Bengaluru: Walk through the energetic markets of Karnataka—from the buzz of Bangalore’s Commercial Street and the rich aromas of Mysore’s sandalwood shops to the lively trading lanes in Hubli—and there’s a noticeable change. Amid the familiar clamour of bargaining and foot traffic, shopkeepers are quietly evolving. Many have replaced traditional cash registers and ledger books with QR codes, card machines, and audio alerts that signal completed payments.
This isn’t just about keeping pace with technology. For many small and traditional business owners, digital payments are no longer a modern convenience—they’ve become essential for making everyday operations smoother, faster, and far more reliable.
More Than Just Technology—Solving Real Problems
This shift isn’t merely about adopting digital tools. It’s a smarter way to deal with age-old problems. Consider the daily grind: handling loose cash, manually logging every transaction, and wrestling with errors in accounting. With digital payment systems, merchants get instant payment confirmation, built-in record-keeping, and much easier reconciliation, freeing them to focus on growing their business. From Hampi’s ancient temple towns to Belgaum’s busy industrial zones, from Mangalore’s thriving portside markets to the quieter streets around Mysore Palace, local businesses are seeing a clear trend. Their customers increasingly prefer digital ways to pay, be it through UPI apps, tap-and-go cards, or simple QR scans.
Many merchants have now gone ahead and set up digital payment systems, realizing that this is what their customers expect. And they haven’t stopped at just QR codes. More and more businesses are using audio-based payment confirmation devices or integrated POS machines that handle both card and UPI payments. These tools are showing up in all kinds of places—from upscale saree showrooms to traditional mithai shops.
Traditional Merchants, Newfound Control
Even businesses still relying on paper receipts and handwritten ledgers are now recognizing the benefits. For many, going digital means gaining better control over how their finances are tracked and used to plan better.
The digital payment ecosystem today is far more tuned to the specific needs of small and traditional merchants. Devices are portable, easy to use, and come with multi-language support. For example, PhonePe’s SmartSpeaker operates in 21 languages, helping merchants across Karnataka receive payment updates in their preferred language —an important feature in a state that’s linguistically diverse.
POS machines, once the preserve of big-box retailers, are now accessible and practical for smaller shops. PhonePe’s POS solution supports UPI, card, and contactless transactions, and allows merchants to track their entire transaction history from a single, intuitive dashboard on PhonePe Business App. That makes reconciling accounts and managing daily settlements a whole lot easier.
“Digital payments are everywhere now. With PhonePe’s products like PhonePe POS and PhonePe QR across my multiple outlets, I can track all transactions on my mobile (PhonePe Business App), so I don’t need to be physically present everywhere. This truly lets me focus on growing my business. Plus, customers can pay however they want, even during the rush, which helps us serve more people, more efficiently,” says Aruna Yuvraj, Owner of Yuvraj Silk House in Mysuru.
Simple Tech for Busy Places
While QR codes like PhonePe’s Scan ‘n’ Pay remain the most common starting point—they require no setup or power, and work with any UPI app—many busy retail areas have adopted audio payment devices as well. These PhonePe SmartSpeakers are especially useful in high-traffic environments. In noisy or fast-paced settings, manually checking payment confirmations just isn’t feasible.
“Fintech solutions have truly transformed how we manage our business finances; we’ve been associated with PhonePe for over seven years now, and their SmartSpeakers are invaluable for real-time payment confirmations,” says Divyan, Owner, Sindoor Silks, Mysuru. “This is incredibly beneficial, particularly when I’m not physically at the store and can focus on other critical tasks. My team no longer needs to call me to reconfirm if a transaction has gone through, ensuring seamless operations.”
Adding a touch of local appeal, PhonePe SmartSpeakers even offer audio confirmations in the voices of beloved celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Mammootty, Kicha Sudeep, and Mahesh Babu – a feature that truly resonates with customers.
Digitizing Payments Made Simple with PhonePe
Digital transformation doesn’t need to be complicated. Whether you run a kirana store, a silk weaving unit, a sandalwood crafts business, or a tailoring shop, moving toward digital payments is simple and convenient.
A QR code is often the easiest way to start—it’s free, quick to deploy, and instantly useful. For stores handling higher volumes or needing faster service, adding a SmartSpeaker removes the need to verify payments manually. And if your customers prefer cards or contactless payments, a PhonePe POS device offers that flexibility without added hassle. Each of these tools is designed to give merchants better control, clearer visibility, and greater confidence in running their day-to-day business.
As Karnataka’s retail landscape continues to grow, those embracing digital payments now are setting themselves up not just to survive, but to thrive, in a more connected, customer-focused economy.