Payment Methods Report 2019 Innovations in the Way We Pay
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Insights into Payments Payment Methods Report 2019 Innovations in the Way We Pay Endorsement partners: Key media partner: Payment Methods Report 2019 Innovations in the Way We Pay Contact us For inquiries on editorial opportunities please contact: Email: [email protected] To subscribe to our newsletters, click here For general advertising information, contact: Mihaela Mihaila Email: [email protected] RELEASE VERSION 1.0 JUNE 2019 COPYRIGHT © THE PAYPERS BV ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TEL: +31 20 893 4315 FAX: +31 20 658 0671 MAIL: [email protected] Management Summary The fourth edition of our Payment Methods Report presents the latest updates, trends, and innovations in the way people pay in an omnichannel world. By providing insightful content, we aim to keep our readers updated with the latest dynamics of the payments industry, an industry that is continually evolving at a rapid pace. There is a lot of interest into what is new in (e)commerce payments, and the results of a Worldpay report show it clearly: overall, ecommerce is expected to surpass USD 4.6 trillion globally by 2022, with 140 online payment methods in use today. According to the report, e-wallets have gained a lot of popularity thanks to the seamless experience they provide. Online banking payments are also in the spotlight, as they are convenient for both consumers and merchants, while cash is still king at the POS. As more studies like this have appeared, it has become clear to us that an in-depth approach to the status of payment methods and innovations in the way people pay would be useful. Furthermore, besides innovation, the commerce world has been feeling the need to make a smooth transition from global to local and vice versa, as well as to provide a multitude of payment methods, personalised according to the customers’ preferences, both online and in store. The need for more customised experiences is driven by large numbers of tourists moving from one continent to another and expecting to meet convenient ways of paying on vacation. Safecharge has conducted a 2017 study on the impact of Chinese tourists on the European market, revealing that on average, a Chinese tourist from China spent USD 3,754 in Europe – so it is fascinating to see how customers from one country may play a significant role for another country when it comes to adapting and innovating payments. If we look at recent events, we see that companies are increasingly open to collaborating in order to expand their footholds and gear their services towards the consumers’ needs. The partnership between Alipay, Adyen, and Klarna is an example of the industry’s ambition to expand into new markets. The collaboration enables shoppers from Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Finland to use Klarna’s ‘Pay Later’ solution at AliExpress, the global retail online marketplace under Alibaba Group. Furthermore, with regard to expansions, the ‘Pays’, such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Wechat Pay, have extended their services in multiple countries, thus bringing diversity in payment options. Key trends As the payments industry is constantly evolving, this edition goes beyond the basics of payment methods, and additionally reports on the most significant methods that have shaped the customer’s behaviour and preferences, as well as with long ongoing trends that continue to have an impact on the payment world. Payment methods 301 Keeping pace with the latest trends, we have created an extensive overview of the key developments for each type of payment – credit and debit cards, prepaid cards, e-wallets, online banking ePayments, direct debit, pay later, cash, direct carrier billing, and cryptocurrencies. We have analysed their relevance and usage in different markets across the globe, their applicability in various ecommerce verticals, while also looking into what is in store when it comes to innovation. Furthermore, we have commented on the events that shook the payments industry this year. On the cryptocurrencies part, for instance, we have given our views on J.P. Morgan Chase’s launch of JPM Coin, Facebook’s Libracoin, and the impact these initiatives might have on the payments and commerce industry. Apart from our own review of the market, we have also invited several experts to share their insights into current and future trends and develop- ments. The regulatory aspect is also discussed; Andrew Cregan, the Head of Payment Policy at British Retail Consortium, addresses the impact of Strong Customer Authentication over card payments, with a case study on the UK market. Online banking epayments (OBePs) have gained momentum within the European market. Luke Flomo, Trustly’s Head of Commerce, reveals their approach regarding OBeP features, explaining the way this method can eliminate cart abandonment and increase conversions, while ➔ 3 Payment METHODS Report 2019 | MANAGEMENT SUMMARY Management Summary unlocking the data potential for all involved parties. In the US, OBeP is an emerging payment method, and here, Trustly has merged with PayWithMyBank to cover this market, seeking to create a seamless connection between Europe and the US. The actual competitive business environment has opened doors for new opportunities. The Pay Later solution has gained a lot of popularity by eliminating the need for a credit card. A Divido study explains the need for more convenient option of paying, as, for instance, 17% of UK-based consumers stress on the availability of different finance options as the most important factor, with 36% admitting they would shop again at a retailer offering it. At the same time, retailers are seeing benefits such as increased customer loyalty and repeat purchases, increased basket conversions, and sales uplifts of up to 30% by implementing customer finance. And this popularity has prompted partnerships across the industry, like the one mentioned above between Adyen, Klarna, and AliExpress. In addition, machine learning has gained a well-deserved role in initiatives to help lenders check and approve loans with smaller risks. Furthermore, both established and new companies are looking for new ways to innovate and add value to this growing business. Splitit is one of them, and they reveal for us the way they tapped into this process by considering two factors: ubiquity and simplicity. A lot of effort is expended to build a user-friendly ecosystem for the consumers, and sometimes these efforts are even more impactful in emerging markets, such as India. Here, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), an instant real-time payment system has facilitated 799.54 million inter-bank transactions and a value of USD 19 billion as of March 2019, with 142 banks live on this interface. Looking into Latin America, Pierre-Claude Blaise of Asociación Mexicana de Venta Online (AMVO) tells us that ‘Mexico has to face various challenges in ecommerce, a multifactorial process where financial inclusion is one of the areas that has shown a before and after effect.’ He also shares the preferred payment methods in the country, as well as payment acceptance rate. The e-wallets ecosystem is continuously expanding across the globe, especially Alipay and WeChat Pay, which originally started in China. For more insights into Alipay’s development, we have invited Ant Financial to offer their perspective on building a digital ecosystem from China to the rest of the world. Until now, some experts believed there was more hype than actual implementations of technology and strategy – Andy Mulcahy, Strategy and Insight Director at IMRG, points out there is a big potential for blockchain and social selling, however, he says ‘the urgency of new technology often gets overstated before people are ready to respond to it.’ So ‘technology is never urgent until its use-case becomes clear, and people start to understand how to apply it in ways that make their lives more convenient.’ Ecommerce verticals – retail, travel, gaming, and automotive snapshots We have chosen to dig into these particular verticals, as there is an evident need for an improved customer experience in all these areas. Online retailers are urged to invest in their customer experience, as 89% of customers stop doing business with a brand after a bad experience. On the other hand, the in-store payment experience is also highly important, and leading retailers to consider the seamless checkout that a SmartPOS may provide. Ron van Wezel of Aite Group provides insights into how to best review the evolution of payments and leverage the latest technology such as the NextGen POS. Providing a seamless customer experience is crucial for gaming companies too, if they want to keep and further consolidate a base of loyal customers, and a seamless experience starts with an optimised onboarding strategy. Successful customer onboarding and retention depend on factors such as having the right payment methods for each region/country, enabling cross-border payments, staying compliant, and considering the ethical aspect of dealing with addictive consumers, as loyalty is not synonymous with addiction. To address all these matters, Jens Bader, the co-founder of MuchBetter, recommends approaching the e-wallets payments as a way of ‘fixing the payment plumbing.’ In any case, iGaming operators are advised to align their payment strategy with trusted payment partners, and carefully regard the regulations in place. Furthermore, ‘they will also want to work with acquirers with the lowest fraud ratings, else they will have to jump through more KYC hoops.’ ➔ 4 Payment METHODS Report 2019 | MANAGEMENT SUMMARY Management Summary Convenience is key for customers in the iGaming industry, but the gamers are also looking for entertainment, so integrating a payment method into something fun could be a great opportunity for payments services providers. Trustly, for example, has designed a service that enables consumers to pay by simply clicking a banner that advertises a product. The company’s Director of Partner Sales Adam Bowman depicts this solution and other services made available for ecommerce merchants, including online gaming operators, in his contribution.