USAGE OF E-WALLET AMONG AMBULANT VENDORS IN DAVAO CITY

Digital financial technologies are continually being adopted in greater amounts such as business practices even
among the smallest and informal vendors. This study provides the views of ambulant vendors in Davao City
regarding the advantages, difficulties, and the overall situation related to e-wallets adoption in marketplaces. A
total of 150 vendors participated in a survey consisting of 30 statements about convenience, security, financial
management, and usage-related constraints. Data were analyzed using EFA to define the underlying dimensions
influencing e-wallet adoption. The KMO test for measuring the sampling adequacy and Bartlett’s Test of
Sphericity present 0.929 and χ² = 6095.810, p <  .001, respectively, which indicate the appropriateness of the
dataset for factor analysis. Two (2) factors were retained, explaining 78% of the total variance. The first factor
refers to Positive Adoption and Usage, wherein the belief of vendors is that e-wallet is convenient, saves them
time, is secure, and contributes to better customer engagement and more sales. The second factor pertains to
Barrier and Challenges because very high costs of data, lack of technical knowledge, unstable internet service,
and patronization of cash impede full usability. With this result, it would mean that though ambulant vendors are
aware of the benefits they can derive from e-wallet, structural and technical constraints are still there. This calls
for specific targeted interventions through training, digital literacy programs, and better conditions of digital
infrastructure that would drive wider adoption with greater equity in access to financial services. These are
useful parameters upon which appropriate changes or modifications may be made by policymakers, financial
institutions, and LGUs themselves to improve the involvement of micro-enterprise establishments in the
emergent digital economy.