Incentives, awareness key to boosting daily digital payments: experts

A multi-pronged strategy involving incentives, awareness campaigns, and habit formation is essential to promote digital payments in everyday life, said experts at a discussion in Chattogram recently.

They stressed the need for behavioural change among users and a stronger digital ecosystem to support the transition. Cooperation between businesses and financial institutions, diversification of payment options, and improvements in digital literacy and internet infrastructure were also highlighted.

The observations came at a programme, titled "Digital Payment in the Port City", organised by bKash Limited, the country's largest mobile financial service (MFS) provider, at The Peninsula Chittagong, according to a press release.

Entrepreneurs and representatives from Barcode Café, Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu General Hospital, Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View, Epic Healthcare, Utshab Supermarket, Chittagong Club Limited, Shajinaz Hospital Limited, Amy (online travel agency), Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex, Shoilpik, The Peninsula Chittagong, Shopping Bag, and several other organisations took part in the event.

Participants noted that while people in many countries can spend an entire day without cash, Bangladeshis are gradually adopting digital payment habits.

However, they emphasised the need for greater awareness to integrate such transactions into daily life.

They also suggested launching region-specific campaigns in local dialects to engage customers more effectively, along with hands-on training for elderly and less tech-savvy users.

Some superstore owners said around 70 percent of their customers now pay digitally using bank cards or MFS platforms like bKash. With proper initiatives, this share could exceed 90 percent, they added, noting that special discounts or incentives could further encourage digital payments.

Ali Ahmmed, chief commercial officer of bKash, who chaired the event, said that while a large share of digital transactions still involves money transfers and withdrawals, around 10 million people in Bangladesh make different types of digital payments every day.

"This number can multiply with the right policy support and collaboration among tech companies, businesses, and financial institutions," he said.

Pointing out that the wider use of digital transactions reduces costs for consumers, Ahmmed added: "There is a great opportunity to help people who are still anxious about using technology to gain confidence in digital transactions."

Currently, bKash has about 82 million verified customers and around one million merchants, playing a significant role in expanding digital financial inclusion across the country.