Visa partners with Waitrose and Spinneys to speed up small transactions in UAE

The new Visa Easy Payment Service (VEPS) has been launched at the new Waitrose store on Al Thanya Road in Umm Suqueim, Dubai which opened recently. The service is also expected to be available at all Waitrose and Spinneys stores in the UAE very soon, giving Visa debit and Visa credit cardholders the option to simply swipe their cards at the POS, without the need to enter a pin or sign a receipt. The service will also be rolled out to Spinneys stores in the UAE this month.

Mohanish Agni, Head of Acceptance for MENA at Visa, said: "Visa is delighted to be collaborating with Waitrose, and shortly Spinneys, as part of our ongoing commitment to create the best possible experience for Visa cardholders across the region. As the first offering of its kind in the region, Waitrose and Spinneys customers' right here in the UAE can enjoy an even faster and more efficient checkout experience. "

The new service will increase transaction speed at the point-of-sale for small value transactions and help reduce the waiting period. The launch further highlights Visa's ongoing commitment to expand card usage, including micropayments, across the region by making it easier, more efficient and secure for both cardholders and merchants.

Marcello Baricordi, General Manager - UAE for Visa and Global Accounts Lead MENA, said: "This is truly an exciting development and aims to offer all Visa cardholders quick and efficient payment transactions by removing the requirement to sign for a small purchase. Visa is continuously looking at new and innovative ways to enhance our customer experience and payment transaction performance and the Visa Easy Payment Service at Waitrose and Spinneys is a perfect demonstration of our commitment to improving efficient and secure electronic payment services".

Commenting on the new partnership, Colette Shannon, Communications Manager from Waitrose, said: "Waitrose is a premium brand and is committed to providing its discerning customers a superior experience in every way possible, reducing customer waiting time plays a very important part in this. Our new initiative with Visa that offers all our new and existing consumers the excellent opportunity to swipe and go for small transactions is perfect for our fast-paced premium food outlets".

Like all Visa transactions, Visa's Easy Payment Service payments are highly secure and safe, offering all Visa cardholders the same level of security protection for each and every transaction. The service has been introduced around the world in countries such as the US and parts of Asia, including Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong, delivering convenience to cardholders and merchants across the globe.