Alipay opens platform to become one-stop gateway for 40 million service providers across China

The three-year plan involves working with 50,000 independent software vendors to help service providers adopt Alipay technologies. Alipay has encouraged developers to create mini programs to enable partners to access Alibaba’s ecosystem. — SCMP

Alipay, the widely used mobile payment app operated by Ant Financial Services, is pursuing an ambitious plan to become digitally entrenched in the businesses of 40 million service providers across China, in a move to gain an edge over rival platforms WeChat and Meituan Dianping in the world’s second largest economy.

The three-year plan involves opening up the Alipay platform as an online gateway for these enterprises – in industries ranging from consumer retail, food and beverage, and transport to hotels and accommodation, and medical services – to increase efficiency and serve more consumers by 2030, according to a statement from Ant Financial on Tuesday.