Alipay Tap-to-Pickup Service Now Available at Over 100,000 Nationwide Lockers

CNBC AI News, July 10th – A new level of delivery convenience is rolling out across communities, university campuses, office buildings, and even rural collection points in China. Consumers can now simply tap their Alipay app to pick up their packages.

According to data provided by Alipay, the popular digital wallet platform, over 100,000 delivery pick-up stations and smart locker facilities – including major networks such as Cainiao Post, Tuxi Post, Fengchao Lockers, Yungui Lockers, Digjgj Post, and KuaiBao Post – have now activated its “Touch & Collect” feature for parcels.

Alipay indicates further expansion is underway, with more service points deploying the technology in the near future.

The process leverages smartphone NFC technology. Users with NFC enabled unlock their phones and lightly tap a designated “small blue ring” marker available at participating pick-up points. This touch interaction automatically identifies parcels assigned to the user, allowing them to be collected instantly without manually entering pickup codes.

This innovation offers significant ease of use for consumers, streamlining the collection process and eliminating a common friction point. It simultaneously reduces the workload on staff managing often-busy pick-up centers. To enhance accessibility in low-light conditions, a glow-in-the-dark version of the marker provides clear guidance.

Looking ahead, Alipay has signaled the expansion of its “Touch” ecosystem beyond parcel pickup. Upcoming services reportedly include “Touch & Send” for shipping parcels, “Touch & Access Meals” for food collection, and “Touch & Access Items” for broader goods retrieval, demonstrating a strategy to embed this interaction model deeper into daily commerce and logistics.

This technology evolution stems from Alipay’s “Touch & Pay” solution, initially launched in July of last year as a contactless alternative to QR code scanning. It leverages NFC to enable payments without even needing to open the app. Having achieved widespread adoption for payments, Alipay has now adapted this near-field communication (NFC)-based touch interaction, termed the “Touch Point Experience,” to unlock a wider array of functionalities across different sectors.

Developments beyond payments now include scenarios like touch-activated building entry, shared mobility unlocks, secure identity verification, and even expedited tax refund procedures, positioning “Touch” as a core enabler of effortless, integrated digital experiences.