KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 7): Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s Go Shop has partnered with DiGi.Com Bhd’s digital arm Digi-X to offer the latter’s e-Cash on Delivery (e-COD) solution, vcash.

In a statement today, Astro said with vcash, Go Shop customers can have cashless payments and more convenience when shopping on Go Shop’s TV, online and mobile platforms.

Go Shop chief executive officer Grace Lee said payments via mobile phones have been gaining momentum in Malaysia due to their convenience, and to meet the digital lifestyle of its customers, Go Shop is committed to provide even more flexibility and revolutionising its online payment choices with rich experiences.

“At the same time, e-COD efforts such as this initiative with Digi-X’s vcash marks a significant step in Astro’s digital transformation journey to advance cashless transactions within our own operations,” she said.

“We are pleased to launch the first of our e-COD solutions with Digi’s vcash app and target for 10% of our customer base to start adopting cashless payments in 2018.  

To support the launch of e-COD, Go Shop will offer a 10% discount range of special promotions on selected purchases for customers who download and use the vcash app from now till March 31, 2018,” she added.

Digi’s chief digital officer Praveen Rajan, meanwhile, said with vcash, the group’s aim is to offer more Malaysians, a smart and safe alternative payment method to cash.

“We are excited that our strategic partnership with Astro’s Go Shop will support their ambition to drive cashless transactions,” he said.

To make payment through e-COD, customers just need to download the vcash app from Google Play or iOS App Store and proceed with the registration process, before depositing money into their e-wallet through any online banking platforms, JomPAY or authorised vcash stores.

Once the products are delivered to a customer’s home, customers are required to scan the logistic company’s unique vcash QR code, and payment is made from the customer’s vcash e-wallet in real-time.

Astro said this payment process gives customers the security of knowing payments are being made to the right company at all times. Go Shop’s third party logistics companies are ready and equipped to assist customers through this payment process, if needed.

For a seamless roll out of Go Shop’s ambition to offer cashless transactions, Astro said Go Shop’s e-COD will be launched in phases, with the initial phase to commence in Klang Valley in November 2017, followed by a nationwide roll out in March 2018.

Astro’s share price declined by one sen or 0.36% to RM2.80 today, giving it a market capitalisation of RM14.6 billion.

Meanwhile, Digi was traded unchanged at RM4.95 today, valuing the group at RM38.41 billion.