By Iain Mackenzie
The story of Seppo Piisola and Jennifer Mwetarin is, above all else, a story about our capacity as humans to care for each other.
It also illuminates some of the remarkable ways that technology is changing people’s relationships - especially those who are separated by great distance.
Everyone understands that apps like WhatsApp and Skype have transformed global communication. Now we are seeing the same thing happen with the movement of money around the world.
Consider the shift that took place when we switched from expensive international phone calls to cheaper SMS and then to free instant messaging. People didn’t just communicate more frequently… the nature of their interactions began to change.
Mobile Money services like M-PESA in Kenya are increasingly used to receive remittances from abroad
Mobile Money services like M-PESA in Kenya are increasingly used to receive remittances from abroad
In recent years, we have seen the emergence of “shared moments” where people in different parts of the world maintain a constant instant messaging dialogue as they go about their day. There’s an intimacy in such light-touch interactions that cannot be replicated with a weekly phone call or email.
The same thing is now happening with money.
Like Seppo, millions of people used to send international transfers to family and friends using banks or high street agents - an expensive and cumbersome process that tended to happen just once or twice a month because of the cost and hassle involved.
WorldRemit customers tell us that the ability to send very low cost instant transfers, particularly to Mobile Money services means that they are now more likely to send money for ad-hoc reasons, like helping relatives with an unexpected bill, grocery shopping or even treating them to lunch.
The effect, as described by Ugandan customer Stellah Vardling, is that “it feels like someone is just next door to you in case you need something”.
In fact, both of these phenomenon - instant messaging and online money transfers - are closely related. A recent survey of WorldRemit customers found that 42% used a messaging app such as WhatsApp to communicate about their transfer before sending it.
This evolution of technology and human behaviour is fascinating to watch.
But even more gratifying is to witness the individual stories, like that of Seppo and Jennifer, and the precious connections that these innovative services are able to sustain and renew.
* Iain Mackenzie is Head of Communications at WorldRemit. He is a former Communications Manager at Facebook and Technology News Editor at bbc.co.uk