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

Episode 337

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 partners@doersnepal.com

🎧 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

Published on 6 days, 4 hours ago

Podcast Episode Details

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