NPST, IOB partner to launch voice-based UPI

Network People Services Technologies Limited (NPST), received a mandate from Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) to implement UPI 123Pay a initiative designed to enable voice-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions for feature phone users and digitally underserved smartphone users.

This strategic collaboration between NPST and MissCallPay aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s vision for inclusive digital finance, bridging the accessibility gap for an estimated 850 million Indians yet to adopt UPI. Among these, nearly 400 million are feature phone users, with many others remaining hesitant to use traditional mobile payment apps due to digital literacy or connectivity barriers.

Through this initiative, IOB’s customers can now conduct secure, real-time digital payments without the need for mobile data or internet access. Leveraging MissCallPay’s voice-based interface, users can initiate transactions with a simple missed call, receive an automated IVR call-back, and complete the payment using their UPI PIN. The platform supports seamless peer-to-peer and merchant payments while maintaining the security and convenience of the broader UPI ecosystem.

A key differentiator of this voice-first solution is its offline functionality, which ensures reliability and security even in low-connectivity areas. By operating independently of mobile data, it substantially mitigates exposure to cyber risks, enabling greater confidence among first-time digital users.

NPST’s implementation offers a multilingual IVR experience in twelve Indian languages, allowing customers to manage their finances intuitively and interactively. Users can check balances, review recent transactions, raise disputes, reset or change their UPI PIN, and manage linked accounts all through simple voice or keypad inputs. The system also supports features such as resuming interrupted payments, initiating token-based or token-less transactions, and selecting preferred accounts for specific payments.

Deepak Chand Thakur, Chairman and Managing Director, NPST, said, “Voice-based UPI marks a transformative step towards building a truly inclusive digital economy. By extending UPI to feature phone users and individuals less familiar with technology, we are ensuring that digital payments reach every segment of society. Our partnership with Indian Overseas Bank reflects our belief that meaningful innovation must be both accessible and inclusive. As we look ahead, we see immense potential in combining this voice-led framework with emerging Agentic AI capabilities to create conversational payment experiences through platforms such as Alexa and Google Assistant. This will redefine how people engage with money, making digital payments simple, human, and universally accessible.”