Digital Payments Proven to Drive Financial Inclusion and MSME Growth

Digital transformation in the financial sector is continually changing the way the public conducts transactions. Cashless payments are increasingly becoming part of daily activities, driven by ease of use, efficiency, and improved access to digital financial services. The development of digital payment systems is also contributing to the expansion of financial inclusion, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that require simpler and more affordable transaction access. Bank Indonesia noted that the trend of using the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) is continuing to rise. As of April 2026, QRIS transactions grew by 108.43% year-on-year (yoy). The number of QRIS users has reached around 63 million people, whilst the number of merchants has surpassed 45 million, the majority of whom come from the MSME sector. This growth demonstrates the increasing role of digital payments in supporting the economic activities of the public and business operators across various regions. Amidst this development, GoPay won the Digiwara Awards 2026 as the best Payment Service Provider (PJP) in the QRIS expansion programme for the non-bank category. The award was presented during the Digiwara Festival 2026 series held on 22-24 May 2026. The recognition was given for GoPay’s achievement in securing the largest share of QRIS transactions in the Banten region throughout 2025 compared to other financial service providers. The Digiwara Festival is an annual agenda initiated by the Bank Indonesia Representative Office of Banten Province to strengthen the sharia economic ecosystem whilst accelerating digital transformation in the region. Head of GoPay Wallet, Kelvin Timotius, expressed appreciation for the award received and thanked users who have utilised digital payment services through GoPay. "We are grateful and thank Bank Indonesia for the award received. We also thank customers who have trusted GoPay as a payment service provider for transactions using QRIS," he said, quoted from a press release received on Thursday (4/6). According to Kelvin, the award is one indicator of the public’s growing acceptance of practical and accessible digital payment services. "This moment is proof of GoPay’s consistency in expanding digital financial transaction services to the public through a lightweight application that is easy and safe for all groups to use," he said. He explained that the GoPay application is designed to support various daily financial transaction needs, including payments via QRIS, which are now increasingly used by the public and business operators. Kelvin added that the increase in cashless transactions is an encouragement for the company to continue developing digital payment service innovations that are secure and easy to use. "The public is now increasingly relying on cashless transactions; therefore, we are committed to presenting digital payment service innovations for all needs through the GoPay application. We also hope this innovation will serve as a measure of support for Bank Indonesia in encouraging payment digitalisation," he said. The development of QRIS in recent years is considered one of the important factors in accelerating the digitalisation of the national payment system. In addition to facilitating consumer transactions, the use of QRIS also helps MSME players gain access to the digital payment system without requiring large technology investments. With the number of users and merchants continuing to grow, digital payments are expected to play an increasing role in driving transaction efficiency, expanding financial inclusion, and supporting the growth of Indonesia’s digital economy in the future.