One of the key advantages of the ekPay is- it gets rid of the need to visit multiple websites or physically go to bank and any retailer/agent point to make bill payments

In this globalization era, citizens expect time saving and prompt service ensuring the best quality while digital innovations have emerged as godsend for the people to get the time saving and cost-effective services in a simplified way. Government and citizens are adopting the change of technology while financial service providers (FSP) are turning into more innovative endeavors to survive in the competitive payment industry.

In this context, along with digitalizing other services, the government has taken steps to simplify bill payment methods for the citizens. The ekPay, a centralized payment platform that enables users to pay all types of bills and fees from a single window, is one of the initiatives taken by the government to facilitate the people with simplified payment methods. The Aspire to Innovate (a2i) Programme of the ICT Division launched the platform with the goal of providing a seamless and efficient bill payment experience to citizens.

EkPay is not just a platform rather it made a bridge connecting the citizens of Bangladesh with all types of payment methods. By streamlining the payment processes, ekpay is contributing to create a more connected and efficient smart nation. The goal of this payment platform is to centralize all types of payment services and give the citizens the ability to pay from anywhere with the least amount of TCV (Time-Cost-Visit). The ultimate goal of the payment system is to reach 5- anys: anybody, anywhere, anytime, any-payment and finally any- service.

One of the key advantages of the ekPay is- it gets rid of the need to visit multiple websites or physically go to bank and any retailer/agent point to make bill payments. The platform can be accessed through a variety of channels such as web and mobile app, making it convenient for users to make payments from the comfort of their homes. EkPay is designed to facilitate utility billers, organizations and educational institutions to receive payments through a convenient platform, the financial service providers (FSP) to collect bill through own payment instruments and the citizens to pay their bills with any payment instrument. In this context, you can say ekPay is a win-win game for all the stakeholders.

EkPay always focus on giving biller the ability to integrate all types of payment methods for bill payment through a single platform and ensures the efficient collection of bills at lower costs. EkPay integrates multiple billers across utilities (gas, electricity, water, internet, domain, telephone), government services, education fees, land fees, passport fees, holding taxes, birth registration fee, trade license fees, port fees, passenger facility charges etc., making it easy for users to pay bills for different services through one stop platform. EkPay offers a wide range of services, allowing individuals and merchants to conveniently pay bills and receive payments.

On the other hand, ekPay integrates all types of utility bill payment solutions with the single application programming interface (API). Through this API, any bank, mobile financial service provider, fintech platform and digital wallet can render all types of bill payment systems to it consumers. EkPay defines this type of connection as assisted mode. This assisted mode ensures the convenience way for financial service providers (bank, MFS, digital wallet etc.) and fintech platforms to make multiple types of fees available through the single API integration. EkPay platform saves integration cost, free-up tech bandwidth and ensures single settlement & reconciliation, replaces multiple integration & settlement issue for FSPs. The platform helps billers streamline their payment methods and reduce operational costs as well as increase efficiency and customer satisfaction. Ekpay provides reliable and secure transaction system with the real-time updates on the status of each payment.

One of the other beauties of this platform is- citizens can make payment via internet banking, credit/debit cards, mobile banking, digital wallets, banks, digital center points, village digital booths etc. The ekPay is a secured and reliable method as citizen gets instant verification and confirmation message via SMS and receipt of the transaction in detailed. The platform has received positive feedback from users and billers, who appreciated its utility and reliability.

With a user-friendly interface and robust security measures, ekPay has become a trusted and popular choice for millions of users as well as stakeholders. The popularity of ekPay is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. Citizens now can pay their all types of bills/fees digitally from anywhere, anytime through ekPay easily that got them rid of standing in long queues, thanks to the introduction of this amazing payment platform. In the fiscal year of 2020, the ekPay witnessed approximately 08+ lakh transactions while the number jumped to 88+ lakh in FY 2023. It clearly indicates that ekPay is becoming more popular day by day. It is not only growing for the usage of the general public and making their lives easier, but also creating immense business opportunities for payment merchants and making good profits out of the system.

Digital payment has been playing a great role in the economy as well as in the individuals life with financial needs. EkPay is the pioneering platform in Bangladesh, which is also the most popular version for digital payment. Now-a-days, ekPay appeared as more user friendly and cost-effective for citizens and partners. EkPay is committed to continuous improvement and embrace technological advancements to bring you to the latest features and innovations, ensuring your payment experience always ahead of the curve.

The writer is a National Consultant, a2i, ICT Division