In 2014, the WHO estimated that there were 285 million people with visual impairment in the world, and over 70 per cent of this population live in developing countries. Nigeria reportedly has more than 2.5 million people living with vision impairment out of a total population of over 180 million people.

While the use of online and digital banking continues to rise in Nigeria, more and more, visually impaired adults feel left out. They face numerous challenges during otherwise simple transactions like using the ATM, checking balance, making online purchases and many more.

It means that there are more than 2.5 million disenfranchised Nigerians without proper access to financial services. This is a serious accessibility problem that HollaTags can help solve.

HollaTags Voice API Technology allows developers to create faultless call logic for any application, software, browser, or existing system that can help provide access to these individuals. From Voice OTP to Text2Speech services, our APIs and solutions ensure that people with visual impairments are not left out. Let’s take a look at these services:

1. Voice OTP: This delivers OTP and 2-factor authentication tokens via phone calling for bank payment authorisations. It also makes the authentication process accessible and secure for the blind and visually impaired (BVI).
2. Interactive Voice Response (IVR): Known by many as “customer self-service”, with this you can add a simple and convenient Interactive Voice Response (IVR) script to your application that allows your callers to serve themselves. This is a great tool for the visually impaired as they can hear a clear description of each service before selecting.
3. Text2Speech: A perfect, highly accessible solution for one-way messaging such as appointment reminders, invoice notifications, surveys, voting, and general call routing. This is great for both visually and non-visually impaired individuals who may prefer hands-free notifications.
4. Voice Broadcast: These broadcast calls can be used to reach existing and potential customers. It is highly accessible to the visually impaired and also includes IVR feedback functionality.
5. Account Inquiries: Now your customers can make account enquiries e.g. account balance, transaction enquiry with just a phone call. This is especially great for BVI individuals as it provides an accessible, yet highly secure method for account enquiries.
6. Inbound DID: Local Inbound DID (Direct Inward Dialing) numbers for receiving calls directly to your numbers or routed to your application.

A disability should not mean a lack of access to vital financial services, even though that is sadly the case for so many. Thankfully, with Holla Tags Voice API, customers with visual impairments are not left behind and can enjoy just the same services as every other person.