FinTech Magazine - April 2022 | Page 67

FINANCIAL SERVICES
increased over the past three years . Andrew Edem , Global Head of Innovation at PPRO , points out that use of digital wallets among consumers in the US saw a 27 % leap in 2020 , up from 22 % in 2019 .
He says , “ The new Apple feature ‘ Tap to Pay ’ is an opportunity for US merchants to improve in-person checkout experiences by allowing contactless payments directly on a mobile device … It ' s crucial that retailers are equipped with the right technology and infrastructure to not only enable these payment methods , but create seamless user experiences that make shopping easy for consumers , wherever they are .”
It also comes as no surprise that Apple has been the first of the tech giants to hit the post , as it were . “ Apple has consistently been a leader in boosting mobile payment experiences within the US market and increasing mobile adoption among consumers , and I think we ’ ll continue to see additional payment methods offered by both large and small merchants , as we ’ ve seen in other regions ,” Edem says .
Innovation and NFC in Softpos technology Hyett concludes , that mobile devices are becoming the core hardware estate for businesses across a range of verticals . For example , in the transport sector , taxis are now using tablets to run in-ride advertisements as well as accept contactless payments .
He adds “ These all-in-one solutions are powered by software point of sale ( SoftPoS ) technology , streamlining hardware estate to deliver more functions on fewer devices . This reduces costs for merchants by helping them sell more while also offering a cheaper alternative to traditional payment terminals . We look forward to seeing what innovations and new market entrants bring to this sector .” fintechmagazine . com 67