That the health emergency has accelerated the digital transformation of many companies is undeniable: the lockdowns carried out all over the world have pushed even the less technology-related companies to renew themselves in order to continue operating despite the heavy restrictions imposed by governments. Shopping habits have also changed, and even in a country like Italy, historically “fond” of cash, digital payments have seen a surge. Paying with cards, both online and in-store, is also a way of reducing contacts and preventing infections, but the concept of “swiping” is also starting to age and consumers are looking for even more essential digital payment tools, linked for example to smartphones or smart watches. Merchants inevitably have to adapt.

The agility of digital banks

“ Both small businesses and global brands are have been forced to speed up their buying process or implement faster plans to make payments safer and faster. Smooth, contactless processes that don’t hinder shoppers at checkout are tools used to welcome customers back to the store and increase once again confidence in spending. As a result, the demand for digital tools and faster access to new digital payment services is more in demand than ever “, explains Yannis Larios, VP of Strategy & Development at Viva Wallet .

What consumers are asking according to Larios is to abandon the concept of laminated paper and to focus on the technological gadgets they wear every day to have a “seamless” shopping experience. The crate itself becomes a point of friction , which is why Viva Wallet is working on a solution that allows retailers to accept cards simply with a tap on the smartphone screen, making the purchase process even more fluid for the customer and cheap and simple system management for the merchant.

“ Seamless and ubiquitous payment options will quickly become the new norm, therefore organizations must be prepared with a digital-first approach “- concludes Larios – “ The large payment service providers have struggled to keep up with the pace of change due to their limited flexibility in launching new payment services or innovations in such a short time frame. In contrast, highly digital payment providers such as Viva Wallet were able to act quickly, introducing innovations in card acquisition, new payment methods and digital tools to facilitate payments and cope with rising demand. This agility is fueling the continued growth of digital banks “.