Jakarta. A white Toyota Yaris slowly pulled into the Pertamina CoCo gas station on Jalan Arteri Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, on Saturday evening (July 18). After stopping at a fuel pump, the driver, Heru Baskoro, 46, took out his phone and opened the AstraPay app to pay for his fuel digitally.

The transaction was completed in seconds without cash. After refueling, Heru parked his car and walked up the stairs to the Bright convenience store at the gas station, where he bought several snacks and again used AstraPay to make the payment.

Heru's routine illustrates how digital payment services have become increasingly integrated into people's daily lives. Beyond facilitating transactions, digital wallets are evolving into broader financial ecosystems that offer convenience, efficiency and a more practical payment experience.

For Heru, a longtime AstraPay user, this convenience is one of the main reasons he continues to use the digital payment service developed within the Astra ecosystem. Having used various Astra products for years, he sees AstraPay as a natural extension of his financial needs.

“I have been using AstraPay since it was first launched. I have also been using various Astra products for a long time, from vehicles to vehicle insurance services,” he told Investor Daily.

He said Astra was no longer known solely as an automotive company but had developed into an ecosystem offering a wide range of services.

“For me, Astra is a one-stop financial solution. AstraPay further complements that ecosystem because I can carry out various financial transactions through a single application,” he said.

Through AstraPay, Heru said he could conveniently pay a range of recurring bills, including electricity, telephone, vehicle insurance and vehicle installments, all through one digital platform.

“I can pay various bills through AstraPay, from electricity and telephone bills to insurance payments and vehicle installments. Everything has become easier and more practical,” he said.

Beyond convenience, Heru said promotional programs and discounts offered by merchants were another attraction. He frequently takes advantage of these benefits, particularly when shopping at malls.

“I like the payment feature the most because there are so many discounts, especially at food and beverage merchants in malls. So, besides being practical, I also get added value as a user,” he said.

Heru also sees AstraPay's development as an indication that digital services are moving beyond their traditional role as payment tools. The introduction of additional features, including investment services, suggests that digital payment applications are expanding into broader financial services.

Although he has yet to use AstraPay's investment features, Heru said he sees potential in exploring them in the future.

“There is also an investment feature in the application, but I am not using it yet. Perhaps I will try it in the future,” he said.

Heru's experience reflects broader changes in how people manage their finances. Once viewed primarily as a means of making payments, digital wallets are increasingly becoming part of a modern financial ecosystem.

Digital technology is not only changing how people transact but also shaping new financial habits. Digital wallets have evolved into platforms that help people manage their financial activities more practically, efficiently and systematically.

This transformation is reflected in the rapid growth of digital transactions nationwide. Bank Indonesia recorded 14.82 billion digital payment transactions in the first quarter of 2026, up 37.69% year-on-year, driven by the expanding use of digital payment services across various sectors.

One of the main drivers has been the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS), Indonesia's national QR-based payment system. QRIS transactions surged 116.43% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, supported by an increase in users and merchants accepting QRIS payments.

The positive trend continued into the middle of the year. During a Bank Indonesia Board of Governors Meeting, BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said digital payment transactions reached 5.22 billion in May 2026, increasing 28.14% from May 2025.

Over the same period, mobile banking transactions grew 26.16%, while internet banking transactions increased 15.51%. QRIS transactions continued to record particularly strong growth, rising 95.10% year-on-year.

These figures illustrate how digital payments have become part of everyday life in Indonesia. QRIS is now used not only at shopping malls and restaurants but also at traditional markets, food stalls, transportation services, tourist attractions and public service facilities.

Digital payment adoption has also expanded financial access for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), supporting a more inclusive economic ecosystem.

Bank Indonesia has continued to strengthen the country's payment infrastructure, including through BI-FAST, a retail payment service that enables real-time fund transfers at relatively low cost.

As of May 2026, BI-FAST had processed 518 million transactions worth Rp 1,265 trillion, representing a 31.63% increase from the previous year. A stable payment infrastructure provides an important foundation for Indonesia's digital economy.

Rapid digitalization, however, brings both opportunities and challenges. While digital payments make everyday transactions more convenient, consumers must also become more mindful of their financial management.

Controlling spending, preparing budgets, paying bills on time and using technology responsibly are increasingly important aspects of financial literacy in the digital era.

As a result, consumers need more than applications that simply facilitate payments. They increasingly require platforms that connect various financial needs within an integrated ecosystem.

AstraPay aims to address this need. As part of the Astra ecosystem, it offers a range of digital financial services through a single application.

Users can make QRIS payments, transfer funds, purchase mobile credit and data packages, pay electricity, water, internet and BPJS bills, top up various digital services, and pay vehicle installments and other services within Astra's business network.

AstraPay's value lies not only in its range of features but also in the strength of its broader business ecosystem. Its integration with various Astra business units allows users to meet different transaction needs without switching between multiple applications.

The platform also provides digital transaction records that can help users develop healthier financial habits. Automatically recorded transactions make it easier to monitor spending, evaluate consumption patterns and plan personal finances.

Simple practices, such as paying bills on time or reviewing transaction histories, can become meaningful steps toward improving financial health.

Supporting Business Owners
AstraPay is also expanding its role as a financial solution for businesses, particularly MSMEs.

Through QRIS, payment channels, fund disbursement services and API integration, AstraPay helps businesses establish payment systems that are fast, secure and efficient.

This support aligns with Bank Indonesia's efforts to expand digital payment adoption, strengthen MSME competitiveness and accelerate financial inclusion nationwide.

However, broader access to digital financial services does not automatically translate into better financial management. Financial literacy remains a major challenge for small businesses.

According to the 2025 National Survey on Financial Literacy and Inclusion (SNLIK), Indonesia's financial literacy index stood at 66.64%, while its financial inclusion index reached 92.74%.

The figures indicate that while most Indonesians have access to financial services, not everyone has sufficient understanding to use them optimally. In other words, access to financial products is expanding, but financial management skills still need to be strengthened.

This gap is reflected in the experience of Sri Mujiyanti, 30, who runs a culinary business under the Yurimart brand on e-commerce and ride-hailing platforms, serving customers' everyday needs.

Sri said she primarily uses digital applications to receive payments and withdraw funds.

“I check the number of transactions every day, but I only check the money coming in from customer payments,” she told Investor Daily.

The seller of satay and fried duck said she typically withdraws her earnings every two days to purchase ingredients.

“I withdraw the money to buy ingredients. I don't really understand the other features,” she said.

Sri occasionally uses digital wallets to purchase mobile phone credit but said she has limited time to explore the range of features available.

“If the platform or application provider holds training sessions, I would be willing to participate, as long as they are free,” she said.

MSMEs contribute more than 60% of Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) and employ a substantial share of the country's workforce. Yet many small businesses, including Sri's, continue to face challenges in managing their finances.

These include irregular income and expense records, difficulties separating business finances from personal spending, and limited use of digital financial services.

Financial management is a crucial foundation for business sustainability. Even a strong product and a broad customer base may not be enough if business owners cannot manage their cash flow effectively.

This is where digital payments can play a strategic role. Through AstraPay, users' transactions are recorded digitally, giving individuals and MSMEs a clearer picture of their financial activities.

AstraPay Chief Executive Officer Rina Apriana said the company aims to contribute to accelerating financial digitalization, particularly by helping MSMEs manage their businesses more easily.

AstraPay currently has 17.5 million users and has processed more than 300 million transactions worth approximately Rp 150 trillion.

By supporting MSME digitalization and encouraging wider adoption of digital payments, AstraPay hopes to strengthen financial inclusion while supporting the growth of Indonesia's digital economy.

“One of our focuses is partnering with MSMEs to increase digital payment transactions among them. That is why we are encouraging MSMEs to adopt digital payments,” Rina said.

For small business owners, digital transaction records offer more than payment data. They can serve as a basis for evaluating business performance, calculating revenue, managing expenses and preparing business plans.

Regularly reviewing transaction histories can be a first step toward greater financial awareness. Business owners who previously relied on estimates to manage their operations can gradually begin using data to inform their decisions.

Digital payments can also help improve MSMEs' competitiveness. As consumers become increasingly accustomed to cashless transactions, offering digital payment options gives small businesses more opportunities to reach a wider customer base.

Building Value Through an Integrated Ecosystem
Yuswohady, managing partner at Inventure, said Astra has a strong foundation of established businesses that enables it to develop digital financial services integrated across its various business lines.

He described AstraPay as a logical step toward optimizing the millions of transactions already taking place within the Astra ecosystem.

“When we talk about Astra, we are talking about a business with real operations and a very large customer base. To make better use of the transactions generated by these customers, payments can be made within its own ecosystem. Previously, customers might have used banks or other providers, but now they can transact through the Astra ecosystem,” he said.

Yuswohady explained that money has economic value. The more transactions that take place within an ecosystem, the greater the potential benefits for the company.

Through AstraPay, Astra is not merely providing a payment tool but also facilitating the circulation of transactions generated by its various businesses.

The ecosystem encompasses a wide range of Astra business units, including Honda motorcycle sales, automotive services, financing, insurance, after-sales services and other businesses.

With a customer base built over decades, Astra has an established foundation for delivering integrated digital services.

“When customers are already within the Astra ecosystem, their money does not flow elsewhere. All transactions can be carried out within Astra's own business network,” he said.

For customers, this approach also offers greater convenience. They do not need to switch between multiple applications to access different services, from payments and financing to insurance and workshop services.

“For customers, it is certainly more practical. They only need one application for various needs. All the services are available, providing convenience,” Yuswohady said.

He said Astra's greatest strength lies not solely in its application technology but in the business ecosystem that was established long before the digital platform emerged.

Digitalization serves as a link connecting these businesses and making their services more accessible to customers.

Yuswohady also sees opportunities for AstraPay to expand beyond individual consumers. As digital transformation progresses, he said, large companies are increasingly required to build ecosystems that also involve businesses, particularly MSMEs.

“The AstraPay ecosystem does not only bring consumers together but also MSMEs. So the application serves not only customers but also business owners,” he said.

He described this as an important stage in the evolution of Astra's digital platform. By connecting consumers, MSMEs and commercial customers within one system, the platform can create opportunities for new business activities.

“Large groups such as Astra are now starting to bring their entire customer base together through a single digital ecosystem. Once everything is connected, the opportunities for cross-selling become much greater because all the services are linked,” he said.

Yuswohady said AstraPay has developed beyond the conventional role of a digital wallet and has the potential to become a super app that brings together various financial solutions, from payments and financing to services for businesses.

“In the future, the ecosystem will include not only consumers but also MSMEs and the commercial sector. If everything is brought together in one ecosystem, the entire transaction chain will be connected. That is where the greatest added value of a digital platform lies,” he said.

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