Can BCA KlikPay and Mandiri ClickPay Boost The Spirit of E-Commerce?

Several days ago, BCA launched e-commerce payment solution KlikPay, almost simultaneously with the launch of Bank Mandiri's ClickPay. Is the similar name only a mere coincidence? It could be. However a few weeks before that, these two banks finally decided to open a transaction path based on customers’ need.

BCA KlikPay and Mandiri ClickPay basically have the same concept, a platform that connects your debit account to an online service payment system. BCA KlikPay already supports several online services such as: Bhinneka.com, Blibli.com, CBN, Gudang Vouchers and Living Social. Self service while ClickPay have a little more: Garuda Indonesia, Plasa.com, Indomog, Rakuten, Blibli.com, Bhinneka.com, and Enjoyspin.com.

Both services claim their product will increase the volume of online transactions (e-commerce) in Indonesia. As the two largest banks in Indonesia, they certainly have the power to do so. With such enormous customer base, the partnership between these two banks is indeed necessary in order to support the growth of e-commerce service and banking which aren't connected to each other beforehand.

Looking from a different angle, this will definitely boost the customer's confidence to conduct an e-commerce transaction via local services available. The selection of services will be very tight and certainly this curatorial process will halt the growing number of partners who can work with these banks. However it's very important to ensure the service quality and maintain the users trust.

One other thing that I see from this is the bank's willingness to support local e-commerce industry. If the two largest banks in Indonesia have been supporting this, it's a sign that they put a big wager in this new growing industry. This level of confidence will certainly be a positive sentiment for local and foreign investors to take a chance on e-commerce industry in Indonesia. At least the small e-commerce players are able to feel more secure when walking with Indonesian banking giants against whoever the evil villain would be (government?).

This year is certainly a significant year for e-commerce industry in Indonesia. Don't you agree?