The way people pay is evolving rapidly, and businesses must stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive. As 2025 approaches, several payment trends are emerging that will shape the way customers make transactions and businesses handle payments. Here are the top trends businesses need to watch:
1. Evolution of Contactless Payments
Contactless payments have become the norm, driven by convenience and speed. In 2023, 25% of all card transactions were contactless. That’s just under 18 billion contactless transactions in 2023. This is an exponential jump from just a few years prior. In 2018 there were only 2.9 billion contactless transactions. With more consumers opting for tap-to-pay options via mobile wallets and wearables like the Apple watch, businesses must ensure their payment systems are equipped to handle this growing demand.
Actionable Tip: Upgrade to point-of-sale (POS) systems that accept NFC-enabled payments to capture this segment of shoppers.
2. AI-Powered Payment Solutions
As machine learning (ML) and AI become more common, companies are using these technologies to spot patterns, assess risks, and make financial transactions more secure. But it’s not just the big businesses that are jumping on this trend, small businesses are also starting to use AI to stay competitive. For small businesses, incorporating AI into payment systems can help streamline operations by speeding up processing times and cutting down on manual work. AI -powered solutions can streamline day-to-day activities and help you become more efficient. With security a top priority, AI-powered platforms continue to evolve, with some offering features like real-time monitoring and automatic alerts to keep data safe. The market for AI in fintech is growing fast, with more focus on tools that give personalized experiences for both merchants and customers.
Actionable Tip: Consulting a payments partner can help you evaluate which AI-enabled solutions would be best for your business to stay on top and ahead of the curve.
3. Digital Wallet Growth
Going hand in hand with contactless payments, digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal are becoming the go-to payment methods, with nearly 50% of online purchases in 2025 expected to be made via digital wallets.
Actionable Tip: Partner with an experienced payments expert to unlock the potential of digital wallets. Learn how encouraging customers to use digital wallets can drive business growth while optimizing wallet compatibility for a seamless online experience.
4. Sustainability in Payments
Sustainability is influencing consumer choices, and payments are no exception. From digital receipts to eco-friendly payment cards, businesses that demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility are more likely to attract environmentally conscious consumers.
Actionable Tip: Explore options like digital invoicing to align with consumer values.
Adapt and Thrive in 2025
As payment technologies and consumer expectations evolve, businesses must adapt to remain competitive. Aligning with a trusted payments partner can ensure seamless integration of these trends into your operations. Whether it’s implementing sustainability, or adopting AI-powered solutions, staying ahead in the payments landscape requires expertise and forward-thinking strategies.
Sources:
Ingenico. (2024). Outlook on contactless payment adoption. https://ingenico.com/us-en/newsroom/blogs/outlook-contactless-payment-adoption
Clearly Payments. (2024). The contactless payments market overview in the USA for 2024. https://www.clearlypayments.com/blog/the-contactless-payments-market-overview-in-usa-for-2024/
Checkout.com. (2024). Artificial intelligence (AI) in the payments industry. https://www.checkout.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-ai-payments-industry
