The world is changing quickly. New technology, new ideas, and new ways to pay for your needs or wants. The payments landscape is in constant flux. From the advent of cryptocurrency to new payment methods, there’s always something new on the horizon.
For example, traditional payment card networks like Visa and Mastercard have dominated global commerce for years. Yet as of late, some non-traditional payment methods have begun to show promise as more than just a passing fad. This article will explore the shifting priorities in payments now and how they might give way to new global commerce models.
Buy Now, Pay Later
Buy now, pay later is a growing trend that’s beginning to transform the payments landscape. The impact of Covid-19 boosted the movement to contactless and online payments. While this concept of shopping for goods and services is nothing new at all, expanding online retail made it easier for customers to access short-term credits.
Consumer-facing companies like Amazon and Asos have successfully implemented this model: they offer interest-free payment plans that let customers purchase goods over time. While it might seem risky for a company to give their customers payment leeway, many retailers have found ways to minimize the risk of non-payment.
Amazon Lending, for example, only gives loans to businesses it knows will be able to pay back their loans easily. Because of this rigorous underwriting process and the importance of brand trust, Amazon is able to continue growing its lending business rapidly.
For businesses, the ability to offer short-term payment plans is a great way for consumers to rediscover credit. Short-term payments could be the answer if you’re looking for a way to provide your customers with cheaper consumer-facing items.
Extending Payment Methods
Consumers are craving new ways to pay for their purchases. This has pushed merchants and payments companies to experiment with new payment methods and settle on the ones that will become ubiquitous in the future.
To expand payment methods, more and more merchants benefit from services of a fintech company solidgate.com. This is an innovative, multifunctional payment processing platform for any kind of online business that provides streamlined payment infrastructure. With its help, companies can accept local payment methods, e-wallets, direct payments, card acquiring, and many other payment methods worldwide.
This means that customers have more options than ever before when it comes to payments. Some innovators have focused on expanding and improving already existing payment methods like credit cards, PayPal and Venmo.
Digitizing The Paper Trail
Many experts predict that paper-based payments will be a thing of the past. The rise of alternative payment methods makes it possible for consumers to pay for goods and services in a more secure and decentralized system. Also, digital certification (like being able to scan your phone or computer in to shop with Apple Pay or Samsung Pay) has helped digitize the paper trail, but it also provides consumers with a way to pay digitally without a centralized authority.
Another piece of technology that will help digitize the paper trail is blockchain technology. Blockchain helps digitize the paper trail for payments and also helps businesses simplify their supply chain processes. Blockchain helps ease business bottlenecks and tackle new challenges companies face when creating and scaling a successful business.
Going In Crypto And NFT
The growth of cryptocurrency has been astronomical in the last decade. While this sector may not be mainstream just yet, it’s still a viable option for consumers looking for alternative payment methods and wanting to digitalize the paper trail.
The growing popularity of digital currency worldwide has made it possible to make payments and other types of transactions using cryptocurrencies. This includes things like paying bills, sending money to family and friends, purchasing goods or services from different merchants, etc.
Open Banking
Open banking is a technology trend that has been growing in popularity. Open banking projects use APIs and open source software to help banks allow third parties to create software and services that connect to their bank accounts.
Because of this, different merchants can now offer more financial products and services directly to consumers. Open banking is important for businesses because it will have the opportunity to offer new financial products and services directly to consumers.
This process can also help businesses solve internal issues that they have with their supply chain and distribution processes. As a result, open banking companies are making it easier for businesses to provide new and innovative financial services consumers want.
The Bottom Line
The growth of alternative payments creates new opportunities for businesses to attract and retain customers. It can also help to boost margins and unlock new revenue streams. For example, businesses that use alternative payment options like cryptocurrencies or open banking can provide better customer service, as well as smooth and secure transactions.
Because of this, it’s important to start implementing alternative payment methods moving forward. This includes investing in improved payment infrastructure, partnerships with online payment providers, etc. By doing this, you’ll be able to start accepting payments from everywhere in the world while reaching out to a wide range of potential consumers that could benefit from your products and services.