It is often assumed that the older you get, the less comfortable you become with new technology. However, an American academic study that looked into how the elderly perceived technology and the extent of their willingness to adopt it found that senior citizens were not altogether averse to change, so long as certain barriers were removed, and some apprehensions addressed.
These ‘barriers’ the elders faced related to a dearth of instructions and guidance on technology, inadequate knowledge about advanced technologies, low confidence, and even weak faculties (failing eyesight or unstable limb movements). Also, the study found that the costs involved were a major concern, as were fears that new technologies were too complex.
The Indian scenario
The elderly in India are not averse to technology unlike what people tend to believe; at least this is the consensus that emerged from a workshop organised in October last year by the Mumbai-based Nana Nani Foundation, a group that works for the elderly. The aim of the workshop was to teach senior citizens to adopt e-payment by moving away from cash to digital transactions.
The Hindu quoted a participant as saying that they were “open to change”; all they asked for was someone to guide them. So, if there’s an elderly person in your family, it is important to listen to what they say. Teach them the basics of digital transactions – it will only make life easier for them.
Digital payments are being embraced by more and more service providers. Already, the umbrella organisation for retail bill payments in the country – the National Payments Corp. of India (NPCI) – has launched the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to facilitate this. Currently BBPS covers services such as electricity, telephone, water, gas, and DTH. It plans to expand to other areas such as institution fee payments, credit card bill payments, mutual fund payments, and even charity.
Elders need to be told there are multiple reasons for the popularity of e-payments, the main one being convenience. For instance, HDFC Bank digital wallet PayZapp gives you the power to make payments with just one click; all one needs to do is link his or her debit card or credit card to the wallet and never worry about making payments again. It’s perfect for elderly people for whom standing in queues to pay bills can be a major headache.
You can read more about the different benefits of digital wallets here.
Guiding the elders
Online payment for broadband, cable TV, or movie tickets may not hold great appeal for the elderly, but what will appeal is the fact that they would never again need to stand in a queue to pay for utilities such as electricity or phone bills. Similarly, they will surely appreciate not having to chase their insurance agents to pay insurance premiums – whether for health, life, or car.
Apart from the convenience of paying bills, elders need to be told of the other reasons why it makes sense to go digital. Such as:
- Increased security: The wallets require authentication to process a purchase, and this can be in the form of adequate login credentials, checkout security or even fingerprints. Also, losing petty cash outside one’s home is not uncommon. Cash once stolen is lost forever, but a stolen debit or credit card can be easily blocked remotely. Not to mention, worrying about counterfeit notes being transferred.
- Goodbye to bulky wallets: Going cashless means no more discomfort sitting on a heavy wad of paper notes in your back pocket; just deposit your cash in your bank account and swipe your card or flash the QR code to make a payment.
- Simpler transactions: The user has the freedom to choose the time and place for the transaction: it can be done whenever and wherever they want; there’s no need to be physically present.
- Easy to track expenses: This should be a boon for senior citizens who may have trouble remembering things: cashless transactions end month-end fretting over where all the money went, as they leave a trail via SMS or statements from the banks and wallet operators.
- Controlled expenses: This is another blessing for the elderly; as the user is constantly reminded of the available bank balance after each transaction, it curbs unnecessary or whimsical expenses. This makes it easier to plan the monthly budget.
Last words
PayZapp from HDFC Bank can be cited as the last word about cashless transactions and independent living. Using PayZapp, the elderly can execute all their financial transactions such as pay bills and transfer money. Or their children can do so on their behalf from remote locations.
One reason for choosing PayZapp is that it provides a host of user-friendly features that people tend to look for when choosing an e-wallet. It is indeed a complete payment solution that grants even elderly users with the power to pay with just a click. Download PayZapp now!
* The information provided in this article is generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances
