A Demat account—short for dematerialised account—is an account that allows you to hold company shares and securities electronically. It essentially allows you to trade without the need to move physical share certificates. Not only is it a storehouse for your investments, but it also speeds up transactions and reduces costs. You can open a demat account , by filling in a certificate physically and submitting the necessary documents in person and getting the Account/ID. You could also opt for a digital demat account where the entire application process is online. The steps are similar: Fill in the application form, upload scanned copies of your documents, and complete the IPV.