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AirPAY, a Payment Service for Retailers that Supports Credit Cards, Electronic Money, QR Codes, and Points, Registered as a Cashless Settlement Business for Retailers in the "The Point Reward Project for Consumers using Cashless Payment" Implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry
Apr 15, 2019 | Recruit

We are pleased to announce that AirPAY, a payment service for retailers that supports credit cards, electronic money, QR codes, and points (operated by Recruit Lifestyle Co., Ltd.), has completed registration as a "Cashless Merchant Settlement Business" under the "The Point Reward Project for Consumers using Cashless Payment" implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry on April 12, 2019.
About AirPAY https://airregi.jp/payment/
About "The Point Reward Project for Consumers using Cashless Payment"
As a measure to equalize demand in the wake of the consumption tax rate hike on October 1, 2019, this project supports cashless transactions by small and medium-sized retailers for a certain period after the consumption tax rate hike (nine months, from October 2019 to the end of June 2020), and also improve productivity and consumer convenience through cashless transactions. By using this program, small and medium-sized retailers can introduce cashless payment without the burden of installing card readers and other equipment, and with a payment fee of 3.25% or less. In addition, the government will subsidize one-third of the fee during the implementation period.
For more details about the project and the registration period, please visit the official page of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry's "The Point Reward Project for Consumers using Cashless Payment" at http://cashless.go.jp/.
AirPAY’s initiative related to this project
AirPAY has been registered as a "Cashless Settlement Business (B-type settlement business)" to provide support to retailers under the "The Point Reward Project for Consumers using Cashless Payment" implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. By applying through AirPAY, retailers can obtain benefits such as subsidies for terminal installation and settlement fees, and increased customer traffic through consumer rebates.
The specific subsidies provided by AirPAY
Subsidy for installation of terminals: The "Cashless 0 yen Campaign" is scheduled to be implemented from May 2019 onwards, in which the necessary equipment.
Payment fee subsidy: During the point reduction period from October 2019 to the end of June 2020, we plan to offer the service with a payment fee of 2.16%—the lowest level in the industry.
Cashless promotion history of AirPAY and benefits for retailers
Proven track record of promoting cashless transactions throughout Japan, including local governments
In addition to many small and medium-sized stores, AirPAY has led the promotion of cashless transactions in cooperation with local governments and chambers of commerce nationwide, including a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Aso City in Kumamoto Prefecture, Fujiyoshida City in Yamanashi Prefecture, the Kaga City Yamashiro Onsen Street shopping district in Ishikawa Prefecture, and the Miyako City fish market in Iwate Prefecture. Retailers that have introduced the system say that it is easy to operate (even new part-time employees have complemented its ease of use), and sales from foreign visitors have increased.

The signing ceremony held in Aso City on March 26.
AirREGI integration makes it easy to support the "Reduced Tax Rate System" to be implemented on October 1
A POS register application can be used easily for free, increasing convenience when paired with AirREGI. When linked with AirREGI, the system can seamlessly handle all types of payments, including cash. With AirREGI and AirPAY, businesses can welcome October 1 without making any special preparations, whether it is through the "The Point Reward Project for Consumers using Cashless Payment" or the "Reduced Tax Rate System."AirPAY supports the industry's largest number of payment methods with a single card reader
AirPAY supports 25 payment methods, including six major international credit card brands, nine types of nationwide transportation e-money such as Suica and PASMO, and Apple Pay. We are considering adding support for more services in the future.

About AirPAY
AirPAY is a payment service for retailers that supports credit cards, electronic money, QR codes, and points . It supports six major international credit card brands, nine types of nationwide transportation electronic money such as Suica and PASMO, and Apple Pay. AirPAY QR can also support Alipay and WeChat Pay, China's largest mobile payment apps; domestic services like LINE Pay and d Barai; and Recruit’s AirPAY Point, which supports three common point services: T POINT, Ponta, and WAON POINT. AirPAY supports 25 payment methods, which is the largest number in the industry. All of the methods can be used with either an iPad or iPhone and a dedicated card reader.
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