GCash rolling out new features for kids, travel, AI
MANILA, Philippines — Mobile payments service GCash is rolling out a number of features and services aiming to better assist users of the financial mobile application.
GCash hosted the 2024 edition of its FutureCast event last June 28 where several executive officers took the stage to unveil what new features are in the works.
Last year's launch focused on safety, future readiness, and going global, highlighted by the creation of the Doublesafe feature and garnering a million GCash visa card users in three months.
Banking on that is the arrival of the Online PaySafe feature, which redirects outside sources to the GCash app for any online purchases.
Another similar security feature planned is Send Money Protect, which for P30, adds extra protection for 30 days when users are sending money up to P15,000.
When it comes to the app interface, a new dashboard brings up savings and investments in new tabs (this feature will rollout this July in phases) and a new Money Manager space to keep track of spendings and savings.
Chief Technology and Operations Officer Pebbles Sy shared the app would have an enhanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent called Gigi to assist in transaction history, help with safety measures, conversation history, or contacting customer service.
Related: Safe shopping: Protection plans for online purchases launched
Chief Data Officer Sara Venturina added that more AI-powered experience were in the line like a GScore AI — which measures how responsible a user is where higher scores have access to credit, better interest rates, and other perks — and Hyper-Personalized Ads.
Yet another AI-related feature revealed by Market Education Head for Wealth Management Mark Ilao is GCoach AI, a sort of financial health coach.
One popular feature coming up is GCash Jr., a kid-friendly version of GCash with parental controls for ages 7 to 17 years old.
The products and features in GCash Jr. are attuned to a young user's needs, while wallet limits are set by parents. The ideal use for GCash Jr. are for children's allowance, buying cellphone load, or paying via QR code or online.
Similar to grown-up users, there will be a GCash Jr. visa featuring animated animal characters GCat, CoreyG, and GRaf, who also add to the fun of the regular GCash app.
General Manager for GCash International Paul Abano unveiled a GTravel feature where users will be able to book flights, accommodation, and activities, GInsure with up to P2.5 million coverage, and instant Tax Refund with crediting.
Non-Filipino users will be able to benefit from GCash through GCash Tourist, a feature that gives foreigners 30-day access to the app's convenient features.
Related: 'Nabudol in Japan': Megan Young, Mikael Daez find way to shop better abroad
International Transfers and Disbursement head Alex Dizon shared that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will launch GCash soon, joining over a dozen countries where the app is available.
Another major feature in the pipeline is Watch Pay, in partnership with Huawei, which aims to be the first way to pay using wearables.
Also to look out for is Tap To Pay, a developing partnership with the Department of Transportation where users can use their phones to quickly pay for rides on buses and trains.
On the sustainability front, the GImpact feature will allow users to visibly monitor the sustainability impact of each transaction made.
Sustainability head CJ Alegre revealed GCash is on track to plant 10 million trees for its GForest initiative in the following years, with 2.8 million already planted.
He also shared through GFarm, the app will partner with non-governmental organizations to support farms that grow fruit-bearing trees, and users themselves can choose what kind of tree they want to help plant.
Chief Marketing Officer Neil Trinidad told members of the media, including Philstar.com, after the event's conclusion that all the announced features would come out within the next 12 months.
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