Amazon-backed ToneTag turns profitable after 10 years of operations

After experiencing slow growth over the past two years (FY22 and FY23), contactless payment solution provider ToneTag has made a strong comeback, doubling its revenue in the fiscal year ending March 2024. By effectively cutting expenses, the Bengaluru-based company has also achieved profitability for the first time since its inception in 2014.

ToneTag’s revenue from operations jumped 111.7% to Rs 47.78 crore during FY24 in contrast to Rs 22.57 crore generated in FY23, its financial statement sourced from the Registrar of Companies shows.

ToneTag offers three product categories for businesses—voice commerce, online store, and in-store solutions—that cater to retail and F&B businesses. The firm enables businesses to integrate voice-powered interactions for shopping, ordering, and payment through its Oyeti platform. For customers, its VoiceSe UPI payment service facilitates voice-based transactions that work without internet access.

The company collected Rs 30.87 crore via upfront customization services in FY24 accounting for 64.6% of the total operating revenue during the year. Revenue from smart stores dwindled 53.8% to Rs 10.33 crore year-on-year (YoY) from Rs 22.36 crore. The company also generated revenue of Rs 4.14 crore from monthly fees (from businesses), Rs 1.63 crore via one-time integration fees, and Rs 81 lakh through license fees.

Moving toward the expense side, employee benefits formed 49% of the total expenditure. This cost remained almost flat at Rs 13.22 crore during the last fiscal year (FY24). Finance cost ballooned over 5X to Rs 2.49 crore while telephone cum IVR charges surged 143.8% to Rs 2.17 crore during the period.

Overall, the company spent Rs 26.95 crore in FY24, 9.3% less compared to FY23 (Rs 29.70 crore). Followed by an impressive growth in scale and controlled expenditure, ToneTag turned profitable and booked Rs 20.94 crore profits during FY24 against Rs 6.12 crore loss in FY23. Operating cash outflows, however, increased 73.6% to Rs 2.24 crore in FY24.

ToneTag’s improved bottom line also helped it to register positive EBITDA margin and ROCE which bettered to 54.18% and 30.09%, respectively. On a unit level, the firm spent Re 0.56 to earn a rupee of operating revenue in the last fiscal year.

At the end of FY24, the company reported Rs 1.6 crore in cash and bank balances. However, its current assets nearly tripled to Rs 41.94 crore, driven by a significant spike in trade receivables during the period.

According to media reports, ToneTag is looking to raise $50 million in primary and secondary funding from Iron Pillar and other investors. As per TheKredible, ToneTag has raised over Rs 90 crore ($11 million) to date and was valued at nearly Rs 800 crore ($96 million) in its last round. The company, which is backed by Amazon, Reliance, and 3one4 Capital, hasn’t raised a new round for more than six and a half years.

Among contactless payment solution providers, ToneTag competes with Paytm, PhonePe, PineLabs, BharatPe, and MobiKwik et al.