A step by step guide on how to use BHIM app

At a programme in New Delhi on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the mobile payment app BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money). Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), BHIM is an aggregator for all UPI-based services offered by banks.

UPI, or Unified Payment Interface, is a payment system that allows money transfer between any two bank accounts by using a smartphone. UPI allows a customer to pay directly from a bank account to different merchants, both online and offline, without the hassle of typing credit card details, IFSC code, or net banking/wallet passwords.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the app:

1. Android users can download the application from Play Store by searching for ‘BHIM’. The app is not available for iOS users yet.

2. Install the application and choose your language. The app will prompt you to verify your phone number using an SMS. Click on Next and wait for the verification process to be completed.

3. Once the verification is complete, input a four digit passcode.

4. After a passocode is set, the app will ask you to select your bank. Once the bank is selected, the app automatically picks up your details using your phone number. Select the primary bank account that will be used for all your transactions.

5. The app displays three options — send, request and scan/pay. Transactions are possible only between verified phone numbers.

6. To send money to someone, type in their phone number and the amount to be transferred. The app will prompt you to input your MPIN, usually a four or a six digit code that authenticates a mobile transaction.

7. Likewise, you can request money from someone, using their phone number.

8. The third option, scan & pay, allows users to transfer money using a QR code, a two dimensional black and white barcode which can be decoded by a smartphone or a tablet. Each phone number is assigned a QR code which can be accessed under profile on the home screen.

Also read: Bhim VS Paytm

BHIM vs Paytm

PM Narendra Modi last week launched Bharat Interface for Money, or BHIM, which has been built on top of the United Payment Interface (UPI) launched last year. If companies like Paytm, MobiKwik and Freecharge were having a field day since November 8, the BHIM app could mean lower business for them because on the face of it BHIM seems a more convenient and simpler app for consumers.

According to Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Ayog, the BHIM app has been downloaded for more than 3 million times on Google Play Store and over 500,000 transactions have already been made so far. Considering the app is not available on iOS and Windows yet, that is a huge number already.While BHIM has ease of access, Paytm is more widely used across the country. Both have their flaws, both have their benefits but which one comes out on top? Let's take a look.

Usability

BHIM is NOT an e-wallet. It can be considered an easier way to access your bank account to make payments, transfer and receive money. This means you don't need to add money to BHIM, since it is basically your bank account. There are several ways through which you can use BHIM, using a phone number if your bank supports UPI, using IFSC and MMID, and using unique QR codes. You can also access all the features being offline by using *99# USSD code.

The installation and setup of BHIM is incredibly easy, Paytm is not so much.

This doesn't mean using Paytm is difficult, it can be said that BHIM is easier than Paytm. To use Paytm you need to add money to the wallet each time it runs out of money, the app comes with several features and options that can be a tad bit confusing to the first-time user or someone who never used a smartphone before.

Most banks in India are UPI-enabled by now, which means all you need is a phone number to send or receive money through BHIM, the same goes for payments.

Security

Paytm has put up several security measures in place. All transactions between Paytm and banks are made through gateways that have their own security systems, it also employs PIN or pattern lock to access the app. Paytm has been in the market for years now, and no hack attempts, successful or otherwise, have been reported so far. So it's safe to assume that Paytm is pretty much secure.

On the other hand, not much is known about BHIM's security. The app uses three levels of authentication, first between the app and the phone, second between the app and the bank, and third between the bank and the phone. All of this sounds good enough.

Lucideus Tech, one of the companies involved with BHIM apps, says that BHIM's security is "in line with what a Google Wallet or Apple Pay will be using". That is reassuring. However, in our brief use of the app we found it to be buggy as it cancelled transactions without giving a reason, or put a transaction on hold for no apparent reason, we cannot really put our faith in the app as far as security is concerned. We do hope that it will improve in the coming days, and maybe we will have some more clarity about security measures taken by banks, government and the app itself.

Reliability and trust

Launched by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), BHIM carries government's name with it, which of course inspires more trust than a private firm. Since BHIM is a UPI app, you can always contact your bank in case anything goes wrong.

Paytm has also put its measures in place if something goes south, however, they require long, tedious talks with customer care executives and may end up in long mail trails too. Since Paytm is not just roadside vendor who would deny having done business with you, you can rest assured to find a solution to a problem eventually.


In terms of usage, Paytm is currently more reliable. Its servers seem more robust and there are fewer bugs. BHIM, on the other hand, is having some teething issues.

Conclusion

It is still too early to send out a verdict on BHIM, however, we can say for a fact that it is possibly the easiest online payments app out there. There is no doubt that BHIM is a long distance from overtaking the popularity of apps like Paytm, but if the makers patch the bugs and put in more efforts to market it better, somewhere in line with what Paytm, Freecharge and MobiKwik have been doing, BHIM could become the best cashless solution India was looking for.

Introduction to Digital Marketing and its Benefits

Digital marketing is known by many other names – Online marketing, web marketing or Internet marketing. Traditionally, marketing is done via advertisements on radio, television or the Print media. Digital marketing, on the other hand, is done online, over the Internet.

You probably use Internet for two to three hours or more in a day. But, are you aware that Internet can be such an effective medium of advertising? Well, it is not just an effective medium; it is an effectively successful medium.

Digital marketing involves promotion of the services and products, just as traditional marketing does. It, however, reaches a larger number of people. Almost everyone you know has a social media account. Advertising on social media is also a form of digital marketing and a very cost effective method. You can reach a large number of people with the relevant information timely.

So, what is the importance of Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing works on the simple premise – time is money. This statement is of prime importance in today’s world. For example, consider the shopping situation today and compare it with your parent’s days. How much do people go out to shop? Most consumers prefer online shopping. Why? Well, it saves a lot of time and they get more options without having to move out of their houses. They get a wide range of choice that they would not get in a store.

This online presence of people has improved brand recognition at a worldwide scale. For small scale businesses, digital marketing is the best form of advertisement.

How beneficial is Digital Marketing?
Creates Awareness – To help you understand how beneficial digital marketing is, consider this simple example. When you are browsing your timeline on Facebook or any of your preferred social networking sites, you might see many advertisements on the side. You would be surprised at how many times you click on one of those advertisements because they seem relevant. I am sure, many times you are unable to resist and end up making purchases at one of those sites.

Even if you don’t, there are a number of people who do. Most importantly, though, when you click on the Facebook advertisement, you find out about a new brand that you would not have heard of through traditional media.

Thus, digital marketing creates awareness about products and services in a simple and efficient way.

Provides Equal Opportunities – A person with a small scale business may not be able to use the traditional forms of marketing. Money is necessary and this form needs you to spend a hefty sum of money on advertisements for people to know you. However, when you opt for digital marketing, you need to have a well-planned website and you can draw traffic to it smoothly.

The size of your business does not matter here. What matters is the quality of service and products that you are offering. You can get easy online visibility without spending much when you are on social media.

Understand the Consumer’s Response – Another big benefit of digital marketing is that you can view how well your business is working and see the results of your hard work. If you feel that a particular area of your business needs more attention, then you can make changes in your strategies.

You get real time response from consumers. One mistake will have the consumers backing out. But, the best part is that you can rectify the mistake immediately and pull the customers back.

There are various tools like Google Analytics to help you determine how well you are doing. These tools are accurate and easy to use for anyone. The results are real time as well because in a matter of a few hours, you can see a peak in your traffic, sales, revenue and subscribers.

Going Viral – I have seen a large number of advertisements going viral because people liked it and could share it with others in a matter of seconds. This is not possible with the traditional marketing means.

The best example is the ‘Kolaveri Di’ video that became immensely popular. The music was catchy, foot tapping and captivating. Similarly, there are many advertisement videos that become viral. If it provides value to the consumers, then they like it, share it with their family and friends, who share it further.
It is shared a hundred times in a matter of a few minutes.

To give you statistics, on an average, a person on Facebook has 190 friends. Out of those, 12% have a chance of seeing a shared or liked post. This means, that even if one person shares your ad, 15 people would see it, and these are modest estimates. If these people share the same thing too, the post could become viral instantly.

No Sales Calls – One of the biggest advantages of digital marketing is that you don’t get calls if you have not subscribed to a service.

The advertisement style is not pushy. People are looking for the products that are delivered to them and thus, instead of being angry, they are thankful. It is tailored to people’s needs and allows the practical demonstration of targeting only that customer base which needs the product or service.