Nepal’s leading mobile wallet eSewa has marked its 17th anniversary celebration. The company organized a special ceremony in Kathmandu to mark the occasion and also announced the rollout of three new features on the eSewa platform.
When did eSewa start?
eSewa started in a beta form in 2009. Later, it became fully operational on January 25, 2010. The company has transformed the way people pay on their phones in these glorious 16 years filled with progressive evolution.
eSEwa, available on web and app, allows users to top up their phone balance, pay utility bills, book bus, flight, and movie tickets, etc. It has gone beyond just being a payment app. It has become a way of life for many. The company has been justifying its presence in the digital payment landscape under the theme of all, always, together (Sabai, Sadhain, Sangai).
At a program ‘17th anniversary and Innovation Day’ to celebrate the occasion, eSewa Chairperson Parshuram Kunwar Chhetri said that the company has been continuously working to make eSewa’s services even more efficient, secure, and reliable. He further added that eSewa is committed to making a positive contribution to society by extending digital financial services in collaboration with regulatory bodies, users, society, and all stakeholders.
Similarly, eSewa Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jagdish Khadka said that eSewa has always been delivering its services with the “core principle of inclusiveness and moving forward together,” noting that eSewa’s 17-year journey has proven that a “Nepali company is capable of competing at the global level.”
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Three new features on eSewa launched on its 17th anniversary
While celebrating its 17th anniversary, three new features were announced for eSewa that aim to improve user experience and expand efficiency. Below, we talk about each of them in detail:
eSewa talkback
eSewa has become the first digital wallet to introduce the talkback feature in Nepal. Aimed for the visually impaired, the feature, after activated, converts text on the screen to audio which users can easily hear. The feature helps users understand the feature and maneuver through options and perform tasks. The talkback feature in eSewa is available in both English and Nepali. The company says that the feature provides users with the freedom to use the service and ensures digital independence, and promotes inclusion.
Intent-based payment
The company has also launched an intent-based payment feature to make the payment option more straightforward for users. The feature provides an easier, secure, and uninterrupted payment facility based on users’ willingness to make a payment. In this system, the payment process begins directly where the user needs to pay. After clicking on “Pay with eSewa” on a merchant app or website, the eSewa app opens, or the payment is approved through device-level authentication (fingerprint or Face ID), eliminating the need to process MPIN, password, or OTP. The feature makes payment a short, swift, and easy process by reducing the time to reach the payment interface.
eSewa Circle Chat
eSewa Circle Chat enables users to chat, add friends, create groups, and split bills. Users can also add comments and send reactions. The feature allows users to engage with their friends without switching to another app after splitting the bill. Since conversations made in group chats remain permanent, eSewa expects that this feature will further enhance ease and convenience in communication and transactions among friends.
The features aim at adding more convenience and expanding its accessibility among more users.
The company has over 10.8 million users globally, 280,000+ authorized representatives, 560,000+ merchants, and partnerships with 49+ banks and financial institutions.
As eSewa celebrates its 17th anniversary, Techmandu.com extends its heartfelt congratulations and appreciation for the company’s continuous contributions to Nepal’s digital landscape. We wish eSewa further success in achieving new milestones in the years ahead and look forward to seeing more innovation in its services.