GCASH, the mobile wallet arm of Globe Telecom, Inc., said its transaction volume soared by 700% year on year in May, as demand for digital solutions continues to surge due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“With the rise in digital services that need digital payment gateways, GCash posted a record spike in transactions last month. Bank cash-in, which includes Instapay, and online payments to Google, Apple, Lazada, and various other merchants surged by 700 percent during the period over last year,” GCash said in a statement e-mailed to reporters on Monday.

GCash noted that the ongoing crisis has forced Filipinos to turn to digital solutions, especially for their payment transactions.

The finance app also saw its registration volume more than triple during the first month of the enhanced community quarantine.

GCash said it has been working with the government in the distribution of its financial assistance for beneficiaries who have been affected by the lockdown.

ONLINE GROCERY
In a related development, online grocery shopping platform Pushkart.ph said it was studying to expand its services to more cities and provinces, as demand for “safe, reliable, and convenient” on-demand grocery shopping services continues to grow.

In a statement, the online grocery delivery service provider said: “As the demand for digital services continues to rise during the community quarantines, more and more Filipinos see the value of using on-demand grocery shopping services to protect themselves from contracting the virus. This drove Pushkart.ph’s order volumes to balloon by 10 folds or by 900 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2020.”

Pushkart.ph said it was in talks with various supermarket chains in major cities outside of Metro Manila for possible partnerships.

The company currently serves Metro Manila through its two hubs in Quezon City and Taguig City. — Arjay L. Balinbin