Digital Payment Adoption during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines

Abstract

In the Philippines, economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates a digital shift for businesses. Through this innovation, their operations can continue under the new normal. The adoption of digital payments is one of the common business recovery options supported by the government. In this study, the factors affecting the adoption of digital payments were examined. From July 2020–January 2021, an online survey was conducted on a sample of 433 respondents with at least supervisory level positions. On average, the firms operated their enterprises for 16.22 years and employed 1.8 workers with 57% being sole proprietors, 54% micro enterprises, and 30% having information technology (IT) infrastructure. A decline in their business performance during the pandemic was observed. Two-thirds of the firms across the country employed digital payment technology, and 55% of these firms started using the technology during the pandemic period. Logit analysis was conducted to analyze the determinants of digital payment adoption. Being relatively younger, operating under a partnership business structure relative to sole proprietors, employing more human resources, having IT facilities, and experiencing business growth before the pandemic were found to be predictive of the adoption of digital payments in the business operations of these firms. While younger firms are more receptive to this new payment technology, digital capacity development programs may further revitalize businesses and industries. Such mechanisms need to be put in place targeting vulnerable enterprises: firms under sole proprietorship, without infrastructure for IT, with relatively fewer employees being relatively smaller organizations, and in decline in terms of business growth even prior to the pandemic.

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