Digital wallets are leading the way in the Indian payments market.

Digital wallets - 

Did you know that studies have shown that over 93% of the Indian population used digital wallets frequently in the past year, unlike their global counterparts? Nearly 20% of the diaspora became first-time digital wallet users last year. With the Indian mobile wallet market estimated to grow at a burgeoning CAGR of 52.21% by 2023, we must sit up and take notice.

This large-scale adoption of digital payment methods points toward a tectonic shift in the Indian financial sector - respondents are increasingly choosing the convenience and safety of e-wallets over cash and card transactions, opening up the market for old and new players alike. 46.8% of people choose UPI as their most preferred digital payment mode, followed by net banking and wallets at 21%. This shift is expected to expedite as the e-commerce market in India flourishes due to increased rural penetration.

MARKET TRENDS THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP A WATCH ON!

DIGITAL WALLETS IN METRO CITIES

Leading the country from the forefront, as with every technological revolution, our metro and tier-1 cities continue to be the torchbearers in digital payments, with 52% of the urban population aware of digital payments. Surveys also show that 49% intend to use mobile wallets soon. In both cases, there exists an apparent chasm between digital wallet adoption in Mumbai and Delhi compared to other cities. Public awareness about digital payments in Mumbai and Delhi is at 67% and 69%, respectively, while intent to use is at 64% and 74%. The most common transaction conducted by users is that of mobile recharge, followed by online shopping and travel booking.

Paytm and Gpay, India's leading digital payments apps, lead the way with a 65% combined market share, followed by PhonePe with a 24% market share. The trends here also indicate an increase in trust in the digital payment ecosystem, with more than half of all UPI transactions exceeding Rs. 200 in value.

DIGITAL WALLETS TO OVERTAKE CASH PAYMENTS AT POINT-OF-SALE (POS)

Even though digital wallet payments lag behind cash as the preferred mode of payment in-store, it is projected to overtake cash by 2023 itself. Studies show that digital payments account for 30.8% of the total PoS transaction value. The PoS market itself is bound to grow at a rate of 28.8% by 2025.

Indians are beginning to change the way they shop fundamentally. Bolstered by the pandemic lockdown, people are now looking for a much more convenient and safer payment solution. This fact was also corroborated by Phil Pomford, General Manager APAC, Worldplay Merchant Solutions at FIS when he pointed out that a compelling value proposition that maximizes customer experience will be well-positioned to capitalize on the dramatic growth of the Indian e-commerce market.

A FLOURISHING E-COMMERCE SECTOR EXPECTED TO PUSH GROWTH IN DIGITAL PAYMENTS

The Indian e-commerce market will grow at an exponential pace of 41% CAGR during 2018-2023. The flourishing e-commerce sector is a major driving factor for mobile wallets. Using digital wallets to pay online is a convenient, pain-free option that gives customers more control and security. Additionally, many e-commerce platforms partner with digital wallet providers to offer curated discounts and deals, attracting even more users.

RURAL INTERNET AND SMARTPHONE PENETRATION TO FUEL GROWTH

Mobile wallets directly tie into Internet and smartphone accessibility. According to TRAI, there are over a billion mobile phone subscribers in India. Similarly, the IAMAI-Kantar ICUBE 2020 report states that India will have 900 million Internet users by 2025. Combined, mobile Internet penetration and an increasing smartphone user base are expected to aid in the growth of digital wallets.

NFC TECH DOMINATES THE MOBILE WALLET MARKET

Offered by leading platforms such as Gpay, Near-Field Communication, or NFC is responsible for the most significant chunk of the digital wallet market. This contactless technology witnessed high growth because of its ease, encryption, and security. NFC is followed closely by QR codes and digital and text-based payments.

NORTH AND WESTERN INDIA TO LEAD GROWTH IN THIS SECTOR

Currently, South India leads the pack in the mobile wallet market due to the region's high adoption of Internet banking. But, the Northern and Western regions of India offer the most growth capabilities for the forecast period. As more and more rural users turn to the Internet and smartphones, these areas will witness rapid growth in mobile wallet payments. These densely populated regions spell out significant opportunities for the Indian mobile wallet market.

PAYTM AND GPAY CONTINUE TO DOMINATE UPI PAYMENTS

Paytm, Gpay, and PhonePe take up the lion's share of the market. Even though WhatsApp has just entered the market and currently holds a minuscule share, its rapid growth rate of 18% MoM shows promise. The rise in numbers can also be seen by the fact that December clocked the highest total UPI transaction value ever at a massive INR 8.26 lakh crore.

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IS THE KEY

With intense competition marring the Indian e-commerce space, companies focus more on customer experience as a differentiating factor. Here, digital wallets and other payment solutions play a crucial role. With the convergence of physical and digital commerce, customers have begun to expect more ingenious, seamless ways to pay that does not hamper their overall shopping experience. Integrating digital wallets into e-commerce and brick-and-mortar stores will go a long way in improving customer experience. The convenience of making instant payments without the obvious hassles of cash and increased security make digital wallets an attractive option. As more and more stores integrate digital payment solutions to attract customers, the adoption of digital wallets within the Indian population is expected to rise.

HOW CAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS BANKS AND FINTECH COMPANIES LEVERAGE THIS PROJECTED GROWTH?

Instead of looking at digital payment solutions as competition, financial institutions are tapping into the entire ecosystem to boost their bottom lines. Financial service providers have introduced a range of products and services to cater to the new demands of the Indian populace. Prepaid public transit cards, MSME payroll cards by leading banks and fintech, and other prepaid cards are expected to touch a market value of $105.43 billion by 2026.

India boasts 70 million daily digital transactions, with mobile wallets accounting for 45.4% of all e-commerce transactions. When shrunk down to the regional level, mobile wallets increased their market share to a whopping 68.5% showing clear favour in the minds of regional consumers.

Innovative products, curated customer experiences, and accessibility are the primary drivers behind success in this sector. Financial institutions and e-commerce platforms must proactively build strategies centered around digital payments if they want to compete.

CONCLUSION

In March 2022, UPI payments recorded their highest-ever number of transactions at 5.04 billion. This was preceded, in 2021, by the highest payments volume ever - INR 83.45 lakh crore. This trajectory is expected to continue soon at an unprecedented CAGR of 27%.

In conclusion, digital wallet payments are expected to continue their meteoric rise soon, driven primarily by:

• Increasing Internet and smartphone penetration

• A flourishing e-commerce sectors

• Convenience, personal safety, and better security from theft and fraud

• A strong use-case of merchant payments

• Conducive government policies for inclusive banking

• A rise in the number of MSMEs and start-ups

Simply put, digital payments are here to stay, espoused by the facts, trends, and market news above.

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