At the Startup Mahakumbh event in Delhi, Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma unveiled the Mahakumbh Soundbox, an upgraded version of its popular payment soundbox. This new device includes a display screen and removes the need for audio announcements, catering to merchants who prefer discreet transactions.
The Mahakumbh Soundbox is designed to offer a more private and seamless transaction experience. Instead of broadcasting payment confirmations through audio, the soundbox now displays payment amounts on its screen. This feature is especially useful for vendors handling high-value transactions who wish to maintain customer privacy.
Paytm’s new soundbox supports queued payments, allowing merchants to handle multiple transactions efficiently without interruptions. It is also equipped with a 4G connection and supports 11 Indian languages, broadening its usability across diverse regions.
Ripunjai Gaur, Paytm's Chief Business Officer for Offline Payments, emphasized that the new feature directly addresses vendor feedback. Many shopkeepers had expressed a need for silent transaction confirmations, which this device now offers without compromising on functionality or clarity.
Sharma highlighted that while payment amounts are displayed on the soundbox, no customer personal data, such as names or phone numbers, is shown to merchants. This ensures that customer privacy remains a top priority.
In addition to hardware innovation, Paytm is also focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) to support small merchants. Sharma revealed that the company is working on AI-powered tools that will help vendors manage their businesses more efficiently with minimal manual effort.
Paytm has partnered with Perplexity AI to bring advanced search and AI features into its app. These tools aim to make AI more accessible and practical for shopkeepers and small business owners across India.
Sharma previously stated that AI features, which do not rely heavily on manpower, are expected to significantly contribute to Paytm’s profitability over the next two years. The goal is to use intelligent automation to streamline operations and improve customer service.
In the third quarter of FY25, One97 Communications, Paytm’s parent company, reported a narrowed consolidated loss of ₹208.3 crore, compared to ₹219.8 crore during the same period last year.
The company had reported a profit of ₹930 crore in Q2FY25, largely driven by the sale of its ticketing division to Zomato. However, the gains from that quarter were not sustained into Q3, highlighting the company’s ongoing journey toward consistent profitability.
Conclusion
With the launch of the Mahakumbh Soundbox, Paytm is taking a significant step toward discreet and efficient digital payments. Coupled with its focus on AI tools and business management features for small merchants, the company is steadily building a tech-driven ecosystem that prioritizes privacy, accessibility, and operational ease.