Cooped up in their homes with lots of time to think about payment options other than cash, Kathmandu residents are going digital with a zeal spurred by concerns over becoming a coronavirus statistic.

Digital wallet transactions are down because there's nowhere to buy or spend with the country in lockdown, but app downloads have swelled tremendously, say those in the know.

Roshan Lamichhane, chief operating officer at eSewa, said that the awareness level among the public has increased, and that the government has also been urging people to make online payment.

Mobile top-ups, utility payments and bank transfers have been helping operators to earn organic customers which will be helpful in increasing the number of users in the coming days.

As commerce is down to zero with economic activities at a complete halt across the country, e-transactions have plunged by 40 percent, he said.

“The number of app downloads has increased comparatively after the lockdown, which has provided support to organic growth,” he said.

The volume of mobile top-ups has surged, but since people are staying home and mostly using social media to connect with family and friends, turnover is at the average level, added Lamichhane.

Most internet service providers and the Nepal Electricity Authority have waived fines for late payment, so the volume of utility payment is also normal.

But people who have trust issues regarding digital payment have started understanding its convenience, added Lamichhane. There is growth in terms of the awareness level of people, he said

According to Lamichhane, all the company's internal work is being done from home. Employees are performing technical work, development and updates off site. Even customer care service is being operated remotely with the staff fielding calls at home, he said.

People are choosing digital payment as there are chances of transmitting Covid-19 when handling cash. But it is not only the virus threat, people now are beginning to feel that the time has come for digital payment, said Amit Agrawal, director and co-founder of digital wallet service Khalti.

“The number of Khalti users is increasing by 200 percent daily,” he said. "With people staying home, they are sharing the convenience of making digital payment," added Agrawal.

Business is down because economic activities have stopped, but it could have plunged to 80 percent if not for the mobile top-ups, utility payments and bank transfers we are handling, he said.

Digital wallet service providers say that though the economy is going through hard times, the crisis has created an opportunity for them to grow as the government has been supporting them by telling people to make digital payment.

The current situation has drawn people towards digital transactions and made them feel positive about it, said Pawan Pradhan, managing director of payment service provider Cellcom.

The service providers have also been running schemes and offers to motivate people to use digital payment. Khalti is providing cash back and discount offers while CellPay also offers various schemes to customers.

According to these companies, around 1 million Nepalis are using digital wallet services.