Ms. Supaneewan Chutrakul, KBank First Senior Vice President, says that KBank is determined to develop the K PLUS Beacon application to promote greater inclusion of the total populace. In a cooperative effort between KBank and the fintech start-up, Beacon Interface, this app is intended to be like a lighthouse shedding the light of equality on those with visual limitations, so that they can use their smartphones to achieve banking convenience. Since phones have touchscreens as the primary sensory cue, transactions via smartphones are difficult for many; but, this app will combine the convenience of K PLUS (K+) – the top mobile banking app working toward 8 million users by this yearend – with Beacon Interface's special user assist for the visually impaired.
Built upon the success of 'K+', K PLUS Beacon has thus been introduced as a first of its kind in Thailand, an innovative app for the visually impaired, meaning those with no or low visual acuity that sometimes includes the elderly as well as others of all ages in the general public, so that they can conduct transactions online with confidence, even without viewing the screen. Being private, convenient, fast and safe, the app allows users to make balance inquiries, transfers, service top-ups and bill payments with the highest security standards, on a par with K PLUS.
Initially, K PLUS Beacon will be tested on four groups of 300 volunteers, i.e., those with total loss of vision, those with low visual acuity, senior citizens and others in the general populace. Anyone interested in becoming a trial user can get in touch with the K-Contact Center, November 16-24, 2017, Tel. 02-888 8888, then press 866, or send KBank an email expressing your desire to join the program to: www.kasikornbank.com/KPLUS-Beacon/ ; or, contact the Thailand Association of the Blind.
The volunteers taking part in the trial service will have the opportunity to express opinions and give recommendations after using with the prototype application. Their inputs will be valuable for KBank toward further development of K PLUS Beacon to best serve the visually-impaired, who, by the way, number some 20 percent of all Thais, so that they carry out their financial transactions as a simple routine in comfort and security, before the official launch of the app in 2018.