap expanded services in everything from real estate purchases to restaurant and cinema bookings.

Alipay is targeting 40 million merchant and services providers to use its mini programs – a lite app that sits on top of its interface and provides quick access to an array of services. The company has been experimenting with the initiative for three years and now has about 1.7 million such programs.