Getting To Know Digital Wallets And Digital Transactions

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - The rapid digital technology is currently also happening in the financial and financial sector. This is evidenced by the growth of Indonesia's digital economy. The Ministry of Finance projects the growth of the digital economy by 20 percent from 2021 to 146 billion US dollars in 2045. Meanwhile, the number of digital transactions in 2022 will reach IDR 305 trillion.

With this potential, Kominfo and Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives held a Webinar Ngobrol Bareng Legislator (NGOBRAS) with the theme Recognizing Digital Wallets and Digital Transactions' on Monday 27 February. This activity was opened by the Director General of Aptika Kominfo Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan

Member of Commission I DPR RI, Subarna, explained that e-money or electronic money used to be in the form of chips on cards such as ATMs. Then, this electronic money develops by connecting to a server known as an e-wallet or a digital wallet.

Subarna revealed that digital wallets have a number of advantages. First, transactions are relatively faster than conventional transactions. Second, it can avoid the distribution of counterfeit money. Third, reducing physical contact, especially during the pandemic.

However, Subarna emphasized that digital wallets also have their own weaknesses. First, it can only be used in partner stores.

Second, the money stored in the digital wallet cannot be disbursed in cash. Third, transactions cannot be processed if the device is turned off or the network is disrupted. Fourth, digital wallets make users tend to be consumptive.

Chairman of the Jakarta Veterans UPN Information Science Study Program, Radita Gora Tayibnafis, stated that the public is currently connected, including in the financial sector.

"Now our digital financial recording system can be connected to each other," he explained.

Unlike digital money, Radita said digital wallets are easier to accept because of their flexibility. This is because digital wallets are connected to smartphones or other devices. This can be seen from the dynamic competition between digital wallet companies, such as Shopee Pay, OVO, or Gopay.

Telkomsat Senior Account Manager Widy Sulistianto stated that digital wallets are only one way to make digital transactions that can create opportunities and risks.

Digital wallets and digital transactions have an impact on the digital economy creating opportunities and risks, said Widy.

In the future, said Widy, digital transactions can occur not only through digital wallets, but also through chips embedded in the body. He reminded users to be able to control themselves in digital transactions to adjust to their needs. Therefore, he reiterated that digital literacy is the key to being proficient in digital transactions.