Most Malaysians cannot imagine life without mobile devices, says Nielsen survey
But many are still sceptical about online payments and certain banking activities
By Ganeshwaran Kana
At least three out of five Malaysians or 58 per cent say that they could not imagine life without mobile devices, according to Nielsen’s latest “Mobile Shopping, Banking and Payment” report.
Statistics from the survey revealed that over 50 per cent of Malaysian consumers feel anxious when their mobile devices are not close at hand.
The report highlighted that mobile devices have gone beyond connecting individuals, to revolutionising the world of retail and banking.
About a third of Malaysians have used their mobile device to purchase a product or service in the past six months.
Although the top three activities Malaysian consumers conducted via their mobile devices in the past six months can be associated with social media, 64 per cent of Malaysians use their mobile devices to look up product information while 60 per cent of surveyed respondents used them to compare prices.
“There is no doubt that mobile devices and smartphones are changing the way we operate on a daily basis and one of the key changes in progress is how we pay for items, not just online but in our daily face-to-face transaction,” said Richard Hall, country manager of Nielsen Malaysia.
Despite positive response to the idea of mobile banking, at least 74 per cent of Malaysians still have reservations about conducting certain banking activities via their mobile devices in the next six months as security remains a key concern.
Nevertheless, about two thirds or 68 per cent are willing to make or increase the number of mobile payment if security features are enhanced.
Malaysians have an inherent distrust of online payment, he said.
“So moving to cashless payment through mobile phones will take a little longer than in other countries but it will happen as the advantages and convenience will overcome these fears,” Hall added.
The online survey by Nielsen, which polled more than 30,000 respondents in 63 countries, examined a sample size of 485 respondents in Malaysia.
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