Resentment about SimplyGo is high, among EZ-link users. Many are elderly, are not savvy with apps, e-topups, and other newfangled digital gimmicks that youngsters these days use.
Plus, SimplyGo does not show fare charges and balances - a feature which has been very reassuring to the elderly. LTA has confirmed that this change is "impossible":
fare deductions and card balances could not be shown because “SimplyGo transactions are processed backend” and not at MRT fare gates or bus card readers.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia
The unspoken message of SimplyGo
SimplyGo is a strong push for the elderly to get on board (pardon the pun) with digitalisation. After cashless payments for food, groceries, this is the next big step. For the elderly, SimplyGo is not just about downloading an app. It nudges them towards digital money. SimplyGo means the elderly will transfer numbers in their bank account to numbers in their card all through the screen of their phone, without touching any physical card or cash. For some, this will be a big step.
The upside of this? When the elderly get used to it, they will also be more receptive towards Singpass usage, cashless payments, (hopefully digital health records in the future), and all the other large systems that the younger generations of Singapore are moving towards.
In the big picture, this means that we don't need to run separate manual systems to cater to the elderly. This saves manpower and resources. We can also start making use of big data to understand consumer trends and improve national services in terms of efficiency.
Fair criticisms of SimplyGo
A 2023 cashback promotion encouraging people to switch to SimplyGo.
Firstly, the benefits of SimplyGo must be passed back to the consumer. This means efficiency increases in bus and MRT routes and timings. This means lower transport costs.
Secondly, SimplyGo must address valid concerns regarding its usability. Is it really "impossible" for the app to display fare costs when tapping out? Will the app have elderly-friendly features such as multi-lingual support, and an easy-to-use interface?
SimplyGo has the potential to encourage the unwilling fringe members of Singapore society to join the digital fold. But if not executed properly, it could end up as another "digitalisation for the sake of digitalisation" initiative, as this well-written opinion letter put it.
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