The Chinese tech giant, Tencent Holdings is more than just “WeChat and Tencent Games.” Its new offerings are set to make waves in the MENA region.
In an exclusive interview at GITEX 2024, Denise Tsang, Senior Marketing Manager at Tencent, highlighted the company’s global infrastructure and cutting-edge technology offerings. While Tencent is widely recognized as a Chinese tech giant, Tsang emphasized the company’s growing international presence and its range of solutions, including palm payment technology, and its innovative super app that is now in use by governments in the Middle East.
Innovative Palm Payment Technology
One of the major highlights from Tencent’s GITEX exhibit was its palm payment technology, a solution that has been rolled out extensively in China and beyond. “Our palm payment technology is unique in the market,” said Tsang. “Currently, only Tencent and Amazon have developed this technology. It’s already widely used in payment scenarios, and we’re doing much better than our competitors.”
She revealed that Tencent is set to sign a contract with a local digital wallet provider to offer palm payments in the region, a move that positions Tencent as a leader in AI-powered financial solutions.
Super App Revolution: Partnering with Governments
Another key highlight from Tencent’s showcase was the “Super App as a Service” solution, which Tsang described as a unique product originally derived from WeChat. “We offer this as a white-label solution to local partners and customers,” she explained. The super app framework has been adopted by both the Saudi and Abu Dhabi governments.
“For Abu Dhabi, we’re going to announce TAM 3.0 on Wednesday,” Tsang said, referencing a government transformation project that integrates more than 700 services using Tencent’s super app framework. “It has become an open platform, allowing third-party developers from the private sector to onboard and launch their services.”
The Saudi government has also embraced Tencent’s super app infrastructure, making it a key partner in their digital transformation efforts.
‘AI-Powered Digital Human’ and Other AI Solutions
AI is another area where Tencent is making significant strides. “Our palm pay technology also integrates AI from Tencent,” said Tsang, explaining that AI is now a critical part of their product offerings. One notable AI solution is the digital human technology that Tencent has developed for the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism.
“They use our technology to build their digital ambassador for Chinese visitors, named Khalifa. We launched it in May this year,” Tsang shared. This digital human acts as a virtual guide, enhancing the experience of Chinese tourists through interactive and personalized engagement.
We are thrilled to have the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (#DCTAbuDhabi) joining us at the upcoming #TencentGlobalDigitalEcosystemSummit! To enhance the travel experience for Chinese tourists, we’ve collaborated on a Weixin #miniprogram that provides a one-stop… pic.twitter.com/EFXxZSP8re
— Tencent Cloud (@tencentcloud) September 4, 2024
Tencent’s AI capabilities extend beyond digital ambassadors. Their large language models are also empowering customers to create their own AI-driven customer service agents, reducing the need for human agents while improving customer experience.
Tencent’s Global Infrastructure and Expanding Reach
“We [Tencent] have our global infrastructures all over the world,” said Tsang. The company’s well-known products, such as WeChat and Tencent Games, are used globally, but Tsang underscored that Tencent’s offerings extend far beyond entertainment. “Today, we have over 10,000 cloud partners joining us, and we are showcasing our latest technology, including palm payments and AI-driven solutions.”
Tencent has been a key provider of cutting-edge technologies, from mobile games to sophisticated cloud infrastructure. “We are not just focusing on payments,” Tsang explained. “Our palm technology allows access control for various places as well.”
Looking Ahead: Contracts, Partnerships, and Innovations
As Tencent continues to push the boundaries of technology, its partnerships with governments and private enterprises in the Middle East highlight the company’s commitment to delivering advanced solutions. With plans to expand palm payment technology and further develop AI products, Tencent is positioned to play a significant role in the region’s digital transformation.
“We are signing new contracts, including one with a local digital wallet provider for our palm pay technology,” said Tsang. “There’s a lot more to come, and GITEX is just the beginning of showcasing our vision for the future.”
