New UPI Payment Option for Railway Tickets by Phone Call

This groundbreaking technology revolutionizes the payment process by enabling users to make Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments for railway tickets through voice commands. By leveraging conversational voice capabilities, the system streamlines the payment experience, making it more convenient and accessible for a diverse range of users. Integrated seamlessly with existing payment methods, this innovative solution supports multiple languages, catering to users across different regions and linguistic backgrounds.

The technology simplifies transactions by allowing users to interact with the payment gateway via spoken commands or by entering their UPI ID or mobile number over a call. This advancement not only enhances user convenience but also promotes inclusivity in financial transactions, ensuring that language barriers do not impede the payment process. With its user-centric design, this system represents a significant step forward in digital payment solutions, improving the overall efficiency and accessibility of railway ticket payments.

NPCI, IRCTC, and CoRover Launch Conversational Voice Payments System

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), and CoRover have jointly introduced a pioneering feature in payment technology: the Conversational Voice Payments system. Unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest 2024, this innovative system enables users to make Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments for railway tickets using their voice.

How Conversational Voice Payments Work

The Conversational Voice Payments system integrates seamlessly with the payment gateway, allowing Indian Railways customers to pay for railway tickets on IRCTC by speaking or typing their UPI ID or mobile number during a call. Once a mobile number is provided, the system automatically retrieves the associated UPI ID and processes the payment request through the user's default UPI application. Users also have the option to update their mobile number or UPI ID within the transaction window, enhancing the flexibility and convenience of the payment process.

Technological Innovations and Features

The Conversational Voice Payments system is described as the "first-ever conversational voice payment system to pay to merchants using UPI," marking a significant advancement in payment technology. This system is designed to eliminate language barriers and facilitate faster, more user-centric transactions. It utilizes Payment Gateway's APIs to ensure a smooth and secure transaction process and incorporates CoRover's voice-enabled BharatGPT technology. This system supports multilingual input, including commands in Hindi, Gujarati, and other regional languages, making it accessible to a broad user base.

Integration with AskDISHA and Other Payment Methods

The new voice payment feature is integrated into AskDISHA, the AI virtual assistant for IRCTC and Indian Railways. This integration allows users to book tickets and make payments using just their voice, streamlining the entire process and enhancing user convenience. In addition to UPI, the system supports various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, net banking, and digital wallets, providing users with multiple options for completing their transactions.

Advancements in Payment Infrastructure

The introduction of the Conversational Voice Payments system is part of a broader trend towards digitalization in India's payment infrastructure. Recent advancements include Delhi Metro's new metro card recharge feature, which allows commuters in the Delhi NCR region to top up their metro cards through digital channels. Additionally, the same ticketing and chatbot services available on WhatsApp now offer metro card recharge services in both English and Hindi. Users can initiate these services by sending a 'Hi' message to the specified number or scanning a QR code, further simplifying and enhancing the convenience of public transportation services.

Conclusion

The launch of the Conversational Voice Payments system marks a transformative advancement in digital payment technology, offering Indian Railways customers a groundbreaking method to manage transactions efficiently. This innovative system leverages voice commands, allowing users to make Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments for railway tickets simply by speaking or typing their UPI ID or mobile number during a call. This technology integrates seamlessly with existing payment methods, streamlining the ticket booking process and making it significantly more user-friendly.

By eliminating language barriers and supporting multilingual input, it enhances accessibility for a diverse user base. Furthermore, the integration of this system with AskDISHA, the AI virtual assistant, simplifies the entire process, offering additional convenience. As India progresses in its digital payment infrastructure, such advancements are crucial for ensuring financial transactions are inclusive, efficient, and accessible to all, representing a significant step forward in the country’s push towards digital innovation.