GCash builds payment tools around Filipino MSMEs' digital needs

The Philippines continues to move toward wider use of digital payments. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), digital transactions accounted for 57.4% of retail payment volume in 2024, rising from 52.8% in 2023 and 42.1% in 2022. The BSP has set a target for digital payments to make up 60% to 70% of retail payment transactions by 2028, increasing expectations for businesses to support cashless transactions.

GCash said it is expanding its payment solutions to help businesses respond to this shift, with products intended to make digital payments more accessible, convenient, and secure for merchants. For micro, small, and medium enterprises, accepting digital payments can expand customer payment options, reduce reliance on cash handling, and improve day-to-day operational efficiency. MSMEs account for roughly 99% of all registered businesses in the Philippines and employ the majority of the country's workforce, according to the Department of Trade and Industry, making their ability to adopt digital tools a significant factor in the broader push toward a cashless economy.

Point-of-sale tools for different business needs

GCash has developed a range of payment devices for MSMEs with different sizes, customer flows, and operating models. Instead of offering a single solution for all merchants, the company said its payment devices are designed to fit varying business requirements, allowing merchants to choose tools that can help them accept digital payments and manage operations more efficiently.

GCash EasyPOS is an all-in-one payment terminal intended for medium and large enterprises. The device accepts QRPh, Visa, and Mastercard payments through a single terminal. QRPh is the national QR code standard developed jointly by the BSP and the Philippine Clearing House Corporation to enable interoperable payments across banks and e-wallets, meaning merchants accepting QRPh can receive payments from users of other participating providers, not only GCash. EasyPOS also enables businesses to connect with GCash customers, who may receive rewards when paying through the GCash app. EasyPOS includes digital receipts, refunds, settlements, and transaction monitoring features, which GCash said are meant to simplify merchant operations.

GCash SoundPay Plus is aimed at micro and small merchants in the retail and food and beverage sectors that need fast and secure payment confirmations. The device combines QR payments, card acceptance, and instant voice confirmation, allowing merchants to know immediately when a payment has been completed without checking separate devices or customer screenshots. GCash said this can help speed up transactions and support merchants managing busy counters.

"Digital payments should work for businesses of all sizes, especially MSMEs that are the backbone of the economy," said Ren-Ren Reyes Jr., President and CEO of G-Xchange Inc. "As more Filipinos choose to pay digitally, our goal is to make it easier for merchants to accept these payments with solutions that are simple, reliable, and built around their everyday needs."

GCash said its payment tools are developed by listening to the daily challenges faced by Filipino MSMEs and understanding what they need to grow. By placing merchants at the center of product development, the company said it aims to create payment solutions that are simpler, safer, and more convenient, while helping entrepreneurs focus on serving customers and building their livelihoods.

Support across stages of digital adoption

The launch of GCash EasyPOS and GCash SoundPay Plus adds to earlier GCash for Business products designed to support companies at different levels of digital adoption, including GCash PocketPay and GCash SoundPay.

GCash PocketPay is designed for MSMEs, bazaar merchants, and mobile sellers that operate where their customers are. It turns an NFC-enabled Android smartphone into a contactless card terminal, allowing merchants to accept card payments without purchasing additional hardware. GCash SoundPay, meanwhile, is a portable QR payment device that provides instant voice confirmation for each transaction.

"Digital adoption looks different for every business," said Paul Albano, General Manager of GCash for Business. "Whether they're just beginning to accept digital payments or looking to upgrade their payment capabilities, we want to provide solutions that are practical, accessible, and easy to use."

GCash said these payment solutions are connected through the GCash for Business Portal. Through a single dashboard, merchants can activate devices, monitor transactions, manage wallets, and transfer funds. Businesses can begin using the platform with a verified GCash account, which comes with a ₱5 million wallet limit. The company said this setup is designed to help merchants manage payments, cash flow, and daily operations in one place.

Security built into the platform

GCash said security is central to its merchant payment systems. Its solutions include secure payment processing, real-time transaction confirmations, stronger authentication, and fraud protection features intended to help protect both businesses and their customers.

The company said these built-in safeguards allow merchants to accept digital payments with greater confidence while giving customers a payment experience that is safe, seamless, and reliable. By combining ease of use with security features, GCash said it supports trust in digital transactions and the broader shift toward a cashless economy.

MSMEs in a growing digital economy

As digital payments become more common in the Philippines, GCash said businesses have an opportunity to use them to accept more payment methods, streamline operations, reduce the cost of digital adoption, and serve more customers.

GCash said it remains committed to developing practical payment innovations that allow businesses of all sizes to participate more fully in the country's expanding digital economy.

More information is available at www.gcash.com.