Powered by Scan to Pay’s innovative payment solutions for seamless and secure transactions

The retail environment has always been highly competitive, but with mainstream stores embracing online shopping platforms and with the emergence of innovative online-only e-commerce sites, the space has become increasingly dynamic and customer-focused.
In 2025 the buzzword for standing out in the crowd is user-experience. The customer, once again, is king, and providing your consumers with an aesthetically pleasing, highly functional online shopping experience is key for success.
Surveys of online shoppers have shown that 40% will stop buying if the site or app does not suit their purpose, whereas 92% said they would be a return customer if it performed to their expectations. 60% of consumers said that a site that offers convenient payment options is essential and 65% of Gen Z’s claimed that if payment options weren’t available, they would abandon a purchase.
What stands out from these surveys, is that whatever the business model, whatever the product or service is for sale, it is the final interaction at the virtual check-out where customers are won and lost. While retailers may be embracing all the new shopping trends, including retail media, social commerce, influencer marketing and retail everywhere, if they do not provide fast, secure, seamless (and multiple) payment options, they will not survive.

Emerging e-commerce trends
Consumers are increasingly browsing and shopping on their mobile devices, so a mobile-first strategy with full site functionality on cell phones and tablets is a necessity in 2025. In-app purchases, ‘click to buy’ buttons on social media or shopping apps reach more consumers and make buying quick and easy. Payment with mobile wallets in which card or banking information is securely stored through multiple layers of encryption on the device that is being used to shop is also increasingly common, as consumers do not need to leave the app or site to complete a transaction. Convenience and security are what today’s online consumers are looking for.
Allowing consumers the freedom to switch channels seamlessly mid-session and without losing their browsing history is also a growing trend for e-commerce sites to embrace. Perhaps the consumer started out browsing on their desktop, were interrupted and wishes to continue where they left off on their cell phone - sites that allow users to do this will have an edge. Scan to Pay’s solutions integrate seamlessly with omnichannel strategies, giving peace of mind to merchants and consumers alike.
The role of emerging technologies will increase in importance in the e-commerce environment, including the use of cryptocurrency as payment and of artificial intelligence (AI) whose applications will be multiple. While cryptocurrency is not widely used in South Africa, it is safer and cheaper to transact via blockchain and more sites are accepting it. AI can be used to sort through masses of data including the browsing habits of individual consumers, allowing for tailored suggestions and push notifications to be sent directly to them. This gives e-commerce sites better shopping conversion rates, allows for more upselling and increases the average order value. AI is also invaluable in the financial transaction phase and can detect buying patterns as well as deviations, preventing fraud before it occurs.
For consumers, the importance of being demonstrably sustainable with a minimal impact on the environment is also a rising trend. From packaging to delivery and collection options that minimise a merchant’s carbon footprint (and by extension, that of the consumer) matter, especially to those younger generations who have wholeheartedly embraced online shopping.

As online merchants and vendors and creators of apps work to keep up with all the social and marketing trends for 2025 and beyond, of one thing they can be sure - Scan to Pay’s leading technology provides a streamlined, fast, safe and secure channel via which their consumers can pay by tapping and scanning - offering the frictionless payment model they demand.
Prioritising safety and convenience, Scan to Pay is already the preferred technology for many sites and apps, fintechs and banks. Their innovative approach to research and development means they are always ahead of the curve when it comes to cashless commerce and digital payments. Their future-facing strategies ensure that businesses will always be ready for the next wave of e-commerce advancements. We are more than ready for 2025!
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