Did you know Indians taking multiple international trips grew by 32% last year? Travel isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime splurge anymore. It’s becoming a regular part of life in India.
But here’s the problem with this boom: every single one of those international trips come with a hidden tax.
Forex cards charge markup on every transaction. Banks are slow. The process is unclear. Most cards are built for domestic use only.
The system was completely rigged against travelers traveling abroad. Until Niyo came along and revolutionized international payments. Let’s see how.
The Broken Reality of International Travel
Banks charge 3-5% markup on every rupee spent abroad. On a typical ₹4 lakh vacation, that’s ₹20,000 in various fees. This broken system had been hiding in plain sight for decades.
International travel meant accepting these painful hurdles:
Payment Problems During International Travel
Wasted Time in Bank Queues – Hours of waiting in bank lines just to get a forex card
Cards Don’t Work – Forex cards that sometimes didn’t work while traveling
Hidden Charges – Surprise fees buried in confusing fee structures
No Customer Support – Service sometimes didn’t work internationally
Unclear Pricing – No transparency on what you’d actually pay
Travelers had no choice but to pay up. Most just accepted this as inevitable. So, how did Niyo solve this?
Zero-Fee Revolution
Indians were traveling internationally more than ever, but the payment infrastructure was stuck in 1995. While banks saw queues as normal operations, Niyo saw a massive market opportunity.
Niyo’s solution was radical. They built specifically for modern travelers:
Niyo’s Solution to International Payment Problems
No Hidden Fees – Zero forex fees
Stay Connected Anywhere – OTPs delivered to email when SIMs stop working abroad
Always Available Support – 24/7 customer service across all time zones
Apps That Actually Work – Technology that worked flawlessly everywhere
The result? A 4.8 app rating. They reimagined the entire travel payment experience. But how did they build and scale this vision?
The Niyo Scaling Playbook
Niyo’s journey offers a masterclass in focused scaling that applies to any consumer business:
1. Target High-Value Pain Points – Start with a real, large and growing pain point to solve for
2. Master One Product First – Build one exceptional product before thinking about anything else
3. Measure Genuine Customer Preference – Track NPS (Net Promoter Score) – genuine customer recommendations over paid promotions
4. Wait for Product-Market Fit – Scale only when customers organically recommend you
5. Hire Financial Discipline Early – Bring in a CFO early on. The sooner you hire a CFO, the better off you are as a company
6. Use AI for Efficiency – Embrace technology for operational efficiency
In consumer businesses, specialization beats diversification every single time.
Today, Niyo captures 14% of all Indian overseas card spending. But solving one problem exceptionally well is not enough. You need a reliable infrastructure to lead you to growth.
The Infrastructure That Powers Success
Niyo’s transformation wasn’t just about eliminating fees, it was about creating flawless payment experiences that customers could trust. Behind every great customer experience is a reliable payment infrastructure that just works.
At PayU, we power businesses like Niyo where consumer experience matters most. We ensure every payment interaction builds trust and drives growth through:
Our Payment Solutions:
• 150+ payment modes – Give customers choice and convenience
• Instant refunds – Process refunds within 5 minutes of requests
• Full RBI compliance – Built-in security and regulatory adherence
• Real-time analytics – Track performance and optimize experiences
When customers trust your payment experience, they’re more likely to recommend your business. A smooth checkout process can be the difference between a one-time customer and a loyal customer.
Make Payments Effortless and Grow with PayU
Niyo transformed foreign travel by eliminating hidden taxes and making payments effortless. Result? 14% market capture and customers who become advocates.
Payment experience makes or breaks businesses. Smooth transactions drive loyalty. Complicated checkouts cause drop-offs.
When you solve payment friction, customers trust more, recommend often, and repeat purchases.
PayU takes care of all your payment needs so you can focus on growth.
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Sign up with PayU to Make Every Transaction Seamless & Drive Growth.
