Even though it faced some financial setbacks, the program is still predicted to be ready in time for launch.
According to the latest reports from the Budapest Business Journal regarding the mobile payments system that is to be implemented across Hungary, it is still planning to be ready on time.
The predicted fall launch of the system is still set to be met by the creators of the national program.
Despite the fact that the mobile payments system faced issues regarding the loans that were supposed to pay for the development of the network, the creators were able to overcome the problems and still plan to meet their deadlines. This will be a considerable feat for those teams who have experienced a number of time setbacks and delays, but who are moving forward at full speed to put themselves back on track.
The mobile payments system for Hungary was first announced earlier in 2013 to be ready by fall.
The mobile payments system will be operated by Nemzeti Mobilfizetési, which is owned by the state, and which has been facing a number of sizeable funding challenges in order to cover the costs of the project. Just recently, it was denied a loan of $3.52 million (HUF 800 million) from the Public Procurement Arbitration Board in Hungary. Though these funds were believed to have been vital to its ability to continue and to complete its work on time, it still believes that it will be able to make its deadlines.
A statement that was released by Nemzeti Mobilfizetési has explained that the development that is required in order to expand the mobile payments system will be starting, as scheduled, before the end of this month, and that it will continue forward so that it will be ready for its predicted start date in September 2013.
The purpose of the Hungarian mobile payments system is to be able to create a standardized program across the entire country. It will offer this type of transaction for making purchases such as transit and transportation tickets, motorway stickers, parking fees, and other similar purchases. It is expected that the complete system will be ready to roll out between 2014 and 2017.
Recent research is showing that if this technology is going to take off, customers need a reason to use it.
Although there is definite growth occurring in the world of mobile payments, there is still a massive amount of potential that is being left unused and a recent study is suggesting that part of the solution to this issue is in offering incentives to consumers.
Regardless of whether wallets, NFC technology, QR codes or other methods are used, consumers need a reason.
The struggle is primarily based on the fact that consumers are currently quite happy with the method and convenience of their cash, credit and debit cards. Therefore, there is not a significant amount of motivation for them to learn how to use mobile payments through their smartphones when they already feel that they have everything that they need.
At the moment, mobile payments have yet to answer the consumer’s question “what’s in it for me?”
The research in a survey of 4,000 people in the United States and Canada has indicated that consumers aren’t necessarily waiting for mobile payments to become more broadly available. Instead, they want to know why using the technology would be of any value to them in the first place. They are concerned about issues such as security, privacy, and convenience – areas where they already feel relatively comfortable when completing transactions at the register.
The survey was conducted by Accenture in order to gain a better understanding of what would motivate Canadian and American consumers to start to use mobile payments as a larger part of their daily lives. What they determined was that making the infrastructure available wasn’t nearly enough. Consumers need to be shown how they can benefit by using their smartphones instead of cash, credit, and debit.
These mobile commerce incentives can be as straightforward ad discounts, rewards, or other value added strategies. The survey has indicated that these incentives will be enough motivation to turn many consumers toward using their smartphones instead of their traditional transaction methods.
Mobile payments services and retailers that understand this fact may be able to implement campaigns and strategies that will appeal to the consumer’s preferences and provide them with benefits that will encourage them to try the technology for the first time, and then become comfortable with using it more regularly, said the study.
