"In 2016, users can pay in-store, online and in-app"

Andreas Kubli has been Head of Multichannel Management & Digitization since May 2013 and in this role is responsible for a wide range of digital activities at UBS Switzerland AG. In this role, he was instrumental in positioning UBS as a leading multi-channel bank and establishing the multi-award-winning digital channels (e- and mobile banking) and partner projects (e.g. Paymit and UBS SumUp).MK The payment app Paymit was awarded the "Master of Swiss Apps" at the "Best of Swiss Apps Award". What does this award mean to you?ANDREAS KUBLI We were delighted to win the Master of Swiss Apps 2015 together with SIX and ZKB. We also see winning the Master Award as confirmation of the way in which we have implemented the app. In addition to the Master Award, we won two gold medals in the Business and Swissness categories, four silver medals and bronze in categories such as Usability and Innovation. The two gold medals in particular show that we are strategically on the right track with our vision of Paymit as an open mobile standard for payment services.MK What is the idea behind the Paymit app? And for which target groups was the app developed?KUBLI Our vision is that customers will be able to make all payments that make sense via mobile in the future. To create the corresponding roadmap, we therefore looked at which payment types could be simplified. As a first step, payments between private individuals caught our eye. Here's an example: If you go to the movies with a group of friends and buy tickets for everyone, it used to be difficult to bill them accurately. For example, one colleague only has large notes with them, another only has tickets. The person who presented the money sometimes had to wait a long time for it. With Paymit, we simplify this process enormously. In such cases, the money can be requested and transferred directly to the friends - in a simple and secure way. The target groups are all people who make payments to other private individuals. As you can see, we are basically addressing everyone. And we also see that the app is used by all age groups, for example - albeit to varying degrees.MK What were the biggest challenges during development?We developed KUBLI Paymit together with SIX and Zürcher Kantonalbank. Whenever several parties sit around a table and contribute their ideas, interests and wishes, the process becomes complex. Many decisions had to be made for Paymit, and many of them had to be agreed with all partners. Precisely because the process was so complex, we are very proud of the fact that we implemented the app in less than a year.MK How many people use Paymit? And which marketing channels did you use to promote the app?KUBLI Paymit was downloaded over 140,000 times. We mainly advertised the UBS Paymit app digitally, although we also used offline channels, for example the first page of the 20-minute edition of June 10. The exciting thing about P2P as an initial use case is that it creates a "customer-recruit-customer effect". We are now seeing that our users are referring other users. This can be seen, among other things, in the fact that we also have attractive download figures during "advertising breaks".MK So far, the app is aimed at private individuals. There are plans to use it in retail (point-of-sale, in-app and e-commerce). What are these plans in concrete terms?KUBLI In 2016, users will be able to pay with Paymit in-store, online and in-app. We can't say much more about this at the moment.MK The market for payment apps is highly competitive. What are the indications that Paymit will prevail?KUBLI Paymit is a Swiss solution that is backed by major banks. This benefits both retailers and end customers because we can better take Swiss characteristics into account. With over 140,000 downloads, Paymit is also by far the most widely used mobile payment app in Switzerland. The open standard also means that other banks can offer their customers the payment solution.MK In which areas of e-payment do you see the greatest potential for optimization in Switzerland?KUBLI In addition to payments between private individuals (P2P), we also see great potential for optimization in online purchases and in-app purchases. We will also come up with a solution for this. The last thing we implemented was a solution for donation payments. The SMS-based payment process previously available for so-called spontaneous donations is problematic for aid organizations with high costs of up to 6 percent and payment periods of up to 60 days and needed an overhaul. For this reason, we have added a donation function to the new version of UBS Paymit in time for the Christmas season. This allows users to make donations quickly and securely and at low cost for the charities.Interview: Simon Wolanin