Click To Pay: Unlocking Qatar's eCommercepotential through smarter, safer payments
As Qatar rapidly embraces digital transformation, eCommerce is emerging as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country. A new Visa report sheds light on how consumers are shopping online more frequently than ever—but also reveals that persistent friction at checkout continues to hinder growth. In this exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune, Shashank Singh, Visa's Vice President and General Manager for Qatar and Kuwait, dives into the key findings from Visa's latest Checkout Friction Report. He discusses the surge in online shopping, the impact of innovations like biometric-enabled Click to Pay and why improving the online checkout experience is now critical for businesses—especially SMEs—looking to thrive in Qatar's evolving digital economy. Excerpts:
What's driving the strong growth of eCommerce in Qatar, even as some payment challengesremain?
The rise of eCommerce in Qatar is being fueled by consumers' increasing comfort with online platforms and a growing digital infrastructure. Visa's latest Checkout Friction Report shows that one in four respondents now shop online for groceries every day, and for categories like fashion, entertainment, and electronics, many shop at least oncea month.
However, while adoption is high, the online checkout experience remains a sticking point for many. Common frustrations, especially having to manually enter card details and concerns about payment security, continue to affect both satisfaction and conversion. Addressing these pain points presents a significant opportunity for retailers to boost loyalty and revenue.
The report shows many respondents would shop more with one click checkout and biometrics. Is Click to Pay the answer, and is it already available in Qatar?
Yes, Click to Pay is already live in Qatar. In fact, Qatar National Bank (QNB) was the first acquirer bank globally to launch Visa's Click to Pay with biometric authentication and Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) was the first issuer bank in both Qatar and the GCC to launch the service in partnership with Visa. This feature eliminates the need for consumers to repeatedly enter card and personal details, using biometric authentication on the shopper's device to speed up and secure the process.
The demand for this kind of innovation is strong. Seventy-one percent of respondents said they would likely use Click to Pay with Biometrics, and 80 percent said they would shop more frequently if a one-click checkout was available.
Security is a key concern for many shoppers especially when it comes to biometric data. How can merchants ensure security of such data?
Security is top of mind for Qatar's online shoppers, with 68 percent worried about fraud and 58 percent uneasy about storing card details across multiple sites. Concerns around biometric data are understandable and increasingly relevant.
Click to Pay addresses this by using Visa Payment Passkey, which authenticates users through their device's built-in biometrics like fingerprint or face ID. Crucially, this biometric data never leaves the user's device and isn't shared with merchants or payment networks, reducing the risk of misuse.
Tokenization adds another layer of protection by replacing card details with a secure, encrypted token, meaning actual card information is never exposed during transactions.
Merchants also play a critical role by following data security standards like Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), ensuring secure storage, encryption, and access control.
Protecting sensitive data takes a layered approach – combining secure tech, industry compliance, and a strong culture of data responsibility across the payments ecosystem.
What should small businesses and eCommerce sites take away from this study? Can improved checkout experiences help attract more customers?
Absolutely. The findings of the Checkout Friction Report are clear. A smoother, more secure checkout process directly impacts customer satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, sales. Small businesses and eCommerce sites should see this as a call to action. By embracing advanced solutions like Click to Pay, streamlining the payment journey, and prioritizing security, they not only improve conversion rates but also build long term trust with their customer base.
With digital transformation high on Qatar's national agenda, now is the perfect time for merchants, especially smaller players, to align with evolving consumer expectations and stand out in an increasingly competitive eCommerce landscape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
13 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
QIB launches the QIB Junior App, Qatar's first digital banking experience for kids and teens
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Islamic Bank has announced the official launch of the QIB Junior App, the country's first digital banking and financial education platform for kids and teens aged 8 to 17 years old. As a first-to-market solution, QIB Junior is a modern Banking App designed specifically for kids and teens with tools that empower young users to manage their finances confidently, while parents guide their journey. Developed with a mobile and tablets-first mindset, QIB Junior introduces young users to smart money management in a secure and intuitive way. The solution brings together a prepaid Visa card which can be used for online payments, to tap and pay at physical stores, and can be add to digital wallets i.e. Apple Wallet, Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet. The QIB Junior App provides a dedicated 'savings pot' which allows juniors to move money between the card and the savings pot, encouraging the habit of saving. The App offers a suite of engaging features allowing junior to earn rewards every time they complete tasks set by parents as well as to enjoy exclusive deals and discounts tailored to their age group. In addition, QIB will be offering a special gift voucher to the early adopters who onboard on the Junior App. Parents play a central role in enabling and managing their child's banking journey. Through the main QIB Mobile App, parents can seamlessly sign up their children for the QIB Junior App and issue a prepaid card. With full control through the QIB Mobile App, parents can set allowances, load the card, assign tasks, monitor spending, manage access, activate or deactivate the Junior App and the prepaid card and locate the child's device. This approach ensures that children gain early financial independence under safe and guided supervision of their parent. QIB Junior is the perfect tool for parents to set allowances and help their children build smart money habits in a safe, supervised environment. For Juniors, the QIB Junior App offers savings and spending capabilities while building their financial confidence. Young users benefit from tools that encourage saving, reward good habits, and offer access to exclusive deals and discounts, laying a strong foundation for financial responsibility and confidence. The solution is designed to grow with its users, automatically transitioning to QIB's Bedaya student account at age 18, ensuring continuity in their financial journey. Commenting on this pioneering initiative, D. Anand, QIB's General Manager – Personal Banking Group said: 'The launch of QIB Junior is a major milestone, reflecting QIB's leadership in digital innovation and future-ready banking. It introduces a secure, practical solution tailored to the evolving needs of families in Qatar. By empowering young users today, we are investing in a financially confident and responsible generation tomorrow.' The initiative aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, reinforcing financial literacy and digital inclusion as cornerstones of sustainable development. It also affirms QIB's role as a digital leader committed to serving all segments of the community with secure and accessible banking solutions. QIB Junior is now available for existing QIB customers. Parents can activate the service through the QIB Mobile App, available on the App Store, Google Play, and Huawei AppGallery.
Qatar Tribune
19-06-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Click To Pay: Unlocking Qatar's eCommerce potential through smarter, safer payments
As Qatar rapidly embraces digital transformation, eCommerce is emerging as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country. A new Visa report sheds light on how consumers are shopping online more frequently than ever—but also reveals that persistent friction at checkout continues to hinder growth. In this exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune, Shashank Singh, Visa's Vice President and General Manager for Qatar and Kuwait, dives into the key findings from Visa's latest Checkout Friction Report. He discusses the surge in online shopping, the impact of innovations like biometric-enabled Click to Pay and why improving the online checkout experience is now critical for businesses—especially SMEs—looking to thrive in Qatar's evolving digital economy. Excerpts: What's driving the strong growth of eCommerce in Qatar, even as some payment challengesremain? The rise of eCommerce in Qatar is being fueled by consumers' increasing comfort with online platforms and a growing digital infrastructure. Visa's latest Checkout Friction Report shows that one in four respondents now shop online for groceries every day, and for categories like fashion, entertainment, and electronics, many shop at least oncea month. However, while adoption is high, the online checkout experience remains a sticking point for many. Common frustrations, especially having to manually enter card details and concerns about payment security, continue to affect both satisfaction and conversion. Addressing these pain points presents a significant opportunity for retailers to boost loyalty and revenue. The report shows many respondents would shop more with one click checkout and biometrics. Is Click to Pay the answer, and is it already available in Qatar? Yes, Click to Pay is already live in Qatar. In fact, Qatar National Bank (QNB) was the first acquirer bank globally to launch Visa's Click to Pay with biometric authentication and Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) was the first issuer bank in both Qatar and the GCC to launch the service in partnership with Visa. This feature eliminates the need for consumers to repeatedly enter card and personal details, using biometric authentication on the shopper's device to speed up and secure the process. The demand for this kind of innovation is strong. Seventy-one percent of respondents said they would likely use Click to Pay with Biometrics, and 80 percent said they would shop more frequently if a one-click checkout was available. Security is a key concern for many shoppers especially when it comes to biometric data. How can merchants ensure security of such data? Security is top of mind for Qatar's online shoppers, with 68 percent worried about fraud and 58 percent uneasy about storing card details across multiple sites. Concerns around biometric data are understandable and increasingly relevant. Click to Pay addresses this by using Visa Payment Passkey, which authenticates users through their device's built-in biometrics like fingerprint or face ID. Crucially, this biometric data never leaves the user's device and isn't shared with merchants or payment networks, reducing the risk of misuse. Tokenization adds another layer of protection by replacing card details with a secure, encrypted token, meaning actual card information is never exposed during transactions. Merchants also play a critical role by following data security standards like Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), ensuring secure storage, encryption, and access control. Protecting sensitive data takes a layered approach – combining secure tech, industry compliance, and a strong culture of data responsibility across the payments ecosystem. What should small businesses and eCommerce sites take away from this study? Can improved checkout experiences help attract more customers? Absolutely. The findings of the Checkout Friction Report are clear. A smoother, more secure checkout process directly impacts customer satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, sales. Small businesses and eCommerce sites should see this as a call to action. By embracing advanced solutions like Click to Pay, streamlining the payment journey, and prioritizing security, they not only improve conversion rates but also build long term trust with their customer base. With digital transformation high on Qatar's national agenda, now is the perfect time for merchants, especially smaller players, to align with evolving consumer expectations and stand out in an increasingly competitive eCommerce landscape.
Qatar Tribune
18-06-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Click To Pay: Unlocking Qatar's eCommercepotential through smarter, safer payments
As Qatar rapidly embraces digital transformation, eCommerce is emerging as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country. A new Visa report sheds light on how consumers are shopping online more frequently than ever—but also reveals that persistent friction at checkout continues to hinder growth. In this exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune, Shashank Singh, Visa's Vice President and General Manager for Qatar and Kuwait, dives into the key findings from Visa's latest Checkout Friction Report. He discusses the surge in online shopping, the impact of innovations like biometric-enabled Click to Pay and why improving the online checkout experience is now critical for businesses—especially SMEs—looking to thrive in Qatar's evolving digital economy. Excerpts: What's driving the strong growth of eCommerce in Qatar, even as some payment challengesremain? The rise of eCommerce in Qatar is being fueled by consumers' increasing comfort with online platforms and a growing digital infrastructure. Visa's latest Checkout Friction Report shows that one in four respondents now shop online for groceries every day, and for categories like fashion, entertainment, and electronics, many shop at least oncea month. However, while adoption is high, the online checkout experience remains a sticking point for many. Common frustrations, especially having to manually enter card details and concerns about payment security, continue to affect both satisfaction and conversion. Addressing these pain points presents a significant opportunity for retailers to boost loyalty and revenue. The report shows many respondents would shop more with one click checkout and biometrics. Is Click to Pay the answer, and is it already available in Qatar? Yes, Click to Pay is already live in Qatar. In fact, Qatar National Bank (QNB) was the first acquirer bank globally to launch Visa's Click to Pay with biometric authentication and Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) was the first issuer bank in both Qatar and the GCC to launch the service in partnership with Visa. This feature eliminates the need for consumers to repeatedly enter card and personal details, using biometric authentication on the shopper's device to speed up and secure the process. The demand for this kind of innovation is strong. Seventy-one percent of respondents said they would likely use Click to Pay with Biometrics, and 80 percent said they would shop more frequently if a one-click checkout was available. Security is a key concern for many shoppers especially when it comes to biometric data. How can merchants ensure security of such data? Security is top of mind for Qatar's online shoppers, with 68 percent worried about fraud and 58 percent uneasy about storing card details across multiple sites. Concerns around biometric data are understandable and increasingly relevant. Click to Pay addresses this by using Visa Payment Passkey, which authenticates users through their device's built-in biometrics like fingerprint or face ID. Crucially, this biometric data never leaves the user's device and isn't shared with merchants or payment networks, reducing the risk of misuse. Tokenization adds another layer of protection by replacing card details with a secure, encrypted token, meaning actual card information is never exposed during transactions. Merchants also play a critical role by following data security standards like Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), ensuring secure storage, encryption, and access control. Protecting sensitive data takes a layered approach – combining secure tech, industry compliance, and a strong culture of data responsibility across the payments ecosystem. What should small businesses and eCommerce sites take away from this study? Can improved checkout experiences help attract more customers? Absolutely. The findings of the Checkout Friction Report are clear. A smoother, more secure checkout process directly impacts customer satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, sales. Small businesses and eCommerce sites should see this as a call to action. By embracing advanced solutions like Click to Pay, streamlining the payment journey, and prioritizing security, they not only improve conversion rates but also build long term trust with their customer base. With digital transformation high on Qatar's national agenda, now is the perfect time for merchants, especially smaller players, to align with evolving consumer expectations and stand out in an increasingly competitive eCommerce landscape.
