Why merchants must accept tap to pay payments by 2025

Just as consumers replaced cash with cards, they are now trading swipes for “taps.” Payment preferences have rapidly evolved to smartphone-centric behaviors. According to Salesforce's Shopping Index, in Latin America, smartphone shopping continues to boom: 69% of transactions are made via mobile devices, driven by the convenience offered by digital wallets and payment apps. While this trend dominates e-commerce and mobile commerce, it will soon move into the physical environment. To meet - and even exceed - expectations, merchants must adapt by offering payment methods such as tap-to-pay, creating seamless experiences that strengthen customer loyalty.

Acceptance of tap-to-pay payments is not just based on observations, but on hard data. Studies confirm that consumers are increasingly embracing contactless payments. According to the latest data from Visa, countries such as Panama (87%), Costa Rica (85%), Guatemala (83%) and El Salvador (81%), already have contactless transaction penetration above 80%. They are closely followed by Bermuda (79%), Honduras (76%) Nicaragua (73%), Dominican Republic (76%) and Belize (71%), while in Puerto Rico (65%), Trinidad & Tobago (56%) and Jamaica (53%) at least half of the transactions are also contactless.

The message is clear: by implementing technologies that enable tap-to-pay, merchants not only meet current demands, but also encourage the frequent use of more convenient and agile payment methods.

The technology behind tap-to-pay acceptance

Near field communication (NFC) technology underpins traditional tap-to-pay solutions, enabling card readers to communicate wirelessly with contactless cards and digital wallets. This technology creates a secure and fast connection between the device and the terminal, offering agile and efficient payments. Merchants can accept contactless payments at checkout, tableside in restaurants to avoid lines at peak hours, and even outside the store.

On the other hand, SoftPOS represents an innovative solution for accepting tap-to-pay payments. PCI-compliant, it enables merchants to accept contactless payments on existing mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets or handhelds. This technology reduces the need to invest in additional hardware, offering merchants of all sizes a simple and fast way to integrate contactless payments into their operations.

To ensure a successful implementation, merchants should partner with a payment technology company that offers a comprehensive platform approach capable of supporting all payment methods. An Android-based platform gives providers the flexibility to offer a wide range of payment solutions, including advanced features such as integrated loyalty rewards and digital receipts. It also supports a variety of Android terminals, including unattended devices, to accommodate different types of transactions. With such a platform, merchants can also simplify the management of their payment solutions with tools for remote updates, centralized administration and advanced security measures, ensuring efficient and reliable operations.

The future of tap-to-pay payments

Contactless payment technologies are booming, and innovative solutions like SoftPOS are transforming the way consumers interact with merchants. Get ahead of the curve by planning today for the payment capabilities that will position your business competitively in 2025 and beyond.

Contact us to find out how to implement tap-to-pay payments and take full advantage of this technology to drive business growth.