Table of Contents
The Problem Today
If you’ve ever run a store, you’ve seen this play out.
A shopper picks up the premium phone. Someone tries on the gold necklace. A couple sinks into a sofa that clearly feels like “the one”. You can almost see the purchase happening in their minds.
And then — the pause. A glance at the price tag. The polite smile. The dreaded “I’ll think about it.”
It’s not a lack of interest. It’s not even a lack of demand.
It’s the weight of paying everything up front.
In other words, it’s not a demand problem; it’s an affordability gap.
Consumer Preference
Numbers back this up. RBI and industry studies indicate that 65–70% of all EMI transactions in India occur through no-cost EMI schemes.
And here’s the kicker: millennials and Gen Z are twice as likely to choose no-cost EMI over regular EMI (NPCI data). For them, affordability isn’t a perk — it’s the default expectation.
Category-Specific Impact
You can see the effect in almost every category:
- Electronics: Nearly 40% of smartphones above ₹15,000 are bought on no-cost EMI during festive periods.
- Appliances & Lifestyle: Retailers see 20–25% higher sales when no-cost EMI is visible at checkout.
- Jewellery & Furniture: Low-cost EMI opens the door for shoppers who don’t own credit cards, making purchases like ₹40K ornaments or premium furniture more realistic.
The pattern is clear: when EMI is on the table, customers stop hesitating and start buying.
Merchant Benefit
And what does that mean for merchants?
- 15–20% higher conversion rates when no-cost EMI is offered versus regular EMI.
- 2–3X higher sales uplift during festive campaigns that highlight EMI-led affordability.
When customers see an EMI option, they don’t downgrade or delay — they upgrade, they add more, they buy today.
The Breakthrough: Why ScanToEMI Matters
Here’s the catch: for years, EMI was a privilege reserved for credit card holders. Out of hundreds of millions of Indian shoppers, only about 100 million use a credit card — and less than 40% carry them daily.
UPI, on the other hand, has become the country’s go-to. Over 70% of all digital transactions under ₹50,000 now occur on UPI, rather than on cards.
That’s the gap Cashfree’s ScanToEMI bridges.
Now, when a customer scans your QR in-store or checks out on your website, they don’t just see “Pay via UPI.” They see instant EMI options — right inside the same UPI flow they already know and trust.
For your business, nothing changes: money settles just like any other UPI transaction.
For your customers, everything changes: hesitation drops, upgrades occur, and sales that used to slip away now close more quickly.
The ScanToEMI Advantage
Here’s what ScanToEMI unlocks for you:
- Works with Your Existing QR: No new hardware. No new integration. Just enable ScanToEMI and you’re live.
- Instant EMI Approvals: EMI options show up instantly in your customer’s UPI app (linked to their RuPay Credit Card). No paperwork, no waiting.
- Supports No-Cost & Low-Cost EMI: Run EMI schemes the way you want – with no-cost EMI to attract value-conscious buyers or low-cost EMI to widen access for larger-ticket spends.
- Offline + Online Coverage: Whether your customer scans a QR code in your store or checks out on your app/website, ScanToEMI works everywhere.
- Proven Sales Impact: Merchants in early pilots saw a 20–30% increase in average order value and a 15–20% jump in conversions.
How It Works (It’s Simple)
- Scan QR – Your customer scans your existing UPI QR with their UPI app.
- Choose EMI – EMI options appear instantly (No-Cost & Low-Cost plans included).
- Confirm Payment – They pick a plan, approve via UPI, and the payment goes through.
- You Get Paid – Funds settle to you like any other UPI transaction.
That’s it. No new machines. No extra training. No change in process.
Why EMI on UPI Wins Over Card EMI
Think about it: fewer than 4 in 10 credit card holders carry their cards every day. But almost every UPI user has their phone on them — 95% take it everywhere.
ScanToEMI removes that friction. Instead of losing a sale because a customer left their card at home, you give them EMI right inside their phone. No excuses. Just instant affordability.
The Road Ahead
India already leads the world in UPI, with 14+ billion transactions every month. Paying via QR code or at checkout has become second nature.
Now, with EMI built directly into that flow, the possibilities are bigger than ever. What used to be a polite “maybe later” can now become a confident “let’s take it today.”
From smartphones to jewellery to furniture sets, EMI on UPI is helping customers buy what they truly want — and assisting merchants to close more sales, faster.
The future of payments isn’t just about collecting money. It’s about making every intent count.
Make Every “Maybe Later” a “Yes Today”.
Activate ScanToEMI today. Activate it with your existing QR code and watch your conversions grow from day one.
No new hardware. No extra steps. Just bigger baskets and happier customers.
