UnionPay is the world’s largest card network by total cards issued, with more than 9 billion cards in circulation globally. It’s the dominant card brand in China, where it’s accepted almost everywhere, and its footprint continues to expand internationally.
AlphaPay makes it simple for Canadian businesses to accept Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay payment methods trusted by more than 2 billion consumers worldwide. From retail shops and restaurants to travel operators, universities, and digital platforms, our solutions are built to help businesses connect with Chinese customers at home and abroad.
Below, we explore the industries we serve and the real-world use cases where AlphaPay’s payment solutions drive growth.
Food and Beverage
Dining is a cornerstone of travel and student life. Restaurants, cafés, and quick-service outlets near universities or popular tourist districts are natural gathering spots for Chinese customers. However, many arrive without North American credit cards and rely instead on WeChat Pay or Alipay.
With AlphaPay, food and beverage businesses can:
Accept QR code wallet payments with minimal setup.
Speed up checkout and reduce cash handling.
Enable mobile-first ordering via Alipay or WeChat Pay integration.
Run targeted promotions through wallet apps to attract repeat visits.
Use case example:
A bubble tea chain in Richmond integrated WeChat Pay through AlphaPay. Within weeks, they saw transaction times drop as students used quick wallet scans instead of cash. Sales from Chinese students increased, not just because payments were easier, but because the brand felt familiar, mirroring the mobile-first experience these customers enjoyed in China.
Education
Education is one of the biggest investments families make for their children abroad. Canada is home to over 200,000 international students from China, and each year parents send billions of dollars to cover tuition, housing, and daily living expenses. But traditional payment methods—like international wire transfers or unfamiliar credit card systems can be slow, costly, and stressful for both families and institutions.
AlphaPay helps bridge this gap by enabling schools, colleges, and universities to accept WeChat Pay, Alipay, and UnionPay directly. This gives families a secure and familiar way to pay, while schools benefit from faster settlements and lower administrative costs.
With AlphaPay, educational institutions can:
Accept tuition payments via UnionPay, Alipay, and WeChat Pay.
Reduce cross-border transfer fees and delays.
Offer secure, familiar methods for parents abroad to pay directly.
Enable on-campus purchases (cafeterias, bookstores) with mobile wallets.
Use case example: A Canadian university partnered with AlphaPay to enable UnionPay and Alipay for tuition payments. Instead of families wiring funds through banks and waiting days for confirmation, parents abroad could pay instantly using familiar wallets.
The university saw faster reconciliation, reduced back-office workload, and happier students who could focus on studies instead of chasing payment receipts. Over time, the school also integrated wallets into campus services, creating a more connected and convenient student experience.
Retail
Retail plays a central role in the international shopping experience, especially in diverse Canadian cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. For many tourists, newcomers, and students, shopping is both a leisure activity and a way to access trusted global and local brands. Luxury goods, designer fashion, and specialty items are top priorities—but the decision to buy often hinges on whether their preferred payment methods are accepted.
With AlphaPay, retailers can:
Accept mobile wallets and UnionPay cards both online and in-store.
Display QR codes at checkout for fast, secure payments.
Reduce currency friction—customers pay in RMB, merchants receive CAD.
Leverage wallet ecosystems like Alipay Discover to attract foot traffic.
Use case example: A luxury boutique in Yorkville partnered with AlphaPay to integrate Alipay and UnionPay. By simply displaying the logos at the counter and offering QR-based checkout, they built instant trust with visiting shoppers. International tourists, confident they could use their preferred wallets, spent more freely on high-value items.
Travel and Hospitality
Travel is one of the largest spending categories for international visitors, and Chinese travelers are among the highest spenders. From booking flights and hotels to shopping at duty-free stores and visiting attractions, payment convenience plays a major role in shaping the experience. When familiar options like UnionPay, Alipay, and WeChat Pay are missing, customers hesitate or abandon bookings altogether.
With AlphaPay, travel and hospitality providers can:
Accept cross-border payments seamlessly across booking engines, kiosks, and POS.
Capture more bookings by offering familiar payment methods on websites and apps.
Eliminate foreign exchange headaches for both travelers and operators.
Use wallet-based marketing campaigns during peak travel seasons like Lunar New Year.
Use case example: A BC-based tour operator integrated UnionPay Online Payment into its booking platform with AlphaPay. Conversion rates rose significantly as Chinese travelers, reassured by the presence of a trusted domestic payment method, were more confident completing their bookings. During peak travel seasons, the operator also leveraged Alipay promotions to capture attention early in the trip-planning phase, turning more inquiries into confirmed reservations.
Mobility and Transportation
Mobility is at the core of every travel experience. From airport shuttles and taxis to ride-hailing apps and public transit, visitors need transportation that’s not only reliable but also easy to pay for. Without these options, adoption can stall, especially when tourists don’t carry local currency or North American credit cards.
With AlphaPay, mobility providers can:
Enable in-app wallet payments for ride-hailing and car rentals.
Accept QR payments at ticketing kiosks and terminals.
Streamline cross-border transactions without FX barriers.
Use case example:
A Canadian airport shuttle service partnered with AlphaPay to accept WeChat Pay. Tourists can book seats instantly using their phones, without worrying about carrying cash or international credit cards. The shuttle service not only reduced friction for passengers but also increased ridership by making itself the most convenient option right at the airport.
E-Commerce
E-commerce is borderless, but payments often are not. For digital businesses, one of the biggest barriers to global growth is checkout friction, which is a leading cause of abandoned carts. This is especially true for shoppers who are used to mobile-first wallet payments. When those options aren’t available, many will simply abandon the purchase.
For e-commerce businesses, supporting these wallets means building trust with customers who expect to see familiar, secure payment choices at checkout. It also reduces the risk of cross-border declines that can occur when international cards are used.
With AlphaPay, digital businesses can:
Add Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay to online checkouts.
Authenticate transactions through secure UnionPay Online Payment (UPOP).
Reduce cross-border decline rates by offering trusted local methods.
Access marketing channels within wallet ecosystems to drive engagement.
Use case example:
A Canadian skincare brand selling online to customers in China integrated Alipay, Union Pay and Wechat Pay through AlphaPay. Checkout conversions rose immediately as buyers completed purchases with their preferred wallet instead of abandoning the cart at the payment stage. By aligning with familiar methods, the brand not only improved sales but also strengthened customer confidence in cross-border shopping.
Key Metrics to Monitor
To maximize its value and continuously optimize your payment strategy, businesses should regularly track these essential performance indicators:
Wallet Adoption Rate vs. Credit Card Usage
Track what percentage of your transactions come through mobile wallets compared to traditional credit cards. A growing adoption rate often correlates with increased comfort and trust from Chinese customers, and may signal the effectiveness of your wallet visibility and promotions.
Average Transaction Size
Monitor the average order value (AOV) for transactions paid via mobile wallets compared to other methods. In many industries, wallet users tend to spend more per transaction due to reduced currency conversion concerns and higher spending confidence. Use this data to inform upsell strategies and product positioning.
Customer Repeat Rate From Wallet Users
Customer loyalty is measurable. Use AlphaPay analytics to identify how often wallet users return compared to other segments. Wallet users—especially students and travelers—are more likely to revisit businesses that make payments easy, fast, and familiar.
Time-to-Checkout Improvement
Speed is a key benefit of mobile payments. Track the average time it takes to complete a transaction before and after enabling AlphaPay. Faster checkouts lead to shorter queues, better customer experiences, and higher throughput during peak periods.
By measuring these key metrics, businesses can refine their marketing, train staff more effectively, and make data-driven decisions that enhance performance.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re in retail or education industry, AlphaPay helps you connect with cross border customers by offering the payment methods they trust most.
Canadian businesses can build trust, reduce friction, and unlock new growth opportunities. Get in touch with our team to start accepting WeChat Pay, Alipay, and UnionPay today.
