PouchNATION, a business-to-business event management tech startup, has joined hands with ThaiTicketMajor to provide cashless payment solutions to all event promoters in Thailand.
Backed by Traveloka and SPH Ventures, PouchNATION offers its clients event solutions based on Near Field Communication (NFC). It started as a cashless payment wristband for events in 2014. Its wristband can be used to manage access, enable cashless payments, track activity, and collect data. PouchNATION works with clients such as event organizers, venue operators, and brands.
According to a statement, it has worked on some notable events in the region including Zoukout and Beerfest Asia in Singapore, Good Vibes in Malaysia, Bali Marathon in Indonesia, and Sensation in Thailand.
Under this partnership, PouchNATION will help ThaiTicketMajor—one of Thailand’s biggest online ticketing websites—integrate its tech platform with the latter’s. In the near future, people who have bought tickets on ThaiTicketMajor’s website will be able to attend events and use PouchNATION’s wrist bracelets to make purchases ranging from merchandise to food and beverages. This will eliminate cash transactions, which is in line with the Thai government’s 4.0 vision.
Thailand’s 4.0 is a policy to steer the country’s economy away from traditional industries and facilitate innovative, digital transformations. “Cashless society” is a major theme.
According to Komkrit Sirirat, deputy managing director at ThaiTicketMajor, the company is very serious about transitioning towards a fully cashless society.
PouchNATION has offices in Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand. It recently raised USD 4 million in a Series B round from Traveloka and SPH Ventures.