In recent years, mobile payment solutions have characterized the present transaction environment, profoundly changing the way in which payments are accomplished. The increased interest in mobile payment solutions has been triggered by advancements in fintech and, more specifically, the growing demand for convenient and reliable payment methods.
As more and more mobile wallets as well as payment apps and contactless payment methods became available, consumers began to use them. Thus, a radical change in customer behavior has occurred, with traditional payment methods, i.e., cash and bank cards, being overtaken by the trend.
The given tendency has not been there initially, with mobile payment tools invading the market very quickly once the number of smartphones had vastly increased. According to the statistical data presented by Statista, the transaction value in the global mobile payment sector amounted to nearly 1.1 trillion in 2020, with an increasing tendency projected for 2021-2023.
The convenience of mobile payment solutions cannot be understated. Given that the target use of a mobile application is no more than a couple of taps, the payment process is accomplished very quickly and with the least effort from the consumer’s part.
The use of modern payment apps, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, makes the process of paying for purchased goods and services much easier by excluding the need for a card or even a number of cards and enabling the payment activity through an app. According to the survey conducted by the Federal Reserve, 60% of smartphone users have made at least one mobile payment.
Not only meaning, but mobile payment solutions have got some other benefits. First is the speed of the transaction. If we consider traditional payment methods, in physical stores, we have to waste some time as, for example, cash payments will take time for the cashier to calculate the change. Meanwhile, transactions are made via mobile almost instantly.
According to the consulting firm McKinsey, checkout time was cut in half using mobile payments. This not only makes shopping less annoying and exhausting for clients but beneficial for retailers too, as they can have more customers with shorter checkout times. The second important point is the security of mobile payments, as it can be pretty dangerous to use payments that may be the source of personal data stolen, for both companies and clients.
While there are still incidents of data breaches and fraud registered, mobile payment companies try hard to protect their customers. Encryptions, tokenization, biometric authentication methods, and other technologies were employed for secure transactions. According to Dusty Lutz from the electronic Payments Association, “The data is clear. Consumers see value in mobile payments, and they feel confident that these transactions are safe, and that protection is only improving”.
What is more, peer-to-peer payments have become a sensation, causing a greater shift from cash transactions. Popular apps like Venmo or Cash App have become an answer to traditional bill-splitting issues, as they make it easy to send money to friends and family from an app. According to eMarketer, peer-to-peer payment volume in the U.S. reached $98 billion in 2021.
Mobile payment solutions have had a considerable impact on e-commerce. With increased online shopping, the inclusion of mobile payments in the sales process has greatly facilitated the purchase of products. Retail businesses have realized that in order to succeed and increase their sales, they must provide customers with a wide variety of payment options.
In fact, 56% of customers indicated that if the store did not offer their preferred payment method, they would simply abandon the cart. Thus, the inclusion of a mobile wallet payment at the time of payment has become vital in terms of influencing sales and improving conversion rates.
At the same time, the development of digital and cryptocurrency can be considered along with mobile payment solutions. As an increasing number of people have access to digital assets, the notion of incorporating cryptocurrency in mobile payment platforms has gained popularity.
In 2021, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced a significant increase in popularity, which naturally led to an increase in the number of retailers and merchants who were willing to accept it. As stated by a survey of the cryptocurrency platform Coinbase, 43% of U.S. citizens are interested in using cryptocurrency for everyday transactions.
Hence, it can be supposed that mobile payment solutions are developing to one day become compatible with digital currencies, which will constitute another Avant garde change in the payments area.
In addition to the aforementioned effects, the rapidly increasing popularity of mobile payments has caused retail innovation. Retailers are now adopting new technologies in order to enhance their customers’ experience and improve their business.
For instance, by monitoring mobile payments, businesses are able to collect data about the shopping habits of customers and their preferred products. With the received information, the stores introduce changes in the available products and the way they advertise them. According to a report by Deloitte, the income of companies that presented some changes based on data analytics was 15% higher.
User experience will remain the dominating trend as mobile payment solutions continue evolving. Customers will prefer convenient and user-friendly interfaces that make the payment as simple as possible. Among other tendencies, it is important to note the implementation of new features in UI, such as one-click payments and personalized recommendations.
According to the survey by PwC, 70% of consumers reported that ease of use was their main consideration when choosing a payment method. Therefore, focusing on user experience will help find a balance between consumers’ needs and utility values. Overall, the emphasis on user experience may foster clients’ loyalty and encourage the adoption of these payment solutions.
The impact of mobile payment solutions on healthcare deserves attention. With the growing number of healthcare facilities embracing digitalization and the increased popularity of telemedicine, new opportunities are born that allow further simplifying the process of patient billing and accessing services. For instance, mobile payment solutions are widely used to pay for services in mobile apps or via text messaging.
As reported in the study available in the Journal of Healthcare Management, the use of mobile payment solutions helped the number of processed payments in one hospital in the Philippines to grow by 25%, which, in turn, ensured the financial growth of the healthcare organization. Mobile payments have the potential to improve the future of healthcare.
First, as a new technology, they may become an integral part of telemedicine in the future. Therefore, instead of spending the time required for the transfer of money and other formalities related to administration, patients will be able to pay with their mobile devices during a telehealth consultation.
Additionally, the nowadays increasing number of mobile payments, embedded within the frameworks of platforms and apps accessible for patients, will help improve access to care technologies for patients in remote and underserved communities.
However, the rapid spread of mobile payment solutions leads to the necessity of such issues and considerations as healthcare compliance and regulatory supervision. As financial operations become more digital, it is essential to ensure data protection, including privacy concerns.
In this way, regulatory units should design policies and standards to protect the consumers’ data and encourage improvements in the field of payment operations. The report by the National Institute of Standards and Technology underlines the significance of standards in designing secure payment systems and possible threats they may cause.
In conclusion, mobile payment solutions have changed the way of conducting transactions and significantly affect customer’s behavior. The improvements associated with better convenience, speed, and security have made such solutions crucial. Being more digital, the financial arena will require more necessary payments solutions with mobile ones playing their crucial role. As a result, the future of payments is digital and, thanks to innovations and cooperation, it will become more user-friendly and easy.
