Today’s consumers expect speed, personalization, and convenience—across every touchpoint. Whether online, in-store, or in-app, people want their payment experiences to be seamless, secure, and instant.
In response, innovative technologies are reshaping how we pay—paving the way for frictionless transactions that don’t just support the sale, but enhance the entire customer experience.
Let’s explore a few of the most forward-thinking technologies helping brands meet modern demands—and how they’re laying the groundwork for the future of payments.
What Do Consumers Want?
Omnichannel convenience is now the standard, not a bonus.
- 62% of millennials are comfortable connecting their payment info to an app from a brand they trust
- Mobile and tap-to-pay options are rapidly replacing traditional card swipes
- Shoppers expect retailers to “remember” their preferences and streamline repeat purchases
This has triggered a shift in payments—from functional transactions to personalized, tech-powered experiences.
Emerging Technologies Powering Friction-Free Payments
1. NFC (Near Field Communication) & Mobile Wallets
NFC powers the Tap to Pay technology behind Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and most contactless credit cards. It enables instant, secure payments by holding a device or card near a terminal—no swiping, inserting, or typing needed.
💡 According to Visa, tap payments have grown over 300% year-over-year in many regions.
Businesses using platforms like KORT can seamlessly enable contactless payments across all channels—supporting in-store, mobile, and online checkouts.
2. Google Hands Free (Voice-Activated Payments)
Though still in pilot stages, Google Hands Free introduced a new concept: voice-based payments. Instead of pulling out a phone or card, customers say, “I’ll pay with Google,” and verify their identity using initials and a profile photo.
How it works:
- Uses Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and geolocation to detect presence in participating stores
- Cashier matches your initials to the photo stored in your app profile
- Payment is processed in the background—no tapping or swiping required
Google has also experimented with automated facial verification, with an emphasis on privacy-first design (images are deleted immediately after use).
While Hands Free remains a concept, it signals the industry’s direction: invisible payments that prioritize speed and convenience.
3. Pepper the Payment Robot (MasterCard + Pizza Hut Asia)
In partnership with SoftBank Robotics, MasterCard launched a futuristic pilot with Pepper, an AI-powered robot designed to:
- Take food orders
- Make personalized menu suggestions
- Guide customers through checkout
- Complete payment securely via the MasterPass app
How it works:
- Customers connect via QR code or app
- Pepper provides a tailored experience using past purchase data and expressed mood
- Payment is authorized on the user’s device—Pepper never accesses payment info directly
With its ability to understand emotional cues and remember order history, Pepper combines AI, tokenized security, and natural interaction to redefine how we think of the checkout experience.
The Bigger Picture: Why It Matters
These technologies may still be evolving—but the intent is clear:
- Eliminate checkout friction
- Personalize the purchase experience
- Enable payments anywhere, on any device
- Prioritize security, tokenization, and consent
Retailers, service providers, and platforms like KORT are investing in infrastructure that makes it easy for businesses to integrate these capabilities—whether that means supporting tap-to-pay at a pop-up, recurring billing in-app, or customized checkout on a global storefront.
The Future of Payments Is Invisible
Consumers don’t just want fast—they want frictionless. That means:
- No barriers between product and purchase
- No redundant data entry
- No waiting for systems to catch up
With AI, voice, NFC, and mobile optimization all converging, the future of commerce is increasingly automated, adaptive, and invisible.
As adoption grows and technology matures, forward-thinking merchants will win by embracing solutions that support secure, seamless, and smart payments.
Ready to simplify your payment experience?
At KORT, we help businesses enable modern, secure, and friction-free payments—online, in-store, and beyond.
Contact us at partners@kortpayments.com or call 1-800-747-6883 to learn more.