The eGovernment Authority (eGA) announced that the usage rate of many eServices pertaining to payment services continues to rise among the growing awareness of the importance of using such services. The successful awareness-raising campaigns launched by the eGA are aligned with the objectives of the National eGovernment Strategy 2016. The campaigns aim to improve the users‘experience and increase the usage rate through encouraging users’ active engagement.
As per the latest statistics carried-out on the services during the last five months (from May until September 2013), the payment eServices provided by governmental and private entities in collaboration with the eGovernment Authority, witnessed a surge in terms of usage rate.
Statistics also indicate that the usage rate continues to rise at 15.3% compared to the same period last year. Online payment of Electricity and Water Bills service has been increasing with over 88,682 transactions; whereas the use of University of Bahrain (UOB) Course Payment fees reached over 10,736 transactions this semester. Moreover, there has been further high demand for services provided by the General Directorate of Traffic with 3,600 transactions.
In addition to the government services, the number of services offered by the private sector continues to rise through the national portal as part of a partnership between the public and private sector. Such increase reflects the private sector’s trust in the delivery of eServices provided as per the latest practices and higher levels of quality, given that a host of private sector organizations launched their services through the eGovernment portal. Organizations include the United Insurance Company, Zain Bahrain and VIVA Bahrain.
The eGovernment Authority declared that there is a package of integrated payment services available through various channels of the eGovernment Authority. Such package include renewal of annual Mail Box subscription designed for the benefit of individuals and businesses; birth certificate eService through the eBirth System – allowing the registration of births and issuance of birth certificates within five days only; the Levy Calculator eservice, along with a package of services to register lawyers, experts and brokers – allowing attorneys, experts such as engineers, accountants and technicians, in addition brokers and trainee lawyers to file applications in relation to obtaining license from their relevant record or transfer of lawyers’ record; this eService gives them the opportunity to renew the license online.
The eGovernment Authority is offering users who pay through the eGA channels until 20th, Oct, 2013 the chance to win iPAD Mini. The core focus of this step is to encourage users to benefit from the ePayment services as part of eGA’s initiative; in order to attract all sectors of the society and ensure that benefits of modern technology can be reaped and used.
More than 40 integrated epayment Services are currently being offered on Bahrain.bh, eight out of the forty are available on mobile gateway and eKiosks, and two are as mobile applications.
Since the establishment of the portal and until 30th, Sept, 2013 the volume of financial transactions reached BD59,962,959 million, the ePayment transactions are available through various channels; namely the National Portal (Bahrain.bh), Mobile Gateway (bahrain.bh/mobile), eKiosks, eService Centers and Mobile Applications.
Among the governmental and private entities that offer its payment services on the eGovernment portal are the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Municipalities and Urban Planning, Ministry of Transportation, and the Ministry of Culture. As per the latest statistics, most of the ePayment services used are Pay Electricity and Water Bill, Payment of Traffic contraventions, University Fees eServices, Driving License Renewal, New Vehicle Registration, along with Zain and VIVA eServices.