Zoho Pay Launch: Made-in-India POS, QR, Payroll & Arattai Chat-Pay Set to Transform Local Payments
Zoho has launched a new suite of POS hardware, static QR codes with soundbox, and integrated digital payment solutions under Zoho Pay—aimed at empowering India’s MSMEs, startups, and enterprises. With native Bharat BillPay and UPI support, instant payroll via Zoho Payroll, and upcoming payment features on its Arattai chat app, Zoho is building a trusted, all-in-one fintech stack to rival Paytm and Razorpay. The move signals a new era for digital payments and business automation, all powered by made-in-India technology and local partnerships.
Zoho Pay: India’s Next Fintech Giant Launches Made-in-India POS, QR, and Payroll Revolution
- Big news for Indian MSMEs: In October 2025, SaaS unicorn Zoho has officially stepped up its fintech game, launching a suite of point-of-sale (POS) hardware and digital payment solutions under Zoho Pay. The move signals a new wave in Indian fintech, challenging established players Paytm, PhonePe, and Razorpay with trusted, made-in-India technology.
- Hardware innovation: The range includes all-in-one POS terminals, smart POS machines, static QR codes with integrated soundbox, and contactless payment units. These aren’t just devices—they’re bundled with Zoho’s automation software, business management apps, and cloud integrations.
- Bharat BillPay partnership: Zoho has teamed up with NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) to address diverse payment challenges and strengthen India’s digital payments backbone. This gives enterprises and startups access to bill payments, UPI collections, and seamless settlement features across platforms.
- Chat & Pay: Arattai integration: Soon, users can send money through Zoho’s own instant messaging app, Arattai—directly rivaling WhatsApp Pay. Money transfers, merchant payments, and split bills will be secured and simplified inside the chat app, offering a familiar UI for millions of users.
- Market debut at Global Fintech Fest 2025: The ecosystem—including payout automation, virtual accounts for collections, marketplace settlements, and payroll disbursements—was showcased at Mumbai's GFF 2025, drawing attention from banks, SMEs, and B2B startups.
Zoho Pay isn’t just a gateway—it’s an entire ‘payment infrastructure as a service’ play, built to meet the real challenges of India’s 85 million+ business owners and digital merchants.
Feature Spotlight: What Makes Zoho Pay Unique?
- POS Terminals: All-in-one design supports card, UPI, QR, NFC, and mobile wallets. Built for high-traffic retail, restaurant, and field sales environments; easy digital onboarding and KYC.
- Smart QR with Soundbox: Static QR with soundbox notifies merchants of successful payments in real time—an essential trust feature for local shops, urban kirana, and marketplaces.
- Payroll Automation: Native integration with Zoho Payroll allows businesses to automate salary disbursements, track employee payments, and streamline compliance—all from the same platform.
- Payouts and Virtual Accounts: Instant payouts, virtual accounts for B2B invoice collections, direct settlement for marketplaces, and reconciliation tools—saving hours for finance and operations teams each month.
- Arattai Payments: Pay directly in chat—whether for groceries, team contributions, or splitting restaurant bills—using India’s most privacy-focused messaging platform.
- UPI, Credit/Debit, Wallet—all built natively: No third-party gateways needed; Zoho Pay manages compliance, authentication, and reporting for everything including UPI Lite and RuPay cards.
For Indian SMBs, startups, freelancers, and even NGOs, Zoho Pay offers a plug-and-play tech stack that can scale with growth—backed by Zoho’s trusted cloud, local engineering, and privacy-first philosophy.
Zoho Pay vs Razorpay/Paytm: Competitive Overview (Oct 2025)
| Feature | Zoho Pay | Razorpay | Paytm |
|---|---|---|---|
| POS Hardware | All-in-one, Made-in-India | External, imported | Mostly imported/POS app |
| UPI Integration | Direct, Bharat BillPay | Direct, via NPCI | Direct, custom UPI |
| Payroll | Native Zoho Automation | Add-on, via partnerships | Addon, limited |
| Chat Payments | Arattai (launching soon) | No chat integration | WhatsApp (external) |
| Soundbox | Static QR, voice, SMS alerts | Limited offerings | Full suite |
| Fees | Transparent, pay-as-you-go | Volume-based, package | Tiered, often higher |
Source: TechCrunch, GFF 2025, NPCI, Zoho, Razorpay, Paytm reviews
Zoho Pay Adoption & Case Studies
- MSME business: “Since switching to Zoho Pay, our 750+ field sales reps can collect payments, send invoices, and distribute salaries with zero errors—via a single dashboard.”
- Marketplace Partnership: “Integrating Zoho’s payouts means faster settlements for our vendors, reduced TAT, and improved trust—our NPS score went up by 40%.”
- Kirana store: “Soundbox gives us payment alerts—even when busy with customers; staff tracking is easy and salary slips are automated.”
FAQs – Zoho Pay, POS, and Digital Payments
Pro Tip: Want to future-proof your business? Combine Zoho Pay’s smart POS hardware with automated payroll and virtual accounts for instant reconciliation and seamless staff management—all with local support.
“Zoho Pay is the missing link for millions of Indian businesses—a full-stack payment solution built on trust, tech, and local innovation.” —Sridhar Vembu, Zoho Co-Founder (GFF 2025)
How to Get Started with Zoho Pay
- Check eligibility at Zoho Pay India; sign up for device installation, merchant onboarding, or API integration.
- Link to your Zoho Payroll, Zoho Books, and Arattai app for unified automation.
- Choose POS/soundbox device; activate payout/collection features from the dashboard.
- Partner opportunities for fintech, e-commerce, SaaS, and retail businesses—transparent fees, local support, and enterprise reporting.
Quick Poll: Will Zoho Pay change the way you accept payments?
Internal Links: Fintech News India, Payment Gateway Guide, Arattai App Review
Sources & Further Reading
Sources: TechCrunch, Zoho Pay India, NPCI Bharat BillPay, Global Fintech Fest 2025
Sneak peek: Zoho Pay’s POS launch, Bharat BillPay partnership, and chat-pay innovation sets the stage for a new era in local payments and smart business automation. Subscribe for more exclusive India fintech insights!
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Published: Oct 10, 2025
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