Bank Indonesia has introduced a new digital payment system called QRIS Tap, which uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to enable rapid contactless transactions. The system, designed to enhance payment efficiency in public transportation and other sectors, allows users to complete transactions in 0.3 seconds by simply bringing their NFC-enabled smartphone near a payment terminal. The development marks a significant advancement in Indonesia’s ongoing digital transformation efforts, building upon the country’s existing digital identity infrastructure.
According to Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo, the system eliminates the need for manual QR code scanning while supporting transactions from savings accounts, credit facilities, and server-based electronic money from participating payment service providers. The multi-source payment capability makes QRIS Tap one of the more versatile transit payment solutions in Southeast Asia.
The initial deployment focuses on the transportation sector, with QRIS Tap currently available on the Jakarta MRT Bundaran HI – Lebak Bulus route, 120 DAMRI Jabodetabek Resident Connection buses, 12 RoyalTrans buses, Trans Metro Pasundan Bandung, and Trans Sarbagita Bali. The rollout follows similar successful NFC-based transit payment systems deployed in other major Asian cities.
Bank Indonesia plans to expand the system across all MRT stations, TransJakarta buses, LRT, and KRL Commuter Line services in Jabodetabek and the Yogyakarta-Solo route. The implementation will extend to 2,353 retail merchants, MSMEs, parking facilities, and hospitals. The broad rollout strategy matches successful contactless payment ecosystems seen in other markets where transit payments often serve as a catalyst for wider adoption of digital payment technologies.
“The system will particularly benefit Jakarta residents, who are frequent QRIS users,” said Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo. “It is expected to reduce queues at MRT entrances where electronic card scanning often creates bottlenecks.” The focus on reducing transaction times addresses a critical pain point in public transportation systems, where payment processing speed directly impacts service efficiency.
Currently, QRIS Tap functionality is limited to Android devices, with iOS support under development. The system represents part of a broader digital transformation in public transportation payment systems, as noted by PT MRT Jakarta President Director Tuhiyat, who highlighted that MRT Jakarta already offers multiple cashless payment options including electronic money cards, digital wallets, QRIS scanning, debit cards, credit cards, and the MyMRTJ app. The multi-modal approach to payments matches global trends in transit payment modernization, where flexibility and convenience are increasingly prioritized to enhance the passenger experience.
The implementation of QRIS Tap comes at a time when digital payment security concerns are rising globally, making the system’s secure NFC-based architecture particularly relevant for protecting consumer transactions in high-traffic environments.
Sources: Intimedia, Social Expat, Rapid Reviews
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