E-Wallets Unplugged: Navigating Benefits and Challenges in a Post-Pandemic World

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has expedited the utilization of digital payment alternatives, with e-wallets becoming a significant component of the financial ecosystem. This study examines the diverse benefits and challenges of e-wallets in a post-pandemic context. The researchers conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of peer-reviewed academic papers utilizing the Emerald Insights database. Forty-four articles published between January 2021 and September 2024 were reviewed, highlighting the study's benefits and challenges. The findings indicate that e-wallets enhance financial inclusion, promote convenience and accessibility, stimulate business and economic growth, support the digital economy, facilitate technological integration, and improve consumer convenience, especially in an increasingly cashless environment. Nonetheless, the study also examines the substantial challenges associated with this swift digital transformation, encompassing security issues, poor adoption rates, insufficient knowledge, trust deficits, regulatory hurdles, feature limitations, and user attitude challenges. This study seeks to elucidate the changing function of e-wallets in influencing the future of commerce through a thorough investigation. The study offers recommendations for e-wallet providers, policymakers, and researchers to successfully manage the complexity of e-wallet adoption, enhancing benefits while resolving the inherent challenges.