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Could Apple’s Tap to Pay be a game changer for hawkers?
It can speed up payments and promises convenience behind the counter. But for small businesses, the challenge comes after the transaction.
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Businesses operating at high volume, like a hawker centre at lunchtime, can therefore see gains in transaction speed with Apple Tap to Pay, says the writer.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Daniel Rabetti
In December 2025, Apple launched Tap to Pay on iPhone in Singapore.
It turns a compatible iPhone into a point-of-sale terminal using a partner-enabled app. The merchant opens the app, enters the transaction amount, and the customer taps a contactless credit or debit card, or a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, directly on the phone.
