How Nepal’s Digital Payment Ecosystem Really Works |Behind Payments

As part of Digital December 2025, in partnership with Laxmi Sunrise Bank Limited, this special roundtable explores how digital payments and software systems are reshaping businesses and the economy in Nepal. This episode brings together three perspectives from Nepal’s digital payment ecosystem: Santosh Tamrakar, Managing Director at IMS Software, sharing the system builder’s view on business software, data, and scalable growth. Arun Khatri, CEO of Digital Network Solutions, covering digital infrastructure, security, compliance, QR innovation, and biometric identity. Shashank Prabhat Shrestha, Managing Director of Caffeophilia, offering real-world insights from running a multi-outlet business where most transactions are digital. Together, they discuss Nepal’s shift from near-zero digitization to a QR-first economy where digital payments are now essential especially for urban businesses. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why digital payments are non-negotiable for modern businesses How QR, cards, and compliance systems work behind the scenes The role of data, loyalty systems, and real-time reporting Why sustainable payment systems can’t be free forever What’s next: biometric KYC and data-backed, collateral-free digital lending Whether you’re a business owner, policymaker, or someone who pays digitally every day, this conversation helps you understand how Nepal’s digital payment ecosystem works and where it’s headed next. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:00 – Digital December 03:20 – How Businesses Depend on Digital Payments Today 05:20 – The Evolution of Digitization in Nepal 06:28 – Covid and the Digital Payment Surge 07:02 – Why QR Payments Replaced Cash in Urban Nepal 07:50 – Real-Time Data and Business Control 11:01 – Digitization vs Digital Transformation 14:17 – Customer Loyalty Systems and Data Usage 21:02 – Entrepreneurial Vision and First-Mover Advantage 27:17 – How Digital Payments Reduce Fraud and Risk 33:06 – Biometrics and Centralized KYC 36:42 – QR vs Card Payments: How Nepal Pays Today 46:26 – MDR Explained: The Cost of Digital Payments 01:08:21 – The Future of Unsecured Digital Lending Want to join us live in the studio as an audience member? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/xZi8yptyoxkkc6aa8    ✉ Reach out to us at [email protected]   🎧 Listen on audio platforms:  https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-32f7s-19cc50b   🎤 Host: Anup Ghimire Founder of Doers Nepal  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/anup-ghimire-9366aa5a/    👥 Guest  Arun Khatri  CEO @ Digital Network Solution  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arun-khatri-42934657/ 👥 Guest  Shashank Prabhat Shrestha Managing Director @ Caffeophilia  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashank-prabhat-shrestha-551a8b1a/ 👥 Guest Santosh Tamrakar Managing Director @ IMS Software  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santosh-tamrakar-46837b45/ In Partnership with Laxmi Sunrise Bank Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/laxmisunrisebank  Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@laxmisunriseofficial Tiktok : https://www.tiktok.com/@laxmisunriseofficial  Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/company/laxmisunrisebank/posts/?feedView=all    📲 Follow The Doers Global: Instagram:   / https://www.instagram.com/thedoersglobal/  Facebook:   / https://www.facebook.com/thedoersnepal/    #doersnepal  #fintech  #startuppodcast