Tech startup Chope partners with Alipay to digitalise F&B businesses in Asia

Regional F&B tech startup Chope has partnered with Alipay, the digital payment platform of Ant Group to accelerate digitalisation of F&B businesses across Asia, according to an announcement.

Through the partnership, Alipay will provide Chope with its mini program Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and know-how, while Chope becomes Alipay’s platform partner.

Businesses of all sizes will now be able to easily integrate into the Chope app through mini programs, which are easy to build, highly-customisable, and cost-effective.

This also allows F&B operators to reach Chope’s millions of users, leverage Alipay’s innovative technology, and digitalise their operations in one fell swoop – providing speedy market access, and a truly omnichannel experience.

Founded in 2011, Chope currently operates in seven cities – Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Phuket, Shanghai, Bali, and Jakarta. It has grown consistently over the past 10 years, and despite the effects of COVID-19 on the F&B industry this past year, is bouncing back stronger than ever.

The pandemic has fueled adoption of digital solutions and services among F&B operators. For some, the extreme restrictions have forced them to finally adapt to digital lifestyles not only to remain competitive, but to survive, according to The Chope Group CEO Arrif Ziaudeen.

“Our partnership with Alipay comes at an opportune time to help lead this evolutionary step-change. We look forward to not only the F&B industry’s recovery but also growth in the region, and we believe that building an open mini program ecosystem will be a powerful enabler of that,” Ziaudeen added.

This strategic partnership comes as the local F&B industry continues to tackle the challenges brought upon by the ongoing pandemic, signaling both firms’ continued commitment to the recovery of the local F&B industry.

Cherry Huang, general manager, Global Merchant Partnership, South and Southeast Asia, at Alipay, said the company is constantly striving to support the digital transformation of the service industries including F&B.

“Chope makes an outstanding partner of choice for Alipay with its vision to drive innovation and its vast network of local F&B operators, many of which are small and medium-sized businesses. With Chope’s integration with Alipay’s mini program, we look forward to supporting the recovery of local F&B businesses and helping them thrive,” Huang said.