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Payments
Payments may be the last step in the shopping journey, but for many consumers they are the moment that defines the entire brand
Retailers, PSPs and acquirers are rebuilding payments infrastructure
Across the ecosystem, organizations are reassessing how to modernize payments for a future defined by digital acceleration.
■ Merchants are prioritizing solutions that support omnichannel journeys and provide unified reporting. Many are preparing for growth in unattended and mobile commerce, where reliability is critical
■ PSPs are recognizing that merchants want flexibility and transparency. They are introducing orchestration capabilities or partnering with providers that can help deliver a more seamless experience
■ Acquirers are investing in infrastructure that supports high resiliency and low latency. As payment volumes increase and regulatory expectations evolve, acquirers are looking for ways to reduce complexity at scale
In each case, the goal is the same: build payments environments that can adapt to change without introducing friction.
Looking ahead: payments as an experience not transaction
Retailers that treat payments as a strategic part of the customer experience will be better positioned to compete in 2026 and beyond. The shift toward payment orchestration reflects a broader truth. Payments work best when they stay out of the way. When customers can choose how to pay, when transactions are consistent and when every payment environment feels the same, the result is not just operational efficiency but lasting customer confidence.
The opportunity for the industry is to move beyond simply accepting payments and toward designing experiences that help to reinforce trust. That requires strong infrastructure, unified orchestration and a commitment to simplicity.
Payments may be the last step in the shopping journey, but for many consumers they are the moment that defines the entire brand. ■
John Tait www. tnsi. com
John Tait is TNS’ Global Managing Director for its Payments Market business. TNS is a global leader in providing full-stack, modern and secure payment and network solutions. As a leading provider of Infrastructure-as-a-Service( IaaS) solutions with more than 30 years’ experience, TNS offers managed service solutions to more than 1400 organizations in over 50 countries. TNS’ comprehensive portfolio spans from cutting-edge unattended and in-store payment terminals, online solutions to secure global network connectivity and seamless payment processing through its cloud native payment orchestration platform.
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