In recent years, corporate payment methods have been expanding. On the one hand, the Covid-19 pandemic led to even more widespread use of bank card payments than was already the case. However, this has not been the only change in the payment methods of many companies, as mobile payments or the use of payment wallets have become increasingly important in transactions.
From Zucchetti Spain, your POS software company, we want to show you which are the new payment methods that are being implemented. And above all, keep in mind that if your business wants to be competitive, it is essential to adapt to the trends in order to increase your profitability.
Traditional payment methods
When we talk about traditional payment methods, we are clearly referring to cash payment as the most common method. However, there are other conventional methods that, despite being a minority, can also be classified as traditional, such as payment by bank check.
Halfway between traditional payments and the most common payments is the bank transfer, which is not made at the time of purchase, is a slower process, since the money can take up to 24 hours to reach the recipient and more if it is a weekend. However, this payment method has been updated, thanks to the possibility of making online transfers through a mobile application, as well as the fact that immediate bank transfers can be issued, which are instantly reflected in the recipient's bank account.
Finally, debit or credit bank cards are halfway between the traditional and the most current forms, as Contacless cards allow the transaction to be carried out very quickly, without the need to insert the card in the charging device.
New forms of payment
Among the new forms of payment, the bank or credit card is halfway between the traditional and the most current forms. Contactless or contactless cards allow users to make purchases without having to enter the PIN in the dataphone for expenses of less than 50 euros. This figure was implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the limit was previously set at 20 euros, thus boosting payment with bank cards.
To the new forms of payment must be added payment through instant transfers, as is the case with Bizum, as well as payment through mobile devices with NFC communications. In recent years, payment through digital wallets has also become a trend, allowing payments to be made in stores in a simple way. BNPL (Buy-Now, Pay Later) models, which have been implemented in many online stores, can also be included among the new payment methods.
To integrate online and offline payments, we recommend that in order to offer different payment methods in your physical and online commerce, you should look for maximum integrations with POS software to integrate your business.
What is the most common form of payment among consumers?
According to the Bank of Spain, data shows that cash is still the most popular form of payment among consumers, with 66% of use for purchases in physical stores in 2022. However, this percentage is much lower than in the year before the pandemic, when it was around 83%.
Added to this is the huge growth of e-commerce, which is gaining ground over face-to-face shopping. Of all transactions carried out in Spain in 2022, 16% were carried out through online retailers.
Cash
Cash is still the traditional form of payment for physical merchants, but it is increasingly in decline. Being able to charge customers in cash is perfectly possible when you have a POS system that includes a cash drawer, where you can make change available for customer payments. Just because the way your customers mostly pay is cash doesn't mean you have to keep a traditional cash register, as you can still collect cash from your customers with a business POS software.
Contactless card
ContactLess bank cards or contactless payments allow users to simply bring their debit or credit card close to a dataphone or payment device to make the payment. In many cases, when it comes to minor purchases, it is not even necessary to enter the PIN, which greatly speeds up the payment process and can reduce queues at your business.
Mobile payments
The operation of mobile payment is very similar to that of contactless cards. Most customers today have a mobile device with NFC (Near Field Communication), which allows data to be transmitted between nearby devices. The customer only needs to activate this type of communication and have a payment app configured, so that he/she only needs to bring the mobile device close to the dataphone to process the payment.
Transfers
Transfers, as mentioned above, is a type of payment that has evolved over time, thanks to mobile banking and instant transfer apps. Today it is perfectly possible in many businesses to pay for products and services through this type of payment, although it is important to take into account the limit of payments that can be issued or received.
Other
There are many other forms of payment that are becoming popular in companies. For example, prepaid or wallet cards, which are not associated with a bank account and need to be recharged in order to make payments. It is also important to mention the virtual wallets and cards that have been spreading thanks to online payments, as well as payment with cryptocurrencies.
Do you have the right POS in your business?
The future of business payment systems depends on adapting to new technologies. Each company must strategically assess what types of payment systems are most convenient for them. The fact that the majority of customers make payments through a particular method does not mean that sales cannot increase considerably when new payment methods are implemented.
People become accustomed to using a payment method, and then they value the fact that they can use their preferred payment method as an important aspect of shopping at a physical store or online store. From your Zucchetti Spain we invite you to implement a POS system that facilitates the integration of payments in a single tool, both when making sales in physical establishments and in online stores.
From Zucchetti Spain, your POS software company, we want to show you which are the new payment methods that are being implemented. And above all, keep in mind that if your business wants to be competitive, it is essential to adapt to the trends in order to increase your profitability.
Traditional payment methods
When we talk about traditional payment methods, we are clearly referring to cash payment as the most common method. However, there are other conventional methods that, despite being a minority, can also be classified as traditional, such as payment by bank check.
Halfway between traditional payments and the most common payments is the bank transfer, which is not made at the time of purchase, is a slower process, since the money can take up to 24 hours to reach the recipient and more if it is a weekend. However, this payment method has been updated, thanks to the possibility of making online transfers through a mobile application, as well as the fact that immediate bank transfers can be issued, which are instantly reflected in the recipient's bank account.
Finally, debit or credit bank cards are halfway between the traditional and the most current forms, as Contacless cards allow the transaction to be carried out very quickly, without the need to insert the card in the charging device.
New forms of payment
Among the new forms of payment, the bank or credit card is halfway between the traditional and the most current forms. Contactless or contactless cards allow users to make purchases without having to enter the PIN in the dataphone for expenses of less than 50 euros. This figure was implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the limit was previously set at 20 euros, thus boosting payment with bank cards.
To the new forms of payment must be added payment through instant transfers, as is the case with Bizum, as well as payment through mobile devices with NFC communications. In recent years, payment through digital wallets has also become a trend, allowing payments to be made in stores in a simple way. BNPL (Buy-Now, Pay Later) models, which have been implemented in many online stores, can also be included among the new payment methods.
To integrate online and offline payments, we recommend that in order to offer different payment methods in your physical and online commerce, you should look for maximum integrations with POS software to integrate your business.
What is the most common form of payment among consumers?
According to the Bank of Spain, data shows that cash is still the most popular form of payment among consumers, with 66% of use for purchases in physical stores in 2022. However, this percentage is much lower than in the year before the pandemic, when it was around 83%.
Added to this is the huge growth of e-commerce, which is gaining ground over face-to-face shopping. Of all transactions carried out in Spain in 2022, 16% were carried out through online retailers.
Cash
Cash is still the traditional form of payment for physical merchants, but it is increasingly in decline. Being able to charge customers in cash is perfectly possible when you have a POS system that includes a cash drawer, where you can make change available for customer payments. Just because the way your customers mostly pay is cash doesn't mean you have to keep a traditional cash register, as you can still collect cash from your customers with a business POS software.
Contactless card
ContactLess bank cards or contactless payments allow users to simply bring their debit or credit card close to a dataphone or payment device to make the payment. In many cases, when it comes to minor purchases, it is not even necessary to enter the PIN, which greatly speeds up the payment process and can reduce queues at your business.
Mobile payments
The operation of mobile payment is very similar to that of contactless cards. Most customers today have a mobile device with NFC (Near Field Communication), which allows data to be transmitted between nearby devices. The customer only needs to activate this type of communication and have a payment app configured, so that he/she only needs to bring the mobile device close to the dataphone to process the payment.
Transfers
Transfers, as mentioned above, is a type of payment that has evolved over time, thanks to mobile banking and instant transfer apps. Today it is perfectly possible in many businesses to pay for products and services through this type of payment, although it is important to take into account the limit of payments that can be issued or received.
Other
There are many other forms of payment that are becoming popular in companies. For example, prepaid or wallet cards, which are not associated with a bank account and need to be recharged in order to make payments. It is also important to mention the virtual wallets and cards that have been spreading thanks to online payments, as well as payment with cryptocurrencies.
Do you have the right POS in your business?
The future of business payment systems depends on adapting to new technologies. Each company must strategically assess what types of payment systems are most convenient for them. The fact that the majority of customers make payments through a particular method does not mean that sales cannot increase considerably when new payment methods are implemented.
People become accustomed to using a payment method, and then they value the fact that they can use their preferred payment method as an important aspect of shopping at a physical store or online store. From your Zucchetti Spain we invite you to implement a POS system that facilitates the integration of payments in a single tool, both when making sales in physical establishments and in online stores.