Mumbai: Reliance Jio has announced an industry-first feature, JioSoundPay, for its JioBharat device, aiming to revolutionize payment operations for small-scale merchants across India. This new functionality provides instant, multilingual audio confirmations for UPI payments, eliminating the need for a separate sound box.
According to the company, JioSoundPay is designed to enhance efficiency for small businesses, including Kirana stores, vegetable vendors, and roadside eateries. The official statement highlighted that the existing small and micro merchants currently spend approximately Rs. 125 per month for a sound box. With JioSoundPay being offered free for life, JioBharat users can save Rs. 1,500 annually. The feature is expected to benefit nearly five crore merchants nationwide, offering seamless business operations at no additional cost. By integrating audio payment confirmations directly into the JioBharat device, JioSoundPay eliminates the dependency on external devices, making it a cost-effective solution for micro and small enterprises.
The announcement comes as Reliance Jio seeks to strengthen its market presence, particularly after a challenging period of subscriber losses. This strategic move by Reliance Jio is expected to disrupt the market, potentially impacting competitors like Paytm, which currently dominates the sound box segment. By offering this innovative solution for free, Jio aims to reinforce its commitment to empowering small businesses while expanding its reach across the country.
