We live in a fast-paced, highly digitized world. Information and data move faster than ever before thanks to the advent of modern technology, particularly the internet.
While there certainly are some criticisms concerning the internet, there’s no denying that it’s made life significantly simpler for all of us. Special needs individuals, in particular, can testify to this.
Thanks to the internet, special needs individuals now have access to many more facilities than they did in the past. This includes the ability to shop online from the comfort of their home – an excellent facility for quadriplegics, in particular.
The internet also affords special needs people to conduct money transfers without needing to physically visit a bank. As a result, transferring money has become remarkably easy and convenient for those who struggle with outdoor mobility.
In this article, we’ll explore in detail how online payments have become a godsend for special needs individuals. We’ll also go over the key advantages of internet banking as well as explore potential disadvantages.
But what exactly is internet banking – and how does it tie in with online transfers?
Let’s explore…
The contemporary times that we live in have brought forth certain contemporary banking solutions.
Internet banking is a relatively new phenomenon, yet is actively employed by the majority of bank account holders across the globe.
Part of what makes online banking so popular is the remarkable ease of access it offers. All you need to do is open up your bank’s phone app (or access their website) and log into your account. Within microseconds, all your essential banking information will be displayed across your screen. You can then browse through your bank account portfolio and make any necessary transactions with ease.
Internet banking is a self-explaining term. Simply put, internet banking is when you practice banking tactics through the internet. This includes making transfers, writing digital checks, and paying for online purchases.
You can also apply for loans online, check your monthly statement, and pay important bills through internet banking.
Of course, the best part about all this is that you can easily access internet banking resources from virtually anywhere. All you need is a working internet connection and a trusted device to log in with.
Online payments can be made by anyone with a working internet banking account or a bank card that’s enabled for online transfers. The online payment process typically takes under a minute and can be completed from the comfort of one’s home.
We already know that online payments can be extremely beneficial for special needs individuals. Next, we’ll explore exactly why they’re so helpful.
Firstly, online payments can be made from anywhere. We’ve already touched upon this point, yes – but let’s look at it through a special needs person’s lens.
Imagine you know someone who struggles with walking. They have a special condition that prevents them from walking more than a few steps. Hence, they require constant wheelchair facilitation.
Now imagine the same person trying to browse for clothes within a large shopping mall. It may be easy for fully physically abled individuals to hop from shop to shop. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for someone with a walking disability. As a result of their special condition, a special needs person is less likely to enjoy shopping at a large mall. The whole process of moving from one clothing rack to another would require significant effort and time.
Wouldn’t it be so much simpler to shop from the comfort of one’s own home?
Luckily, online payment mechanisms help special needs people do exactly that. Thanks to internet banking and virtual money transfers, visiting in-person shops is no longer a necessity!
On another note, most shops don’t have special facilities for special needs people. For example, people in wheelchairs require ramps, or else their mobility becomes limited. Luckily, being able to make online purchases helps special needs individuals access all shops. This includes the ones that don’t have ramps or related facilities to adequately cater to in-person special needs customers.
Online shopping is also somewhat cheaper than in-person shopping. This is because visiting a shop in the flesh requires you to pay for transport. Whether it’s petrol for your own car or the fare for a bus ticket, transport is seldom free.
Most special needs people struggle with driving, too. So, in addition to paying for transport costs, they face the challenge of finding an appropriate and comfortable mode of transportation.
Visiting an in-person store also means having to change into appropriate attire. Some special needs individuals may struggle with this and need extra assistance to change their clothes.
None of these challenges exist within the realm of online shopping, which is why so many special needs individuals prefer it. Online payments have revolutionized the way special needs people make purchases.
But that’s not all. special needs people can now make their medical bill payments online, too. Online payment facilities are a blessing for those who frequent the hospital often. Being able to pay for medical equipment and medicine online is equally helpful. A great example of such a facility is our digital wallet payit that provides a helpful bill payment feature that is great for special needs people.
Remember, special needs individuals, tend to struggle with leaving the house to make bill payments or miscellaneous purchases. Some special needs people might need to order medicines every week. Visiting the shop or an in-person bank on a weekly basis would be a real challenge for most. Luckily, online payment facilities have eliminated the need for in-person visits altogether.
Online payments also allow people to order products from abroad or from outside the city. special needs individuals may require special medical equipment that’s not available locally. But instead of worrying about this, they can simply order the product online and pay through the internet. The product will be delivered to their doorstep in no time!
special needs people can also easily make bill payments through online payment platforms. This eliminates the need to commute to and back from the bank.
These excellent advantages are what have made online payments so popular amongst the specially-abled community.
Of course, online payments do come with a few disadvantages.
For starters, there’s always the chance of getting scammed. Luckily, though, there’s been a significant improvement in online payment security in recent years. So, you don’t need to stress about this point too much. Just be sure to keep your passwords and card details to yourself and only shop at trusted sites!
Another disadvantage accompanying online payments is the possibility of unforeseen technical disturbances. Your bank may decide to suspend its online payment facilities for a few hours. In severe cases, the link might be down for a day or two – or more!
Unfortunately, it’s generally not possible to make online payments when your bank isn’t cooperating. Luckily, the downtime won’t last forever. Though it may delay things, it won’t completely eliminate the option of making online payments in the future.
Also, if you’d like to make an online payment, you need to make sure you have enough money within your card. If you’re using a debit card that doesn’t meet the payment threshold, you won’t be able to proceed with the purchase. Online purchases typically can’t be made half in cash and half over the internet. You’ll need to transfer all of it online.
If you’re using a credit card, you’ll need to ensure the purchase cost fits within your limit.
Still, if we look at things from a realistic angle, it’s easy to see that the benefits of online payments outweigh any potential pitfalls. This is particularly true for special needs people who struggle with making in-person purchases.
All in all, we can see that online payments have made things significantly easier for special needs people. Not only have online payment facilities opened up the gates to online shopping, but they have also reduced the cost of in-person visits.
To review, special needs people no longer need to worry about changing outfits or arranging for appropriate transport measures when going out. Instead, they can simply browse for products online, pay through internet banking, and wait for their parcel to reach their doorstep. Furthermore, they can pay essential medical and day-to-day living bills through online payment portals. This eliminates the need to visit the bank in person. Of course, there are a few potential drawbacks that come with making online payments. However, these problems aren’t significant enough to serve as an effective barrier against conducting online transactions. The advantages evidently outweigh any disadvantages, especially for special needs people who use online payment facilities to simplify their everyday lives!