NPCI wants to establish a unified payment network based on mobile technology
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a new initiative that calls for the unification of payment interfaces throughout the country. The initiative aims to give consumers more access to financial services through their mobile devices in order to accommodate the growing demand for mobile commerce. India is considered one of the fastest growing mobile payments markets, with a massive number of consumers beginning to rely on their smartphones for shopping online and physical stores.
A unified payment network could make mobile commerce more attractive to consumers
NPCI aims to help establish a Unified Payment Interface (UPI), which will allow consumers to collect and send funds through a mobile network. Such a network would leverage a consumer’s actual identity, providing some degree of security when participating in mobile commerce. Consumers would be able to use a password associated with their mobile devices to authenticate their identity and can use the UPI network to send and receive money in real-time. The demand for such money transfer services has grown as more consumers have begun to gain access to smartphones.
India is home to one of the fastest growing mobile shopping markets
India is home to one of the fastest growing smartphone markets in the world. Currently, only 53% of Indians have bank accounts, but more consumers are opting to side with financial institutions in order to take advantage of mobile payments services. Approximately 80% of Indians currently have access to smartphones, which has created a significant opportunity for banks, especially those that seek to break into the mobile sector. As banks begin to enter the mobile market, more consumers are expected to participate in the mobile commerce space.
Merchants could find new opportunities by engaging the mobile commerce market
A unified payment network could unlock new economic opportunities for merchants in India. These merchants are beginning to feel pressure to engage mobile consumers, but few have been able to do so. In the coming years, new mobile services are expected to enhance the ability of merchants to engage consumers, especially those that rely heavily on mobile shopping.
The new payment system that the National Payments Corporation of India is launching is meant to provide a unified infrastructure for organizations interested in mobile payments. Using the system, businesses will be able to receive money from a mobile device, using a single identifier, such as a phone number or virtual payment address. The system will not rely on bank account information, though users will have to actually have money to send if they want to make use of the new infrastructure.