Business
Trends shaping global payment processing in 2023
There are several exciting trends emerging that will shape the way businesses and consumers process payments worldwide
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 29, 2023/APO Group/ —
A global payment processing system is a network that enables financial institutions to process cross-border payments. It allows for currency exchange between banks and other financial institutions across borders. The system is used by businesses and individuals to make international payments, such as for goods and services purchased online.
Currently, this system is going through radical changes that are transforming how individuals and businesses send and receive money. Furthermore, there are several exciting trends emerging that will shape the way businesses and consumers process payments worldwide. From cryptocurrency and contactless transactions to artificial intelligence, these innovations are set to transform the industry as we know it.
What is a payment processor?
A payment processor is a financial institution that provides the technology and infrastructure necessary to facilitate global payment processing. Payment processors work with acquiring banks to provide merchants with the ability to accept credit card and debit card payments from customers around the world. Payment processors typically offer a suite of payment-related services, including merchant account management, payment gateway (https://apo-opa.info/42IetFv) and point-of-sale (POS) services, fraud prevention, and security solutions, and access to financing products. In addition, many payment processors offer value-added services such as loyalty programs, customer data analytics, and marketing assistance.
How big is the global payment industry?
A report by the Business Research Company suggests that the global payments market (https://apo-opa.info/3ZsekTH) will record a growth of $612.04 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. Additionally, the report indicates that the global payments market will grow to $847.59 billion in 2027 at a (CAGR) of 8.5%. To begin with, new real-time payment platforms allow consumers and businesses to transfer money quickly, securely, and reliably across different banks and institutions. Again, there is an increased focus on security and data privacy (https://apo-opa.info/431uF4X) regarding payment processing. For instance, financial institutions are implementing more robust authentication processes to protect against fraud, as well as introducing new technologies such as biometrics and blockchain to strengthen security.
Trends reshaping payment processing in Africa
How we make and receive payments (https://apo-opa.info/3JVIxVx) is changing rapidly, and Africa is at the forefront. What’s more, new technologies and trends in global payment processing are reshaping the continent, making it easier for businesses to trade with each other and with the rest of the world. One of the most significant changes is the growth of mobile money. Equally important, more and more people in Africa are using their phones to send and receive payments, thanks to platforms like M-Pesa in Kenya and MTN Mobile Money in Ghana.
Additionally, payment gateways like Tingg (https://apo-opa.info/42IetFv) are reshaping how to send and receive money online in Africa. This makes it easier for businesses to transact without going through a traditional bank. Another trend that’s reshaping Africa is the rise of blockchain technology. Blockchain allows for secure, fast, and cheap transactions without a middleman. This could potentially revolutionize African economies by making it easier to move money around without losing value through exchange rates or fees. These trends are just some ways that global payment processing is changing Africa. They’re making it easier for businesses to trade with each other and connect with the rest of the world.
Is cash declining?
The decline of cash has been a long time coming. For years, experts have predicted the death of cash as we know it, and while that hasn’t happened yet, the writing is on the wall. Moreover, several factors are driving this shift away from cash.
Perhaps most importantly, technological advances have made alternative payment methods more convenient and secure. At the same time, consumer behaviour is changing, with younger generations, in particular, preferring digital payments. Interestingly, a survey from McKinsey indicates that the domination of cash in Africa will be challenged soon as e-payments become increasingly popular (https://apo-opa.info/3JThrOT). Banks and nonbank organizations are trying to simplify domestic and international payments.
All of this is having a significant impact on the payments industry. Companies that process card payments are seeing rapid growth. Despite the digital revolution, adopting electronic payment methods in Africa is still not widespread. Although cash use is diminishing, it remains the primary means of transaction in African nations. This shift will likely continue in the years ahead as more consumers and businesses move away from cash.
Here are trends shaping global payment processing:
Mobile wallets
As mobile commerce continues to grow, so does the demand for mobile wallets. A mobile wallet is a digital wallet that allows users to make payments and access their funds using a mobile device. In 2023, it is estimated that there will be 1.31 billion proximity mobile payment transaction users (https://apo-opa.info/3ZpPcwV) worldwide, up from 950 million users in 2019.
The most popular type of mobile wallet is the smartphone wallet, which allows users to make payments and access their funds using their smartphone. Other mobile wallets include NFC wallets, which use Near Field Communication technology to enable contactless payments, and cloud-based wallets, which allow users to store their funds in the cloud and access them from any device. With more and more people using mobile devices to pay for goods and services, it is clear that mobile wallets are here to stay. As such, businesses must ensure they can accept payments via mobile wallets (https://apo-opa.info/3JVIxVx) to stay ahead of the competition.
Cryptocurrencies
The report indicates that the global payments market will grow to $847.59 billion in 2027 at a (CAGR) of 8.5%
Cryptocurrencies are digital or virtual tokens that use cryptography to secure their transactions and control the creation of new units. Besides that, Cryptocurrencies are often traded on decentralized exchanges and can also be used to purchase goods and services. Bitcoin remains the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, followed by Ethereum, Tether, Binance Coin, and Cardano.
Cryptocurrencies have seen significant growth in recent years, fueled by increased interest from retail and institutional investors. However, cryptocurrencies face scalability issues, regulatory uncertainty, and a lack of mainstream adoption. Nevertheless, the cryptocurrency industry is expected to grow in the coming years.
As digital currencies continue to grow in popularity worldwide, Africa is emerging as a critical market for these new types of payments.
Global payment processing companies are noticing this trend and investing in African countries to tap into this growing market. Blockchain is a distributed ledger system that makes it difficult for anyone to hack or tamper with transactions. Reports indicate that In 2023, more than two dozen nations (https://apo-opa.info/3JXb7po) are expected to take a giant leap with the piloting of CBDCs. Several countries, such as Australia, Thailand, Brazil, India, South Korea, and Russia, already have plans to begin or further their pilot testing.
The growth of e-commerce
The e-commerce industry is expected to overgrow in the coming years. In 2023, the global e-commerce growth rate is expected to grow by 10.4%, bringing global e-commerce sales (https://apo-opa.info/40GSsoK) to $6.3 trillion.
Several factors will drive this growth:
1. The continued expansion of the internet and mobile devices.
2. The rise of social media and mobile commerce
3. The increasing popularity of online shopping.
In addition to this overall growth, there are a number of other trends that are shaping the global payment processing industry. These include the rise of alternative payment methods, the increasing use of mobile apps for payments (https://apo-opa.info/40JQDY8), and the growth of cross-border e-commerce. Alternative payment methods, such as digital wallets, are becoming increasingly popular as consumers seek more convenient and secure ways to pay for online purchases.
Biometric authentication
The need for secure authentication methods grows as the world becomes increasingly digitised. Biometric authentication, which uses physical or behavioural characteristics to verify identity, is one of the most promising technologies.
Several factors are driving the adoption of biometric authentication in the payments industry.
- Consumers are becoming more comfortable with using biometrics for authentication. This is due to the widespread use of smartphone fingerprint scanners and facial recognition technology.
- Biometric authentication offers higher security than traditional methods like passwords and PINs. It is much harder for criminals to steal someone’s identity or to spoof their credentials.
- Biometric authentication is becoming more affordable as the technology continues to mature. This is important for financial institutions that must balance security concerns with cost considerations.
- Some major payment processors are beginning to support biometric authentication. Some companies like Mastercard notably unveiled fingerprint and iris scanning (https://apo-opa.info/3zdzyKa) into their global network and have embraced biometric authentication.
- Government regulations are starting to catch up with the times. This is likely to spur even greater adoption of biometric authentication in the payments sector in the future.
Global payment processing and regulation
The impact of regulation on payment processing (https://apo-opa.info/3lS4Kvu) is far-reaching. Compliance with regulations such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is costly. In addition to the financial impact, compliance with these regulations imposes significant operational burdens on businesses. These requirements are challenging for small and medium-sized companies in particular.
Despite the challenges, businesses need to stay compliant with payment processing regulations. Non-compliance can lead to severe penalties, including fines, reputational damage, and loss of business.
Conclusion
Global payment processing will be pretty different in the future from what it is today. As technology advances, we will see more secure and efficient payment methods. Additionally, the need for transparency and faster transactions are pushing forward global payment processing trends such as blockchain and fintech. With all these changes coming our way in 2023, businesses should stay competitive (https://apo-opa.info/3KdHdxx) in an ever-changing marketplace.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cellulant.
Business
Enlit Africa seeks contributions that move the conversation from strategy to execution: ensuring a Future Fit Africa
Business
CEM Africa Awards 2026 set to recognise Africa’s leading Customer Experience (CX) talent and innovation
The 2025 awards attracted more than 80 entries and 31 finalists, culminating in eight award winners
The calibre of organisations and individuals recognised through the CEM Africa Awards demonstrates just how much extraordinary CX work is being done across the continent
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 25, 2026/APO Group/ –Customer experience professionals, teams and organisations across Africa have just days remaining to enter the 2026 CEM Africa Awards, with free applications closing on 30 September 2026.
Taking place on 10 November 2026 at the NH Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, the Customer Experience Africa Awards form part of the CEM Africa platform and recognise the individuals, teams, technologies and initiatives raising the standard of customer experience across the continent.
For organisations considering whether to enter, the company they could be keeping provides a compelling indication of the calibre of the awards.
A growing roll call of African CX leaders
The 2025 awards attracted more than 80 entries and 31 finalists, culminating in eight award winners. Finalists represented organisations spanning financial services, technology, telecommunications, retail, insurance, public services and social impact.
Among them were Absa, Capitec Bank, Santam, Telesure Investment Holdings, Equity Bank, Takealot.com, NTT DATA, Frogfoot, Telviva, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, the University of Pretoria and South Africa’s Department of Social Development.
The 2025 winners included Serisha Iyer of Absa Corporate and Investment Banking, named Rising Star in CX; Alma Angela Olela of Jubilee Health Insurance, named CX Leader of the Year; and Franco Cotumaccio of Shadow Global, winner of Breaking Barriers in CX.
Corporate winners included Telesure Investment Holdings for Best Overall CX Solution, Krisp for Best Use of AI, Telviva for Best Enterprise Contact Centre Platform, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator for Best Customer Experience Team of the Year and the University of Pretoria for Best Citizen Experience Initiative.
That follows a 2024 edition in which winners included NCBA Bank, MultiChoice, Digital Solutions Group, Absa Bank and Telviva, alongside individual CX leaders from across the continent.
More than a trophy
For entrants, recognition through the CEM Africa Awards puts their work in front of a wider African CX community and an independent judging panel drawn from across the industry.
The 2026 judging panel includes global CX specialist Ian Golding; Andrew (Dré) Enebeli, Head of CX & Engagement at Access Bank; Dr Oliver Museka, President and Founder of IRDM College Eswatini; Jonathan Daniels, Managing Director of CX Centric; Joven Pillay, Partner and Head of Customer Consulting at KPMG; and Qaalfa Dibeehi, Managing Partner at Human2Outcome.
This year’s awards recognise excellence across four broad pillars – People, Innovation, Transformation and Government – covering categories including CX Leader of the Year, Rising Star in CX, Breaking Barriers in CX, Best Overall CX Solution, Best Use of AI, Best Enterprise Contact Centre Platform, Best Customer Experience Team of the Year, Best Digital Transformation in Public Services and Best Citizen Experience Initiative.
“The calibre of organisations and individuals recognised through the CEM Africa Awards demonstrates just how much extraordinary CX work is being done across the continent. These awards give that work a platform. Whether it is a major transformation programme, an innovative use of technology or an individual changing how their organisation thinks about the customer, we want to make sure Africa’s best work is being seen and recognised.”
- Briteny Price, Event Manager and CEM Africa Awards Director
Final opportunity to enter
Applications for the 2026 CEM Africa Awards are free and remain open until 30 September 2026. Finalists will be announced in October, ahead of the awards ceremony on 10 November at the NH Hotel, Sandton.
Organisations, teams and individuals working to improve customer and citizen experience across Africa are encouraged to submit their entries before the deadline.
Apply for the CEM Africa Awards 2026 by 30 September 2026
Submit your application (https://apo-opa.co/4hdcimx)
Explore the CEM Africa Awards
Visit the CEM Africa Awards website (https://apo-opa.co/4iNXzzM)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.
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