- Networks & Connectivity - NFC
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
- Cement
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Alma is a fintech startup based in France, founded in 2017. The company provides an easy-to-use payment service that guarantees instant payment to retailers while allowing customers to pay in installments. Alma's mission is to help businesses increase sales and boost customer satisfaction without worrying about debt. The company has developed an installment payment platform, built on Google Cloud, that is accessible to a wide range of retailers and customers. Alma's services are particularly beneficial for smaller businesses that cannot afford the financial risks associated with 'buy now, pay later' schemes or secure the same level of support from their banks.
Alma, a fintech startup based in France, was founded in 2017 with the aim of providing an easy-to-use payment service that guarantees instant payment to retailers while allowing customers to pay in installments. The 'buy now, pay later' model, while beneficial for retailers in terms of increased conversion rates, larger basket sizes, and improved customer satisfaction, also posed significant risks. Retailers had to bear the burden of chasing debts and the possibility of late or cancelled payments. In France, such schemes were only viable for larger enterprises with extensive working capital and large credit lines. Smaller businesses were unable to afford the financial risks or secure the same level of support from their banks. Alma sought to address this challenge by developing an installment payment platform that would be accessible to a wide range of retailers and customers.
Alma chose Google Cloud for its speed and simplicity to develop its installment payment platform. The platform allows retailers to receive instant payment, eliminating financial risk, while customers can pay in several installments. Retailers can easily integrate the Alma plugin into their webpage or payment module in physical stores. The Alma infrastructure is based on a complex architecture of microservices managed with Cloud Run, with Cloud SQL for database management and Cloud Storage buckets for data storage. Alma also uses Cloud Logging for accurate logging, which is crucial for debugging and optimization. In addition to Google Cloud, Alma uses Google Workspace for its workflows. The company uses Google Calendar and Google Meet for communication and Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides for collaboration. The use of these tools facilitated a smooth transition to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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