Japan's Firms Enhance Cross-Border Services with AI Translation and Expanded QR Payments
Japanese financial institutions have been expanding their services to cater to international visitors. PayPay Corporation has integrated UnionPay QR payments into its merchant network through the HIVEX platform, allowing travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau to make purchases without downloading the PayPay app.
The service enables users to register their UnionPay cards in the UnionPay App and use them to pay at participating merchants. Prices are displayed in Japanese yen, while customers can view the amount in their home currency within the app.
According to TBCASoft, which operates the HIVEX platform, over 500 million linked UnionPay card users can now make payments through this service. PayPay has stated that its overseas payment coverage reaches 17 markets, accounting for approximately 80% of international visitors to Japan.
In a separate development, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has introduced an AI-powered interpreter application called SMBC-Interpreter, which uses OpenAI's GPT-Live-1 model to translate spoken language in real-time. The application generates both voice and text responses, allowing employees and customers to communicate effectively.