tapi Launches tapipay to Boost SME Digital Payments in Mexico

In a market where most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still rely heavily on cash, tapi is aiming to level the playing field. With the launch of tapipay, the fintech is extending its payment infrastructure—traditionally used by major corporations like Telmex and CFE—to companies of all sizes and sectors across Mexico.

“Large corporations have long benefited from digital payment systems, while smaller businesses are still collecting mostly in cash,” said Tomás Mindlin, CEO and co-founder, tapi, in an interview with MBN. “We wanted to open the same infrastructure that works for big players to every company in Mexico, so they can charge digitally through the same network.”

The platform allows any company to accept digital payments via tapi’s banking partners, reaching millions of users through APIs that connect banks and fintechs. By centralizing payments—from utilities and tuition fees to insurance premiums and local taxes—tapi aims to improve customer experience and reduce costs for both companies and end users.

“The user does not want to go to 15 different platforms to pay,” Mindlin explained. “If they already pay their bills in one place, why not also pay tuition, insurance, or credit cards there? tapipay makes that possible.”

Automation and AI for Smarter Collections

Beyond enabling digital payments, tapipay automates up to 80% of the collections process, cutting operational costs and boosting efficiency. Businesses can issue invoices via email or WhatsApp, send automatic reminders, and accept payments through multiple methods—including cards, transfers, or over 50,000 cash collection points, following tapi’s acquisition of Arcus.

“Many companies still manage collections manually, noting payments in notebooks or waiting days to confirm deposits,” Mindlin said. “With tapipay, everything is centralized and reconciled in real time.”

The platform uses artificial intelligence and intelligent routing to optimize approval rates and ensure seamless transactions. If a card payment fails, the system can automatically try alternative acquirers or prompt users to pay via another method, such as a transfer. Chatbots powered by tapi also allow customers to check payment status or request links through natural language interactions.

Financial Inclusion Through Digital Infrastructure

tapi’s broader mission is to democratize access to financial infrastructure in Mexico. By helping companies and consumers adopt digital payment habits, the fintech indirectly supports better access to credit.

“The better a customer’s payment habits, the better their access to credit will be,” Mindlin said. “Using more digital tools benefits both banks and fintechs in evaluating risk and granting credit.”

Adoption has been strongest among credit institutions, education providers, insurers, and municipal entities, with real estate administration emerging as a promising new sector. “Many real estate administrators are in smaller firms, so adoption takes time,” he noted. “But we see great potential in digitizing rent and maintenance payments.”

Following its integration with Arcus, tapi now operates as a unified company, consolidating networks, bank connections, and over 50,000 physical payment points. “We are combining the best of both worlds,” Mindlin concluded. “By centralizing access to this previously expensive infrastructure, we are giving tens of thousands of Mexican companies the ability to collect payments digitally for the first time.”