3. … and a Lasting Trend
A substantial amount of contactless payment adoption occurred during the pandemic – however this adoption is slated to remain relevant for years to come.
According to Mastercard, 74% of consumers state they will continue to use contactless payment methods post-pandemic. Additionally, roughly half of respondents had already swapped out their top-of-wallet card for one that offers contactless payments.
4. Listen to Your Customers … Literally
Most contactless payments today happen via contactless cards, mobile wallets, and smart watches. However, that will likely change, and soon. Enter, voice assistants.
Voice assistants, also known as home assistants and smart speakers, allow people to give voice commands and receive a vocal response in return. Users can give commands for many things like the weather forecast, traffic updates, booking a rideshare – and of course, buying items. Some examples of popular voice assistants are Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomePod.
These voice assistants are making a splash in the industry and are a worthwhile contactless medium to pay attention to. According to Statista, by 2024 the number of digital voice assistants in use worldwide is expected to hit 8.4 billion by 2024, and 35% of smart speaker users buy products like home care, groceries, and clothing from the speaker.
How to Take Advantage of Contactless Payments
Ready or not, contactless payments are the future of commerce. Here are three simple ways to take advantage.
- Update Your Point of Sale. First and foremost, businesses should deploy contactless payment terminals, so they are able to accept payments from contactless credit and debit cards, smartphones, and smart watches. For contactless online ordering orders, it’s crucial to have a connected receipt printer that can effortlessly accept orders no matter where they come from (whether it’s from a mobile app, a website, or a home speaker).
- Spread the Word. Accepting contactless payments can improve the customer experience and aid in creating repeat business. Let customers know that you accept contactless payments by communicating with them – in the right channels. Because a variety of generations are leveraging contactless payments, be sure your messaging reaches them where they’re at. In addition to sharing your news on your website, app, and through your emails, this might look like communicating to Gen Z on TikTok, Baby Boomers on Facebook, and Millennials on Instagram.
- Consider Voice Shopping. Digital voice assistants are the next big thing. If possible, consider starting voice retailing. For more information on how to sell products to customers through voice via Amazon Alexa, click here. And to learn more about Google for retailers, click here.
