EUROPE. Global Blue has launched a real-time refund service with Alipay which allows Chinese shoppers to claim VAT refunds directly to their accounts.
With Chinese travellers being the number one globe shopper group in Europe, the service takes into account their strong preference for claiming refunds in the airport. According to Global Blue, over 70% of Chinese shoppers currently choose a cash or credit card payment at airport refund points.
The refund option is available exclusively to merchants affiliated with Global Blue and offers Chinese customers greater flexibility. Global Blue said the service improves the in-airport experience and provides customers with real-time confirmation of their digital payment.
After making their purchases and completing their tax free forms, Chinese shoppers choosing to receive refunds via Alipay can now complete the transaction at a Global Blue airport refund counter.
At this stage, a Chinese traveller should present the refund operator with a QR code generated by the Alipay app on their smartphone. The operator scans the code, confirms the refund amount and approves the payment to the customer’s Alipay account. The shopper then receives a real-time notification from Alipay, confirming the refund has been deposited to their Alipay account successfully.
The new service has been implemented at three Global Blue refund points in Milan Malpensa, Munich and Helsinki airports in the run up to Chinese New Year. Over the coming months, the service will be rolled out across Global Blue’s entire European Refund Network.
Global Blue SVP Product TFS Tomas Mostany commented: “Global Blue is committed to offering a wide range of refund options to globe shoppers and this new service will provide even greater choice to Chinese globe shoppers.
“With over 450 million registered users, Alipay is an increasingly important payment channel outside China and we are confident the service will prove popular with Chinese shoppers, whose use of smartphones when shopping abroad is growing rapidly.
“We have had a strong working relationship with Alipay and look forward to collaborating on new innovations that better serve Chinese globe shoppers and drive the market forward.”
