In today’s digital age, convenience, speed, and security are important factors for businesses and customers. One convenient, digital-first payment method in Thailand is the quick response (QR) code. In Thailand, the QR code was first implemented as a payment method with the National e-Payment policy and the subsequent push by the Bank of Thailand. They wanted businesses to offer a fast and convenient payment solution that reduced costs and minimized the drawbacks of handling cash.

Support from the government and financial institutions made QR codes a mainstream payment method in Thailand. Digital payment is now a reliable option for small and large-scale businesses while also helping to increase sales. In addition, QR codes offer a guarantee of safety for customers. For these reasons, QR codes have become an important part of business and everyday life in Thailand.

What’s in this article?

• How are QR codes used as a payment method?
  
• What are the advantages of QR codes?
  
• Which businesses should use QR codes?
  
• Which payment channels support QR codes?
  
• How to choose a QR code service provider
  
• How to create a QR code to receive payments with Stripe
  
• Boosting sales in Thailand with QR codes
  

How are QR codes used as a payment method?

QR codes—also called “quick response codes”—are two-dimensional codes similar to bar codes but with the capability to store much more data. Customers can scan them with smartphones or other scanning devices to make payments or access product information instantly.

In Thailand, QR codes became widely used in the late 2010s when the government and leading financial institutions worked together to promote digital payment solutions under the National e-Payment policy. As a result, payment methods such as PromptPay and QR codes have come to play an important role in Thailand’s payment system.

PromptPay customers can create their own QR codes to conveniently receive or transfer payments. This has led to an expansion of cashless transactions among street vendors, general stores, and the public. Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven—which has more than 14,215 stores in Thailand—also began accepting QR code payments in September 2024 in a pilot program of 232 stores nationwide.

Temples and charities in Thailand have begun to set up QR codes to receive donations via PromptPay. This can help increase donations and provide a convenient solution for donors. They can easily record the details of their donation in the Revenue Department’s e-revenue system for tax benefits.

To make a payment with a QR code using a banking app or digital wallet on a mobile phone, customers can open the app and scan the QR code. This allows customers to instantly make the payment without using bank cards or cash. This method is convenient and fast, suitable for everyday and online transactions.

What are the advantages of QR codes?

Many customers have become increasingly comfortable with digital payment methods. If a business supports QR code payments, it shows that it is adjusting to the changing lifestyles of customers. Thailand is among the top five countries in the world for QR code payment usage.

Offering QR codes as a payment option can be, therefore, an easy method for businesses to boost sales. It can also increase the likelihood of customers making a purchase decision because QR codes can be used with multiple banking applications and digital wallets. Businesses can place a QR code on their website, at the point of sale in a store, or on tables in a restaurant. Customers can use their smartphones to scan the QR code and pay instantly.

Here are some of the advantages businesses might experience when using QR codes:

• Boosts sales: Businesses that offer QR code scanning as a payment option can have a competitive advantage because scanning to make a payment is easy, fast, and secure. It allows customers to make purchasing decisions faster while building customer trust and potentially increasing the likelihood of repeat purchases.
  
• Provides customer convenience: Customers can use their banking or other payment applications to scan a QR code and instantly make payments without using cash. This can reduce the time it takes to complete a transaction.
  
• Offers convenience for sellers: Setting up a QR code is easy. By simply placing a QR code on a website or online payment page, sellers can be ready to receive payments.
  
• Ensures security: QR code payments are supported by the security systems of banks and service providers. Transaction histories can also be verified, reducing the risk of errors that can occur during transactions.
  
• Lowers costs: QR codes can reduce the complexity of installing traditional card payment systems, point-of-sale (POS) devices, or in-store card readers.
  
• Saves time: QR code payment is convenient and fast, reducing in-store payment lines, especially for convenience stores.
  
• Strengthens the brand: By using digital technology to accept payments, businesses can project a modern and trustworthy image.
  
• Reduces mistakes: QR codes eliminate the need to enter bank information, minimizing errors and inconvenience caused by manually typing information.
  
• Records sales data: When a customer scans a QR code to make a payment, the transaction data is stored, making it easy and convenient for businesses to accurately track and analyze their sales information.
  

Which businesses should use QR codes?

Businesses from all sectors—from small businesses, such as cafés, restaurants, convenience stores, and street fruit vendors, to big businesses, such as transportation companies, tourist attractions, and educational institutions—recognize the benefits of using QR codes. They have adopted this method as one of their payment solutions to receive payments. Below is a list of business types that should consider using QR codes:

• Online businesses: These businesses can offer their customers a convenient payment solution by simply sending a QR code via online communication channels. They can also place a QR code on a payment page so customers can scan the code and instantly make a payment. This method applies to customers using mobile banking and digital wallets.
  
• Brick-and-mortar businesses of all sizes: QR codes are convenient for a wide range of businesses, from street food vendors to large restaurants. This payment method can help reduce cash usage and secure customers who prefer cashless payment solutions.
  
• Retail stores and restaurants: By placing a QR code sticker on the counter or table, customers can instantly scan the code to make a payment. This is convenient and reduces the use of cash.
  
• Small or startup businesses: Because QR codes are easy to set up and use, they offer a simple solution with low transaction fees. They are also relatively inexpensive compared to installing a POS system, which can be quite costly.
  
• Event organizers: Customers can scan a QR code to pay directly for event tickets and services, such as concerts and seminars.
  
• Tourism businesses: In addition to being used to increase sales, QR codes are also a promotional tool. National organizations—such as the Tourism Authority of Thailand—also place QR codes at tourist attractions to provide information in multiple languages.
  
• Transportation businesses: Airlines and bus operators can offer digital tickets with a QR code customers can scan upon boarding or reaching a gate. Customers can print and present the ticket with the QR code or show the ticket with the code on their mobile phone—an environmentally friendly option that reduces the use of paper.
  

Which payment channels support QR codes?

Many payment methods support QR codes with different conditions. For example:

• Mobile banking: Most banks in Thailand support using a QR code to transfer and receive payments. Those banks include K PLUS, SCB, Bangkok Bank, and Krungsri.
  
• Digital wallets: TrueMoney, LINE Pay, ShopeePay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay all support QR codes.
  
• PromptPay: Transactions can be made simply by scanning the phone number or national identification number associated with a bank account.
  
• Payment gateway: A financial service that can generate a QR code to automatically receive payments in the specified currency or format.
  

How to choose a QR code service provider

Below are the main factors that should be taken into account when choosing a payment service provider:

• Compliance with international security standards: A fraud prevention system and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance should be in place to ensure the security of data and transactions. It can also ensure the system displays the QR code in a format that reduces the risk of tampering or unauthorized modification.
  
• Fees: Businesses should compare providers and choose the one that offers the most cost-effective option for its transaction volume.
  
• Payment channel options: The QR code service provider should offer connectivity to a variety of banks and digital wallets. This gives customers more options to choose from.
  
• Ecommerce connection: To make QR codes easy to install, businesses should verify that there is an application programming interface (API) and plugins for websites and ecommerce platforms.
  

Once a business selects a service provider, the next step is to register with the provider to create a QR code. Registration is usually a standard procedure that involves entering business and personal information, followed by verifying identity and linking a bank account to receive payments.

How to create a QR code to receive payments with Stripe

Each service provider might have different steps for creating a QR code. Stripe has expanded its services to include a QR code generator that comes with an API and plugins for ecommerce platforms, allowing QR codes to be easily set up. Follow the steps (after registering the merchant ID) below:

• Enter payment details: These include the merchant ID, transaction amount, and details of the product or service.

• Create a QR code: Click the “Create” button. A QR code will be created and linked to the payment details provided.

• Test the QR code: Before sharing the QR code, scan the code to verify the recipient’s account and payment information.

• Share the QR code: The QR code can be placed at the point of sale or on websites, receipts, brochures, or social media channels for customers to scan and pay.

After creating a QR code with Stripe by following the instructions above, customers can scan the code and make a payment via the method they choose. There is also a guarantee the QR code will be safely formatted to reduce the risk of tampering or unauthorized modifications.

Boosting sales in Thailand with QR codes

Businesses of all sizes—from small businesses to large enterprises—can benefit from using QR codes to increase sales. By providing a convenient option for customers, these businesses can make purchasing decisions easier and increase the likelihood of repeat visits. Moreover, choosing a reliable service provider with reasonable fees and support for various payment methods can also help your business grow securely.

Using QR codes in Thailand is not just another option—it’s a priority payment solution that can boost your business, expand your customer base, and help your business adapt to an increasingly cashless society. Whether you create your QR code with a domestic bank or via a global platform such as Stripe, you can gain a competitive advantage, elevate your business image, and easily increase sales with QR codes.