With the evolution of payment systems and the pursuit of a cashless society, a new norm many are adopting is cardless transactions. Imagine missing out on a sale because a customer didn’t have their card in hand. The convenience of contactless payments such as Google Pay allows consumers to make payments without the unease of carrying their cards.
Google Pay is a reliable contactless payment option for Android users. Contactless payments are a secure method for consumers to make payments, especially on smartphones. By cutting down the risk associated with magnetic strips and chip cards on payment cards, smartphones are considered to be safer for purchases.
In this article, we’ll take you through the process of setting up Google Pay for your business.
How to Set-up Google Pay?
Setting up Google Pay for your business is quite simple. However, before you start setting up your account, make sure your business has a Unified Payments Interface ID (UP ID). Google’s Support page explains that UPI is a banking system for money transfers on payment apps, whereas the UPI ID is an address that identifies you on the UPI.
Once you have a UP ID, Here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Sign Your Business up for Google Pay
Visit the Google Pay and Wallet Console, and follow the instructions to fill in your business details. Make sure you use the correct Google account that you would like to use to accept payments.
After entering your business information, enter your business’s Unified Payments Interface ID.
Step 2: Verify Your Business’s Bank Account
Google will deposit a small amount of money into the bank account connected to your UP ID. Head to the UP ID verification screen on your Google account and enter the test amount that Google deposited into your bank account. You need to ensure that you enter the correct amount. That way, Google can successfully verify your bank account.
Step 3: Wait for Google Pay to Review Your Sign-Up
Wait for the Google Pay team to review your account. You should receive a notification within 48 hours to inform you of the status of your account.
Step 4: Integrate Google Pay Into Your Payment App or Website
Head to the developer section of your Google Pay account to explore your integration options. You can either allow customers to pay through Chrome web pay, where customers will pay through the Google Chrome browser. The second option is to have in-app purchases. Lastly, customers can pay through a Unified payments interface (UPI) collect call.
Step 5: Test Your Integration
To maximise your customer’s payment experience, ensure that you test your Google Pay integration. To do this, you can create a low-cost product on your website and contact Google’s support agent to make a purchase. You can cancel the purchase and remove the product once testing is complete.
Benefits of Setting up Google Pay for Your Business
South African banks have reported a significant surge in tap-to-pay transactions, with Google Pay being one of the leading digital wallets that consumers use.
Integrating Google Pay into your business payment system can reap several benefits, which are:
Convenient Payment for Your Customers
Google Pay can provide your customers with a fast and seamless payment experience. Not only do they get to save time, but they do not have to worry about the inconvenience of having their cards on them, which inevitably improves customer satisfaction.
Future-Proof Your Business
One of the most fundamental ways to future-proof your business is by taking advantage of technological advancements. Adapting your business to changes like contactless payments not only increases satisfaction but benefits your business by ensuring it can keep up with the ever-changing market.
Safe Transactions
Since the magnetic strips and chip cards found on payment cards are vulnerable to fraudulent activities like skimming and shimming, using contactless payment methods like Google Pay could provide a safer experience for your customers and your business. Using this contactless option is considered to be safer due to the encryption of contactless payment.
Increased Sales
Using a contactless payment system cuts down the amount of transaction speed time your business spends on physical payments. This can lead to shorter queues because of quicker transactions, leading to increased sales.
To explore more finance advice and insight, take a look at one of our articles about finance and accounting. You can also join us at the 2025 SME SA Funding Summit! Get your tickets on the SME South Africa Event page.