The NFO Research also supports the findings of another recent study, conducted by Jupiter Research, which shows that the number of consumers using the Internet to receive and pay bills is expected to reach 18 million or ten times the current number in just three years. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of online households responding to the NFO Research survey reported that mail is still the most widely used method for receiving and paying bills. However, online households are increasingly cognizant of the many benefits of online billing, such as speed and convenience, and indicate a willingness to shift to that method of payment. Nearly a third of respondents said they preferred to receive their bills in an electronic manner. And of those who prefer electronic receipt, more than 50 percent said they would prefer to pay their bills electronically, too.
Online consumers value speed and convenience.
It's pretty clear that given a choice, online consumers don't want to waste time opening and sorting through bills, writing checks, and then stuffing and stamping envelopes each month. Those attitudes came through clearly when respondents were asked if they would find it beneficial to receive and pay bills online. Nearly 75 percent of respondents indicated they recognize the benefits of digital delivery and said they would find it beneficial to receive bills in a manner other than the mail. Even more significant, an astonishing 95 percent of respondents reported they would find it beneficial to both receive and pay bills via the same electronic method. When asked about the types of bills they would most like to receive and pay online, respondents indicated a clear preference for the recurring monthly payments related to telephone, electricity, gas and cable TV service, insurance protection and credit cards.