"The Next Wave" Emerging digital life in South and Southeast Asia This report is produced by Deloitte in partnership with the INCLUSION Fintech Conference. With the inaugural three-day event held in September 2020, INCLUSION aims to bring together members of the technology and financial communities, to foster a global dialogue on building a more inclusive, green, and sustainable world through digital technology. "The Next Wave" Emerging digital life in South and Southeast Asia | Contents Executive Summary 1 Chapter I The Rise of Digital Life 5 Trends and characteristics of digital life 5 Large populations and young demographics 5 Digital life boosted by social media 6 Factors driving the rise of digital payment 7 Demographic advantage 8 Rapid penetration and adoption of smartphones 8 In contrast with the lack of inclusiveness of traditional finance, 10 digital payment reduces the time and cost of transactions Strong policy support for the digital economy 10 Digital payment the key enabler for digital life 11 Digital payment has boundless potential 11 Mobile e-commerce has become the cornerstone of digital life 13 Interconnecting digital finance 14 Accelerated adoption of "zero contact" digital payment 14 since the pandemic 14 Chapter II Digital Life Consumer Portraits 18 Characteristics of Digital Life 18 Regional differences in digital payment 19 The attractions of digital payment 19 Petty payments dominate 20 Digital Life Habits 21 Mobile APPs actively used in different scenarios 21 Diversified modes of digital entertainment 21 Popularity of online shopping but concerns remain 22 Surge in the use of digital services since the pandemic 24 "The Next Wave" Emerging digital life in South and Southeast Asia | Contents Chapter III Unique Digital Life in South and Southeast Asia 26 Digital Life "Leaders" 28 Singapore: Exemplary digital model for 28 developed countries 28 Indonesia: perfect payment pattern, boundless 32 online shopping prospects Malaysia: Advanced digital application scenarios 34 Digital Life "Followers" 36 Thailand: Street-based digital economy 36 Philippines: Tech-driven digital age 38 Digital Life "Prospects" 42 India: Digital life from a small perspective 42 Digital Life "Challengers" 44 Bangladesh: Inclusive digital finance for low income people 44 Pakistan: Every area of digital life needs to developed 47 Chapter IV Unleashing the Potential of Digital Life 50 Continuous promotion of digital communication infrastructure 50 Encourage and develop consumer and merchant adoption of 50 digital payment Grasp opportunities to serve those with inadequate access to 51 financial services Building an information security mechanism "trinity" 51 Collaboration and communication to reduce business risks 52 Encourage localized digital innovation 52 Actively cultivate digital talent 53 "The Next Wave" Emerging digital life in South and Southeast Asia | Executive Summary Executive Summary Young and vibrant economies in digital financial services accessible findings show that young adults aged South and Southeast Asia are rising via smartphones, which further 21-40 are the leading force enabling stars in the development of the digital promotes the adoption of digital the rapid adoption of a digital life in economy. The region has become payment; the region in the post Covid-19 world, the emerging "next wave" presenting with 78% of those surveyed in the age • Third, with a high mobile penetration enormous opportunities in digital life group indicating they have increased rate in the region, consumers are adoption. their use of digital services. more inclined to opt for m-commerce than those in developed economies; Digital payment as a key enabler is There are four factors behind the rapid and creating and connecting digital life for rise of digital consumption in South consumers, making a fundamental and Southeast Asia: • Fourth, most governments in South shift in social interactions, financial and Southeast Asian countries have • First, the population in the region is services, digital entertainment, daily introduced supportive policies to huge in size and young in age, with life services and shopping habits. boost development of the digital digital lives boosted by social media; The survey also uncovered regional economy and digital infrastructure. trends in the digital lives of people in • Second, the large number of We surveyed people across age groups South and Southeast Asia, which are unbanked and underbanked in eight countries (Singapore, Malaysia, summarized below. population in the region has spurred Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, the growth and fast adoption of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan). The Chart 1: Portrait of Digital Payment in South and Southeast Asia Top 3 scenarios of digital payment Petty payment in dominance e-commerce / For of consumers, the value of 70% 67% m-commerce each transaction is less than $30 peer-to-peer 69% 33% transfer 29% in-store 62% purchase 5% Less than $1 $1~$10 $11~$30 After the pandemic Top 3 reasons for use of digital payment 78% of consumers have increased 1. convenience their use of digital services 2. contactless 3. value-added benefits and promotions Source: Deloitte Research 1 "The Next Wave" Emerging digital life in South and Southeast Asia | Executive Summary • Digital payment: The top three most • Most frequently used mobile APPs in the most frequently used daily common daily life scenarios where South and Southeast Asia life services; consumers choose to use digital – Mobile banking and digital payment – The top three reasons payment include e-commerce / are the two most used functions in for consumers to choose m-commerce, peer-to-peer transfer financial services APPs; e-commerce/m-commerce are and in-store purchase, of which the – Films or video streaming, social convenience, product variety majority are of smaller value. Users media and music streaming are and low prices; choose digital payment mainly the three most popular modes of – Since the pandemic, the use of because it is convenient, contactless digital entertainment; digital services has surged. and offers extra benefits and – Ride-hailing, news and books, discounts. and workplace collaboration are Chart 2: Four Main Digital Payment Scenarios in South and Southeast Asia Financial service Digital entertainment Highest frequency of use Most favored by youths 1. mobile banking 1. films and video streaming 2. digital payment 2. social media 3. music streaming Daily life service E-commerce Highest frequency of use Three reasons 1. ride-hailing 1. convenience 2. news and books 2. product variety 3. workplace collaboration 3. low prices The survey also uses indicators to The Philippines, while having room challenges such as slow internet measure the seven dimensions of to grow its mobile penetration, has a speed and consumers' preference digital life in each country. Overall, unique leading edge in digital peer-to- for cash payment. This puts it behind Singapore and Malaysia are the peer transfers, live e-sports broadcasts other "follower" nations in the seven "leaders", with top performance in and other segments of digital life. indicators. every digital life indicator. Although they are not yet equal to the "leaders" in their richness of digital life Bangladesh and Pakistan in South Asia However, there are several "follower" scenarios, these "follower" countries have the farthest to catch up in digital countries that are poised to catch are set for rapid expansions in their life. Their lower levels of social and up soon. Thailand is a model in this digital economies and are set to catch economic development have resulted category. Its high per capita income up rapidly with the leaders through in a large gap with other countries has led to greater smartphone their good digital foundations and in digital infrastructure and mobile penetration. Thailand performs effective policy impetus. penetration rates. strongly by virtue of having vigorous social media and online shopping In South Asia, India is doing well in activity and a mature digital payment cybersecurity. However, because segment. of a wide income gap, it still faces 2 "The Next Wave" Emerging digital life in South and Southeast Asia | Executive Summary Chart 3: Digital Life Leaders in South and Southeast Asia Digital life scenarios High Digital Life Prospects Digital Life Leaders Singapore Malaysia India Indonesia Digital Thailand infrastructure ow High Philippines Bangladesh Pakistan Digital Life Challengers ow Digital Life Followers The size of the circle represents the scale of digital economy. Digital infrastructure: mobile internet speed, mobile phone penetration, government policies Digital life scenarios: social media, e-commerce activities, digital payment Source: Surfshark, Google & TEMASEK, GSMA, Statista, Globalweb Index, Deloitte Research Digital payment is the key enabler (3) Differences in per capita income and offline scenarios; digital payment enabler of digital life. Compared with result in variations in smartphone in these countries will advance quickly mature models of digital payment in penetration; the various modes of towards more widespread, faster and other countries and regions, South digital payment adopted by countries more secure use. and Southeast Asian countries range from PIN codes and QR codes to have demonstrated the following biometrics; Although South and Southeast Asian characteristics: countries are poised for digitalization, (4) Governments can play a strong role they still need to catch up in various (1) For various