Jamaica’s transportation sector is poised for a digital revolution as local bus and taxi operators eagerly anticipate integrating the nation’s own central bank digital currency (CBDC), known as Jam-Dex.

Jamaica is actively working towards enabling CBDC services on the mobile phones of the general public.

Jamaica’s transportation sector is poised for a digital revolution as local bus and taxi operators eagerly anticipate integrating the nation’s own central bank digital currency (CBDC), known as Jam-Dex. The introduction of Jam-Dex by the Central Bank of Jamaica in 2022 was marked by an airdrop event aimed at accelerating its widespread adoption. Recent developments reveal that Aldo Antonio, co-founder and acting executive chairman of the National Transporters Alliance Group (NTAG), is actively championing the integration of Jam-Dex within the transport community.

Although Jam-Dex holds the potential to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance security for the transportation sector, local reports suggest that the adoption rate among vendors and consumers has been sluggish, causing some hesitation among bus and taxi drivers. Nevertheless, Antonio remains resolutely optimistic about the prospects:

“I see Jam-Dex as something that would be significantly transformative for the public transportation sector and needs to be embraced.”

To ensure the viability of Jam-Dex, Antonio emphasizes the necessity of cultivating a larger customer base willing to embrace the CBDC. The lack of customer interest could discourage merchants, ultimately leading to the abandonment of the digital currency initiative.

Antonio identifies food and transportation as the two key sectors that could drive the everyday usage of Jam-Dex. He elaborates on this concept, stating:

“If we can get them (Jamaicans) moving and paying for transportation using Jam-Dex on a daily basis, it increases the rate at which we can get the digital currency into people’s hands.”

Jamaica to enable CBDC on mobile phones

In addition to enhancing convenience for customers, the widespread adoption of a central bank digital currency also alleviates concerns related to the security risks associated with carrying physical cash or handling exact change. As part of its strategy, Jamaica is actively working towards enabling CBDC services on the mobile phones of the general public. Antonio envisions that, with proper training and implementation, the transportation sector could potentially begin accepting Jam-Dex payments by January, if not earlier.

Approximately 25,000 to 30,000 transportation owners are present in Jamaica, and their participation could significantly expand the reach of Jam-Dex beyond the existing user base of 10,000 vendors and 200,000 individuals who use the CBDC through the Lynk digital wallet.

https://www.cryptopolitan.com/jamaicas-taxi-drivers-embrace-crypto/

Original Source article BY DASHAN HENDRICKS Business content manager hendricksd@jamaicaobserver.com

Jamaica’s central bank digital currency, Jam-Dex, is set to revolutionize how people pay for public transportation in the island nation. Local bus and taxi operators are eager to integrate Jam-Dex into their operations, as it offers convenience, security, and cost-efficiency.

Jam-Dex: Jamaica’s CBDC to Transform the Transportation Sector

Jam-Dex is the name of Jamaica’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), launched by the Bank of Jamaica in 2022. It is a digital form of legal tender that can be used to pay for goods and services, just like cash.

Jam-Dex is not a cryptocurrency, as it is issued and backed by the central bank and does not rely on a decentralized network of computers.

It can be accessed through a digital wallet app called Lynk, which allows users to send and receive Jam-Dex using their mobile phones.

Users can also convert Jam-Dex to cash or vice versa at authorized agents or deposit-taking institutions.

Jam-Dex transactions are fast, secure, and transparent, as they are recorded on a ledger maintained by the central bank.

Jam-Dex: Why is it important for the transportation sector?
The transportation sector is one of the key sectors that could benefit from adopting Jam-Dex, as it could streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance security for drivers and passengers.

Aldo Antonio, co-founder and acting executive chairman of the National Transporters Alliance Group (NTAG), is actively championing the integration of Jam-Dex within the transport community.

“I see Jam-Dex as something that would be significantly transformative for the public transportation sector and needs to be embraced.”

Antonio believes that Jam-Dex could increase customer convenience and satisfaction, as well as reduce the risks associated with carrying physical cash or handling exact change. He also thinks that J

am-Dex could attract more customers to use public transportation, as it offers a modern and innovative way of paying for their rides.

“If we can get them (Jamaicans) moving and paying for transportation using Jam-Dex on a daily basis, it increases the rate at which we can get the digital currency into people’s hands.”

Challenges and Opportunities
Despite the potential benefits of Jam-Dex, its adoption rate among vendors and consumers has been sluggish, causing some hesitation among bus and taxi drivers.

According to local reports, only 10,000 vendors and 200,000 individuals use Jam-Dex through the Lynk app, which is far below the expected target of one million users by the end of 2023.

Antonio acknowledges that there are some challenges to overcome before Jam-Dex can become widely used in the transportation sector.

He cites the need for more education and awareness campaigns and incentives and rewards for drivers and passengers who use Jam-Dex.

He also emphasizes the importance of cultivating a larger customer base willing to embrace the CBDC, as the lack of customer interest could discourage merchants from accepting Jam-Dex.

However, Antonio remains optimistic about the future prospects of Jam-Dex, as he envisions that with proper training and implementation, the transportation sector could potentially begin accepting Jam-Dex payments by January 2024, if not earlier.

He also estimates that there are approximately 25,000 to 30,000 transportation owners in Jamaica whose participation could significantly expand the reach of Jam-Dex beyond the existing user base.

Antonio hopes that Jam-Dex will become a catalyst for digital transformation in Jamaica, as well as a source of pride and identity for Jamaicans.

He said:

“Jam-Dex is something that we should be proud of as Jamaicans because it’s our own digital currency.”

by Victory Emmanuel

Original Source article BY DASHAN HENDRICKS Business content manager hendricksd@jamaicaobserver.com

Jam-Dex would be significantly transformative for the public transportation sector and needs to be embraced, believes Aldo Antonio.

Bus and taxi operators in Jamaica are eager to use the country’s in-house central bank digital currency (CBDC) — Jam-Dex — as locals seek operational efficiencies and reduced costs and security risks.

The Central Bank of Jamacia launched Jam-Dex, short for Jamaican Digital Exchange, in 2022, which was supported by an airdrop event to expedite its widespread adoption. More recently, Aldo Antonio, co-founder and acting executive chairman of the National Transporters Alliance Group (NTAG), revealed his efforts to spread Jam-Dex adoption among the transport community.

According to a local report from the Jamaica Observer, Antonio sees a lower curiosity in CBDCs among bus and taxi drivers — primarily due to a sluggish adoption rate among vendors and consumers. Regardless, Antonio remains optimistic:

“I see Jam-Dex as something that would be significantly transformative for the public transportation sector and needs to be embraced.”
In order to make Jam-Dex feasible, Antonio believes Jamaica needs more customers willing to use the CBDC. Failure to attract customers will discourage merchants and eventually result in the total abandonment of digital currency.

According to Antonio, food and transportation are the two main verticals that can increase the day-to-day Jam-Dex usage. He added:

“If we can get them [Jamaicans] moving and paying for transportation using Jam-Dex on a daily basis, it increases the rate at which we can get the digital currency into people’s hands.”

Moreover, CBDC’s widespread adoption eradicates the drivers’ concerns related to carrying cash or giving back the exact change. Jamaica is currently working toward enabling the CBDC services on mobile phones of the general public. “With that happening and training happening, then the sector could be in a position by January, if not before, to be able to accept Jam-Dex-type payments,” Antonio concluded.

Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/jamaica-taxi-drivers-jam-dex-cbdc

Original Source article BY DASHAN HENDRICKS Business content manager hendricksd@jamaicaobserver.com

Transport operators say they are ready to embrace the Bank of Jamaica’s (BOJ) central bank digital currency Jam-Dex, and could do so in time for the new year if things fall in place quickly.

Aldo Antonio, co-founder and acting executive chairman of the National Transporters Alliance Group (NTAG), said he has been lobbying amongst transport owners to embrace Jam-Dex as a means of improving the efficiency of their operation and to reduce costs and security risks.

“I see Jam-Dex as something that would be significantly transformative for the public transportation sector and needs to be embraced,” Antonio told the Jamaica Observer.

But he said he understands if at the moment, his fellow transportation owners are not gung-ho, especially with the low levels of participation of both vendors and consumers using Jam-Dex.

“One of the things that we have recognised at NTAG is that you have to have sufficient numbers of people using Jam-Dex to make it feasible. So, no matter how many merchants there are, if there aren’t sufficient customers using it, then the merchants will become discouraged overtime and abandon it. It is a system which has to be pushed on both ends in an aggressive way because even if you have Jam-Dex through one of the wallets on your phone, if you don’t have enough merchants accepting it, it doesn’t make sense.”

He said he believes getting transport owners to use Jam-Dex as an acceptable means of paying bus and taxi fares will go a far way in helping to proliferate the use of the digital currency.

“We recognise that there are two things that Jamaican people do transaction with every day, that is food and transportation. So, if we can get them moving and paying for transportation using Jam-Dex on a daily basis, it increases the rate at which we can get the digital currency into people’s hands.”

Aldo Antonio, acting executive chairman of the National Transporters Alliance Group, is pushing to have his fellow bus and taxi owners and operators embrace Jam-Dex as a means of payment for rides.

“On the other hand, the bus and taxi operators, they have a major, major challenge on a daily basis, accounting for cash and we know how expensive it is to collect cash, store cash and pay cash to the bank. It is a time-consuming and costly process. With Jam-Dex and the digital wallets, the money goes into your account immediately so you can eliminate those kind of cost factors to worry about.”

He said it will also help to eliminate the worry transport operators have about making change for passengers.

“In most instances, for example, especially in the rural areas, the average fare is like $120 and in most instances, the operators would have been walking around with sufficient coins to make change after a passenger pays the fare or he has to collect a lot of these $20 coins and store them in the car on a daily basis. And so, what you will find sometimes is that they just can’t bother.”

For transport owners he said, leakages would be plugged.

Still, as he pushes to get his fellow transport owners to embrace use of Jam-Dex in their daily operation, Antonio said he understands that some are reticent.

“The obvious reluctance stems from them not seeing it available for them to use for transactions in their daily lives. So, for them, it’s something that people are talking about but they haven’t yet seen it around them. From that perspective, there is a sense of ambivalence, because they don’t see it around them.”

He said if there is sufficient take-up within the sector, passengers would be able to pay fares with Jam-Dex pretty soon.

“It is just a matter of having the facility on their phones. That can be done within the space of about four weeks. With that happening and training happening, then the sector could be in a position by January, if not before, to be able to accept Jam-Dex type payments.”

Antonio estimates that there are 25,000 to 30,000 transport owners in the country who ferry hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis. Currently, Jam-Dex is available amongst 10,000 vendors with 200,000 people having access to the digital currency through the digital wallet Lynk, which is provided by the NCB Financial Group. JN Bank is expected to launch its JN Pay digital wallet before the end of the year and a third financial institution is now testing its digital wallet with the central bank. The central bank’s data show that about $257 million in digital currency is in circulation.

BOJ Governor Richard Byles last Monday expressed disappointment with the roll-out of the digital currency to date, saying he expected it to be more widespread at this stage that it is. Byles said deposit-taking institutions say it cost upwards of US$500,000 to develop the digital wallets to use Jam-Dex, suggesting that the cost has slowed progress in getting the digital currency out in the hands of consumers.

However, for Antonio, the cost of moving, securing and storing physical currency would make such an investment worthwhile if taxi owners and operators get onboard.

“Now you are not going to get everybody in the first go, but as more and more drivers accept it and get more comfortable with it, then you will find that people will gradually move towards it.”

“The sector has been discussing cashless because we recognise the benefits of it, but unless there are enough passengers to use it, they are not going to be too anxious to move towards it.”

Antonio suggests that with the pending fare increase, there is an opportunity for the Government to incentivise people to use Jam-Dex by giving them the digital currency as a credit of about $1,000 to subsidise the fare increase at the initial stage, especially, going into the Christmas period.

“We know, for example, that NCB Financial Group through Lynk has been spending millions of dollars to get people to use the digital currency and now has 10,000 merchants and 200,000 customers. Those numbers really tell you what it will cost to have national adoption and the longer it takes to be adopted is the more reluctant Jamaican population is going to be. We have to make a big splash like a quick sprint. The longer we drag it out, the worse it’s going to get. We need a massive injection to get people onboard.”

“This will also increase the number of financial institutions wanting to offer a digital wallet because their reluctance at this point is that there are not enough people out there to use it to facilitate the investments that are needed to get it going,” he opined.

SOURCE DASHAN HENDRICKS Business content manager hendricksd@jamaicaobserver.com

A third digital payment wallet provider is expected to enter the market in the near future to facilitate transactions utilising Jamaica’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

The prospective wallet provider is said to be on the verge of entering the Bank of Jamaica’s (BOJ’s) regulatory sandbox, which is a mechanism to facilitate financial technology innovations testing.

This was announced by BOJ Governor, Richard Byles, during the Central Bank’s quarterly monetary policy media briefing at the BOJ Auditorium in downtown Kingston recently.

Digital wallet electronic platforms offer payment solutions that facilitate transactions involving CBDC, a digital form of central bank-issued currency.

CBDC is legal tender that can be exchanged dollar for dollar with physical cash.

Jamaica’s CBDC is called JAM-DEX, which stands for Jamaica Digital Exchange.

“I’m happy to say that although we only have one institution that is currently offering JAM-DEX, and I must big up that institution, they have been doing so for more than a year now, and that is National Commercial Bank (NCB). There is another that is complete and ready to roll. They are just doing their testing internally and I expect that, shortly, they will come on board. There is another that is behind that is about to enter the sandbox,” Governor Byles said.

Lynk was the first wallet provider approved by the BOJ for CBDC transactions and is available through NCB.

Earlier this year, the BOJ announced Jamaica National as the second wallet provider for CBDC.

Mr. Byles described the facility’s development as an investment in the sector.

He noted that it “costs quite a bit of money” for commercial banks to develop their wallets.

“One of the largest expenses that a bank has, especially the large retail banks, is the management of cash. One of the biggest headaches that they have is the movement of cash, and one of the prospects of the digital currency is that it will reduce this cost and reduce this headache,” the Governor said.

He further pointed out, “One of the biggest expenses for most retail enterprise businesses is the handling of cash, the storage of it, the transportation of it.

“So even the business enterprises will benefit from the existence and usage of digital currency. So, there are long-term benefits to be reaped from this initial investment.”

“This is what I keep saying to the banks. I want to encourage them. This is an investment, not for tomorrow’s P&L (profit and loss). It is an investment to deliver better service in the near term as well as to improve your P&L in the medium term,” Mr. Byles added.

The Governor pointed out that smaller enterprises have been taking advantage of the digital currency as they serve their customers.

“Smaller merchants who don’t have Point of Sale (POS) machines and would have a cellphone, we are beginning and have had significant success in pushing out the programme to have them recruited to take JAM-DEX, and we have a significant number of them who are now in a position to do so.

We also have over 200,000 individuals who have the capacity on their phones to pay for services and goods with JAMDEX,” Mr. Byles said.

He advised that the Government is committed to supporting the Central Bank in its efforts to roll out JAM-DEX.

“In two consecutive budget presentations, the Minister of Finance [and the Public Service] has set aside funds to help us to recruit small merchants to JAM-DEX and to get the programme going. We are now speaking to other agencies of Government that handle taxes and make payments – whether It’s PATH payments or pension payments. So, we have a large player in the form of the Government that is proactively assisting us, as well as our own efforts to go out there and get these POS machines reconfigured, so that they can accept JAM-DEX QR codes,” the Governor informed.

He said once these machines are recalibrated, a mass campaign will be undertaken to encourage more persons to use the facility.

“It means that every supermarket, every fast-food enterprise, pharmacies, all of the kind of merchants that you and I go to several times and spend quite a bit of money with, they will be able to take JAM-DEX. At that point, we will start a big mass campaign to get individuals to take JAM-DEX on their phones and to begin to use it as currency,” he said.

Head of External Communications and Protocol, BOJ, Melanie Lawes, said the list of merchants accepting JAM-DEX is available on the Bank’s website.

JAM-DEX provides a safe, efficient, and convenient way to pay for goods and services, according to BOJ representatives.

By: CHRIS PATTERSON JIS