French supermarket retailer Carrefour has teamed up with BNP Paribas to trial a mobile phone-based payment app called Wa! – a technology platform that has been operational since last year.
Wa! provides electronic payment as well as loyalty and couponing services, and enables customers to pay for items with their mobile phones regardless of which bank or bank card they use. A pin code can be used to pay for purchases both in-store and online.
Carrefour Chairman and CEO Georges Plassat said: "We’re working to develop really useful services for our customers that will help us forge a closer relationship with them. We share with our partner BNP Paribas this determination to provide a new customer experience harnessing the new technologies to create fun and social links.”
So far, the trial has only been rolled out in its preliminary stages, however, full-scale tests are now due to begin in the Ile-de-France (Greater Paris region) at 12 sales outlets that represent Carrefour’s full range of store formats. The technology is not only open to Carrefour – other retailers are also invited to take part in the trial.
BNP Paribas CEO Jean-Laurent Bonnafé added: “The technology platform is already operational. Based on a solid foundation, it has been designed to enable tech start-ups to work hand in hand with us in order to build forward-looking services.”
