Digital Financial Inclusion as an Entrepreneurial Enabler: A Capability-Based Case Study of SBI E-Banking in Kerala
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66635/mha9v670Keywords:
Rural Entrepreneurship, Socio-economic Development, Micro-entrepreneurship, Banking Innovation, Digital Financial Inclusion, Entrepreneurship DevelopmentAbstract
The research article questions whether digital financial inclusion is a transactional upgrade as change of act or substantive entrepreneur facilitator in the emerging economies. This study aims to use a case study of e-banking ecosystem of the State Bank of India in Kerala to follow a quality, capabilities approach study and to view the digital access to finance in the context of the entrepreneurship performance under rural and urban contexts. The study uses digital accessibility and enterprise level change to make a mechanism-infused argument based on 36 semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis, and field observations. The results of the research not only show that digital financial inclusion is built on a layered capability infrastructure rather than a growth booster, but also show that digital financial inclusion is not based on a growth booster. It happens once in terms of transactional visibility, internalization of the confidence, and financial discipline and eventually by making small adjustments in the business such as improved use of cash flow, use of various suppliers, and formalising portions of the business. The rural users are showing good enhancement on their independence and financial empowerment and the urban users are faster with possibilities of being recognized in opportunities and adaptation into digital market place. The study also has critical moderating circumstances, including connectivity reliability, digital literacy, and market structure, which have an impact on the level of entrepreneurial activation and the pace of its movement. The study influences financial inclusion and entrepreneurship literature as by narrowing the definition of digital financial inclusion as an active ability rather than an access measure, the study has potential to add value to the research field in financing and entrepreneurship. It provides a less obvious insight into countryside-city convergence, showing that the ability is balanced out prior to performance being able to balance out. The policy implication of the findings on policymakers and other financial institutions who would like to employ digital banking ecosystems to build inclusive entrepreneurship has important implications.
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