Zoho to enter consumer payments with ‘Zoho Pay’

Zoho Corporation is entering the consumer fintech space with the launch of Zoho Pay, a consumer payments app that will also be embedded in its chat platform, Arattai.

According to a Moneycontrol report, Zoho Pay will function as a standalone app while also being integrated into Arattai, allowing users to send and receive money, make secure payments, and transact seamlessly without leaving the chat interface.

Arattai, launched in early 2021 by Zoho as a chat and collaboration app, will serve as the foundation for this payment integration. The app already supports messaging, file sharing, and video calls, and will now add payments via Zoho Pay.

Zoho Pay is currently under internal testing and will be rolled out in phases over the coming months. The move marks Zoho’s deeper foray into the fintech sector, where it already offers business-payment solutions and point-of-sale devices.

As part of its fintech roadmap, Zoho plans to expand beyond payments into lending, broking, insurance, and wealth-tech. The company views the consumer app as part of a broader strategy to build a comprehensive financial services ecosystem encompassing payments, cash flow management, and payouts.

Arattai, a “Made in India” messaging app, is emerging as a competitor to WhatsApp in the Indian market. The app has recently seen a sharp rise in downloads, driven by government support and growing privacy concerns around global tech platforms. 

Notably, WhatsApp also offers UPI-based payment services for its users in India.