The Gokongwei Group looks to hit it big in a drugs and money mix involving Pay&Go kiosk operator BTI Payments Philippines Inc. in a possibly potent commercial cocktail with Southstar Drug.
The partnership has already seen the deployment of 50 Pay&Go kiosks across various Southstar Drug locations, including 20 stores in Luzon, five in the Visayas and 25 in Metro Manila. This complements over 1,700 existing Pay&Go kiosks throughout the Philippines.
The kiosks make available a range of financial transactions, including bills payments, mobile top-ups, and e-money cash-ins, making essential financial services more accessible to customers.
“The deployment of Pay&Go kiosks in Southstar Drug stores is a critical move towards enhancing financial service accessibility in the Philippines. This partnership reflects our commitment to empowering Filipinos with convenient financial services and aligns with our vision of building an extensive network that will support the country’s financial ecosystem,” Dan Ibarra, BTI Payments chief executive officer, said.
Pay&Go kiosk patronage is a distant third to market leading GCash users numbering an estimated 86 million and the more than 40 million that patronize Maya.
Southstar Drug general manager Mariel Crisostomo waxes optimistic of the partnership.
“Incorporating Pay&Go services into our network will significantly improve our customer service and accessibility. This integration not only enriches our offerings but also positions us to better meet the progressive needs of our customers, enhancing their overall experience in our stores,” Crisostomo said.
This collaboration marks a significant step in combining retail and financial services catering to the evolving consumer behavior in the Philippines. Data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas indicate that digital payments are on track to reach 50 percent of total retail payments in the country by the end of the year.
BTI Payments and Southstar Drug both commit to expand the relationship and widen the reach of these essential services.
