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Ant International’s Antom Launches AI‑Powered MSME App for Finance and Business Operations

Business

Ant International’s Antom Launches AI‑Powered MSME App for Finance and Business Operations
Business

Business

Ant International’s Antom Launches AI‑Powered MSME App for Finance and Business Operations

2025-11-12 10:01 Last Updated At:13:09

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 11, 2025--

Antom, a leading provider of merchant payment and digitisation services under Ant International, today announced EPOS360, an app that brings point-of-sale (POS) system, payments, banking, lending, and growth support together to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) move from setup to scale efficiently.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251111066634/en/

EPOS is the all-in-one SME transformation platform of Antom, one of Ant International’s major business pillars. In the first ten months of 2025, Antom recorded strong business momentum, with acquiring TPV for non-Alipay users growing over 70% year-on-year. With the launch of the new app, Antom is set to serve more MSMEs alongside enterprise customers.

In Singapore, about 99% of enterprises are SMEs. In ASEAN, MSMEs account for 97.2% – 99.9% of total establishments in ASEAN Member States. Regionally, the MSMEs contribute 44.8% to GDP. While access to finance has improved, many MSMEs still face challenges in navigating fragmented digital ecosystem, getting market insights, experiencing slow response to market volatilities, and insufficient funding channels, etc.

To tackle these pain points, the AI-powered EPOS360 app consolidates POS system, payments, banking, lending, digitisation, marketing and other growth-enabling services. Available on iOS and Android in early 2026, the app allows MSMEs to access all these services, provided by Antom, Alipay+ and ANEXT Bank under Ant International, within five minutes.

The app will help MSMEs engage more customers. It enables merchants to set up online stores across Google Maps, partnering e-wallets, and other digital channels within minutes, making it easier for consumers to find them and place orders. Merchants can also manage daily operations, inventory, and seasonal promotions, as well as get financing support from MAS-regulated ANEXT Bank without any collaterals, all at their fingertips.

In phase one, EPOS360 serves Singapore MSMEs, particularly those in retail and food & beverage, and will expand to cover Malaysia as a mini app within Touch 'n Go in early 2026. It will roll out to more markets later. The app will be available in English, Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia, Thai, and Japanese, with more languages to be added in the future.

Born with AI embedded, the app features a built-in Antom Copilot that helps merchants quickly create online stores, boost sales with omnichannel marketing, and monitor cash flow. It can suggest inventory adjustments, explain weekly performance shifts, or address payment issues. It also analyses competition and marketing campaign results to guide smarter decisions. In addition, the MSME-facing AI copilot identifies holidays, weather changes, competitors, and bundling opportunities to recommend timely promotions, generate content, and publish it across multiple digital channels.

Supported by ANEXT Bank, EPOS360 integrates banking and financing so businesses can manage funds and access credit with ease. Merchants can open a free business account, with no minimum balance or transaction fees, and earn a competitive per annum daily interest rate on eligible balances. The platform also supports expansion, allowing merchants to hold multiple currencies.

Backed by ANEXT Bank, eligible merchants may receive instant approval for a loan up to S$5,000 at sign-up to address short-term needs, with higher limits available and revenue-based financing options available as they grow.

For payments, EPOS360, supported by Antom's payment processing service provider, helps merchants accept cards and alternative payment methods for online and in-store transactions, with same-day settlement available for certain payment methods. As businesses grow, the payments setup scales with them, such as activating Alipay+ cross-border partner wallets for foreign visitors.

The app also allows merchants to pair and configure their EPOS360 Bluetap, a smart over-the-counter terminal that accepts both QR and card payments. Its QR code-based tap-to-pay feature is powered by Ant's proprietary technology.

Ian Cheong, CEO of EPOS, said: “Singapore has shown how a pro-MSME digital agenda can translate into strong economic vitality. To support MSMEs realise their full potential, we are packaging a wide range of merchant services into one AI-powered app that removes complexity and transforms everyday operations into new opportunities for growth. With EPOS360, even a neighbourhood food & beverage stall can launch an online menu, access an instant small loan, and set up a weekend promotion in minutes.”

Gary Liu, General Manager of Antom, Ant International, said: “We aim to make advanced technologies and high-quality services accessible to businesses of all sizes. Tailored-made merchant services have long felt beyond the reach of MSMEs, and EPOS360 lowers that barrier. While continuing to support cross-border merchants, we are deepening our focus on empowering local MSMEs with the same level of innovation and capability to drive sustainable growth.”

EPOS serves over 6,000 merchants in Singapore and is expanding to other markets. The platform helps businesses improve efficiency and customer engagement with intelligent sales systems, AI-driven CRM and analytics, and hardware solutions such as Soundbox and self-ordering kiosks.

To recognise outstanding MSMEs that excel in innovation, digitisation, customer experience and workplace culture, Ant International and EPOS have launched the inaugural Emerging Champions Awards in Singapore. Winners include Ai Muay Management Pte. Ltd., which won the Grand Prize in Digital Transformation for its digital transformation strategy for the six wet markets it manages, and Big Spring Day Seafood Trading Pte. Ltd., a local surimi seafood manufacturer named The Most Innovative SME for its proprietary blast-freezing technology and business model. Each winner will receive up to S$10,000 in Family Credits that can be redeemed for EPOS services to accelerate their digitisation journey.

About Antom

Ant International's Antom is the leading payment and digitisation services provider for merchants around the world. It offers unified, vertical-specific digital payment solutions to serve businesses of all sizes. Antom supports merchants to integrate over 300 payment methods, enabling them to connect with consumers in more than 200 markets, with the flexibility to accept payments in more than 100 currencies. Beyond payments, it provides digital marketing solutions and merchant digitisation services to help merchant streamline operations and enhance customer engagement. To learn more, please visit https://www.antom.com/.

About EPOS

EPOS is a leading Point-of-Sale (POS) digital solutions provider based in Singapore. Supporting Ant International's mission to empower SMEs, EPOS leverages Antom’s digital capabilities as the organisation’s central hub to serve regional small and medium-sized businesses with integrated O2O digital, payment and banking solutions. For more information about EPOS360, please visit https://www.epos.com.sg/epos360/.

EPOS360 allows merchants to pair and configure EPOS360 Bluetap, a smart over-the-counter terminal that accepts both QR and card payments.

EPOS360 allows merchants to pair and configure EPOS360 Bluetap, a smart over-the-counter terminal that accepts both QR and card payments.

The AI-powered EPOS360 provides POS system, payments, banking, lending and other growth-enabling services, offering customised support to help MSMEs operate more efficiently (Image for illustrative purposes only).

The AI-powered EPOS360 provides POS system, payments, banking, lending and other growth-enabling services, offering customised support to help MSMEs operate more efficiently (Image for illustrative purposes only).

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Babar Azam has returned to lead Pakistan’s test cricket team after Shan Masood was axed from the role on Sunday.

Masood’s firing seemed inevitable after the team lost 12 of 16 matches during his tenure, which began when he initially replaced Babar in late 2023.

“We wanted to look for a captain who could lead the team in a much better way,” selector Aaqib Javed told media in Lahore. “Shan’s individual performance was good but as captain we weren’t getting the desired results.”

Javed said the selection committee was unanimous in recommending Babar as captain and no other player came up in the discussion.

Pakistan’s results in test matches took a sharp decline since Masood lost 3-0 to Australia in his first series. Pakistan also lost 2-0 to Bangladesh at home for the first time and the only series win under Masood’s captaincy came against England at home when Pakistan won 2-1 as eventually Pakistan finished at bottom of the last World Test Championship points table.

Javed pointed out several shortcomings of the Pakistan team in test matches under Masood’s leadership that included losses against South Africa and the West Indies.

“The captain has a responsibility of finishing the games,” Javed said. “Some things are the responsibility of the team, some are the responsibility of the selectors, and some are the responsibility of the captain. The captain’s responsibility also includes maintaining the team’s over rate, taking DRS decisions and making the right call at the toss.”

Masood had a fair time with the bat during his captaincy as he scored two centuries and seven half centuries, including back-to-back fifties at Melbourne against Australia.

Babar had led Pakistan to 10 wins in 20 tests before Masood was handed the captaincy. Babar's tenure as skipper started with a 2-0 home win over South Africa and Pakistan also went on to clean sweep Bangladesh and Sri Lanka away from home.

As captain, Babar averaged over 50 runs per innings in test cricket and his only blemish came against England when Pakistan lost 3-0 at home.

Babar’s second stint as skipper starts with two-test series in West Indies later this month for which Pakistan named Masood as one of the 16 players. After the West Indies series, Pakistan will play three test matches in England for which Saud Shakeel will be added as a 17th player, subject to fitness.

Left-arm spinner Ali Usman, right-handed batter Awais Zafar, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicketkeeper batter Ghazi Ghori are the uncapped players in the squad.

Squad:

Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imamul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

FILE - Pakistan's cricket team skipper Babar Azam speaks during a press conference regarding up coming Twenty20 series against Ireland, England and T20 World Cup, in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary, File)

FILE - Pakistan's cricket team skipper Babar Azam speaks during a press conference regarding up coming Twenty20 series against Ireland, England and T20 World Cup, in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary, File)

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