Grab's Chief Product Officer, Philipp Kandal, announced on 8/4 that the company plans to roll out its Tap to Pay feature in Vietnam next year. This feature, integrated into the seller's device, uses NFC technology to transform a smartphone into a point-of-sale (POS) card reader.
According to a Grab representative, this application is ideal for small stores, which typically only accept cash or QR code payments. Accepting card payments usually requires store owners to invest in POS machines, pay transaction fees, and commit to long-term contracts. Currently, banks charge between 0,7% and 3,5% per transaction for card swipe services at POS terminals.
The Grab representative did not disclose detailed plans regarding potential partnerships with payment intermediaries or the scope of the pilot program. However, they affirmed that Grab will comply with all legal procedures when developing payment features in Vietnam.
Previously, Grab partnered with Moca to launch an e-wallet on its application, but this wallet ceased operations hai years ago. Users of this ride-hailing platform can currently pay with cash, bank cards, or e-wallets like MoMo and ZaloPay.
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Grab's Chief Product Officer, Philipp Kandal, at the event. Photo: Thu An |
Vietnam is the 6th country in ASEAN where this technology platform is introducing the tap to pay feature. Grab is not the first entity to "turn phones into POS machines," but it holds an advantage with hundreds of thousands of food and grocery stores already on its application. In the food delivery segment alone, data from market analysis firm Momentum Works shows that Grab held 48% market share in Vietnam last year, comparable to ShopeeFood, and is currently present in 34 provinces and cities.
In addition to its goal of deeper penetration into Vietnam's payment market, the technology ride-hailing platform also plans to apply artificial intelligence (AI), introduce group ride options, and expand GrabMaps features for users. Grab is also piloting delivery robots for food and goods, operating within shopping malls and office buildings.
In 2025, Grab achieved a net profit of 200 million USD, contrasting with a loss of 158 million USD in the previous year. The company's total annual revenue reached 3,37 billion USD, a 20% increase year-on-year. Of this, the delivery, food, and grocery segments accounted for more than mot half of sales. This year, Grab aims for revenues exceeding 4 billion USD and an adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of 700-720 million USD, representing a 40-44% growth compared to last year.
Thuy Truong
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