aiSight, a technology company focused on retail data intelligence, has initiated a major project to support digital payment adoption among Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) retailers in Pakistan. Leveraging its extensive footprint in the retail ecosystem, aiSight tracks more than 800,000 FMCG retailers across the country for its clients. Despite this vast coverage, a significant portion of these businesses continue to operate almost entirely on cash. To address this gap and introduce more digital transaction options at the point of sale, aiSight has partnered with JazzCash to introduce QR code based payment systems at merchant locations.
Through this collaboration, aiSight will utilise its data, operational insights and field teams to identify retailers that are ready for digital payment integration and support the deployment of QR codes that enable customers to pay using mobile wallets. For many small and medium retailers who rely on cash for daily transactions, transitioning to digital payments represents an opportunity to streamline operations and open up new customer engagement avenues. JazzCash brings its payment infrastructure and merchant network experience to this partnership, which is designed to make digital payments more accessible and practical for a large segment of the retail market that has traditionally remained outside the formal digital payments ecosystem.
Both organisations highlight the importance of this initiative in the context of Pakistan’s rapidly evolving fintech landscape. While digital wallets and mobile financial services have grown significantly in recent years, adoption among micro and small retailers has lagged behind. Factors such as limited digital literacy, concerns around technology adoption and the entrenched cash culture have contributed to slower uptake. By directly engaging with retailers through aiSight’s field teams and streamlining the process of deploying QR codes, this project aims to lower these barriers and foster a more inclusive digital payments environment.
The partnership with JazzCash is also seen as a strategic move to support wider financial inclusion goals in Pakistan. By enabling retailers to accept digital payments, consumers who are already using mobile wallets can transact more seamlessly, and businesses can benefit from better record keeping, faster transactions and potentially improved access to financial services. The combined expertise of aiSight in retail analytics and JazzCash in payments positions the collaboration to address both the technical and practical challenges of bringing traditionally cash‑dependent merchants into the digital fold.
As part of the rollout, aiSight’s field teams are engaging directly with retailers to support installation, onboarding and training related to the use of QR codes and digital payment applications. This hands‑on approach reflects an understanding that technology deployment alone is not sufficient; retailers must also feel comfortable and supported as they adopt new payment processes. Early feedback from participating merchants points to interest in the potential benefits, including the convenience of digital settling, reduced cash handling and the ability to track sales more effectively.
The move toward digital payment acceptance also aligns with broader trends in Pakistan’s retail and fintech sectors, where there is increasing emphasis on integrating data insights with payment technologies to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. For brands and distributors that serve the FMCG retail channel, the availability of digital transaction data could also offer new opportunities for targeted engagement and performance analysis. While cash remains dominant in many parts of the market, initiatives like this partnership between aiSight and JazzCash signal a clear effort to expand the reach of digital financial services and bring more retailers into an interconnected economic ecosystem.
As deployment continues, both companies will be monitoring adoption rates and merchant feedback to inform future phases of the project and identify areas for improvement or expanded support. The initiative underscores ongoing efforts within Pakistan’s private sector to leverage technology and data to address longstanding market practices and build more resilient, efficient business models for small and medium retailers.
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