Push for digital payments pays off

But many stallholders still prefer cash, citing issues such as lack of tech know-how, scams

Mr Christopher Lau, owner of Bakes n Bites, with a Nets terminal at his stall in Old Airport Road Food Centre. A recent visit showed that 80 per cent of all the hawkers there use a payment QR code or a Nets terminal. Mr Don Eng, owner of Pasta Manna,
Mr Christopher Lau, owner of Bakes n Bites, with a Nets terminal at his stall in Old Airport Road Food Centre. A recent visit showed that 80 per cent of all the hawkers there use a payment QR code or a Nets terminal. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Mr Christopher Lau, owner of Bakes n Bites, with a Nets terminal at his stall in Old Airport Road Food Centre. A recent visit showed that 80 per cent of all the hawkers there use a payment QR code or a Nets terminal. Mr Don Eng, owner of Pasta Manna,
Mr Don Eng, owner of Pasta Manna, with a Nets terminal and his Old Airport Road Food Centre stall’s QR code. E-payments spare him the chore of returning the exact change to clients. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Mr Christopher Lau, owner of Bakes n Bites, with a Nets terminal at his stall in Old Airport Road Food Centre. A recent visit showed that 80 per cent of all the hawkers there use a payment QR code or a Nets terminal. Mr Don Eng, owner of Pasta Manna,
Mr Mak Chee Wah of Uncle Mak Coffee at Redhill Market and Food Centre has joined the e-payment drive. But he noted that older stallholders, who lack technical knowledge, are reluctant to come on board. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Mr Christopher Lau, owner of Bakes n Bites, with a Nets terminal at his stall in Old Airport Road Food Centre. A recent visit showed that 80 per cent of all the hawkers there use a payment QR code or a Nets terminal. Mr Don Eng, owner of Pasta Manna,
Mr and Mrs David Sng of Delicious Fried Carrot Cake at Redhill Market and Food Centre have embraced cashless payments. The Hawkers Go Digital scheme launched in June offers monetary bonuses. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Cheryl Teh
Updated
Dec 08, 2020, 05:00 AM
Published
Dec 08, 2020, 05:00 AM
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Generous cash incentives have led many hawkers onto the digitalisation track. Close to half of all 18,000 hawker stalls in Singapore now let customers pay via major banking apps and e-wallets by scanning a national QR code.

A Hawkers Go Digital programme launched in June by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) has been key.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 08, 2020, with the headline Push for digital payments pays off. Subscribe

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