The development of eGIRO is often regarded as a major milestone in the GIRO system. While eGIRO is not a replacement for GIRO, it outperforms the traditional GIRO by many metrics. The introduction of eGIRO may have eroded the allure of traditional GIRO, but not everything about eGIRO is lights and sparkles, especially when considered in the context of business payments.
Strengths of eGIRO:
- Faster processing and settlement of payments
Unlike traditional GIRO, which takes days to process and settle a transaction, eGIRO gets the same task done in less than 48 hours for business payments. This factor positions eGIRO as a better alternative to GIRO and other payment methods like Telegraphic Transfers.
Like traditional GIRO, eGIRO retains its functionality as a suitable method for making recurring payments. Timely payments build the bridge to healthy business relationships.
- Convenient and easy to use for businesses
eGIRO is not an entirely new concept. Rather, it’s a digitized extension of the traditional GIRO. This familiarity ensures that businesses easily adapt to eGIRO without having to learn processes and technologies from square one.
Furthermore, the digital attribute of eGIRO also translates to greater ease of running a business for those based in remote locations of Singapore, where it’s inconvenient to visit the bank physically.
- Reduces administrative paperwork and processing costs
eGIRO reduces the administrative burden by eliminating the need for keeping paper based transaction records. The digital storage takes up less physical space compared to piles of paper GIRO forms and files. eGIRO’s paperless system leads to significant cost savings on document printing, archiving, retrieval, and protection, which traditionally has been financially and logistically draining for organizations dealing with high payment volumes. The reduced paper usage also results in environmental benefits in terms of lower paper wastage.
- Available 24/7
A major upside of eGIRO is that the process of setting up an eGIRO arrangement is completely electronic, implying that business-related transactions can be carried out from anywhere without requiring company officials to travel. Likewise, eGIRO arrangements are not bound by business hours, so it’s possible to make eGIRO payments at any time.
- Improves cash flow with predictable payments
Since eGIRO transactions are conducted entirely online, it opens up the possibility of accounting software getting integrated with eGIRO payment systems. This enables seamless data transfer and automated reconciliation of payment records with accounting ledgers. Companies can gain real-time visibility into cash flows, transactions, and payment statuses all in one unified platform. The detailed digital trails also facilitate auditing, reporting, and analytics, which can inform better financial decisions.
Shortcomings of eGIRO:
- Transaction limits and fees imposed by banks
Banks may pose a transaction limit on eGIRO payments, which may result in eGIRO being an inadequate payment method for companies that have to make large payments at once. Additionally, there may also be fees associated with failed eGIRO transfers. If a company repeatedly has to incur this fee, the bottom line may be impacted.
- Cannot make international payments
eGIRO is limited to domestic transactions, which may be a cause of concern for businesses that have major international clients or vendors. In such cases, a business should look at other payment options like SWIFT or Telegraphic Transfer.
- Dependent on the technical connectivity of banking systems
Electronic systems are prone to downtimes. If the server faces a downtime, eGIRO wouldn’t be operational, potentially leading to financial loss if any time-sensitive payment was supposed to be made. Similarly, if a business is operating from an area where internet connectivity is not stable, it may not be able to make eGIRO transactions on time.
- Fraud risk without proper security safeguards
The integration with third-party accounting software can be a convenience for businesses that routinely have to engage in substantial data entry. But, it comes with an inherent risk of a data breach. Lack of proper cybersecurity controls can potentially expose this data to unauthorized access or theft. Companies should conduct thorough due diligence and audit the data privacy standards of accounting systems before syncing them with e-GIRO platforms.
- Transitional challenges
Employees accustomed to physical paperwork may resist adjusting to digital workflows. Insufficient staff training and guidance during the switchover can hamper user adoption. If transaction records are not properly digitized with proper metadata tagging and archiving protocols, finding and accessing past payment data can be difficult.
To conclude, eGIRO has its set of advantages and disadvantages, like any other payment method. The utility of eGIRO ultimately depends on the business using it and whether it meets their specific payment needs and priorities. For businesses that require frequent domestic transfers, real-time payments, integrations with accounting software, or reduced administrative overheads, eGIRO can be an optimal solution.