In today's world, where user expectations revolve around speed and convenience, contactless payments are taking the lead in the race of payment technology. Over the past few years, cashless and contactless options have significantly increased due to various factors such as the growing adoption of smartphones, the expansion of e-commerce, and the need for contactless payments during the pandemic. Mobile wallets have transformed smartphones into payment devices. Today, we are taking a close look at the technologies behind contactless payments and various types of contactless payment methods.
Contactless payments are a secure method for users to make payments using either card payments or mobile devices via Near Field Communication (NFC). The term NFC, which stands for Near Field Communication, enables contactless payments through a type of radio frequency identification (RFID). This payment method occurs when mobile devices equipped with contactless payment technology, such as cards, cell phones, or smartwatches, touch a POS terminal.
Types of Contactless Payments
Contactless cards
The most common types of contactless payment are contactless bank and credit cards. Contactless EMV chip cards, which have replaced magnetic stripe cards, have brought tap-and-go technology into our lives. With this technology, payments are made using EMV contactless chip cards and NFC-enabled mobile devices that do not require physical contact with a POS terminal. While EMV enhances card security, NFC is a complementary technology that enables EMV cards to be used contactlessly.
Mobile Applications and Wallets
Payment technologies that allow us to store digital versions of our credit or debit cards on our mobile devices give users a wide range of alternatives to choose from. We have become accustomed to making payments by simply scanning a QR code or tapping our mobile phone on a near field communication (NFC) enabled payment terminal. What is more, these technologies securely encrypt our sensitive data stored in mobile applications.
The most popular mobile wallets today are Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, designed for Android and iOS phones respectively. These mobile wallets, which use preloaded cards, securely store users' payment information on their mobile phones.
But how does the system work?
Let's take a closer look👇
- To make payments using mobile wallets, after adding your bank or credit card details to the platform, instead of storing sensitive card data, a token associated with the card information is stored in the wallet.
- As the payment is made between a smartphone and a POS terminal that supports contactless payments via NFC, this token information circulates within the payment system and the card information is never in plain sight. This minimises the risk of fraud and exposure of card information, increasing security.
Contactless Payment Statistics in Our Country
The 2023 research on card payments in our country reveals that the habit of contactless payments is gradually becoming established among users. The number of contactless transactions, which was 4 billion in 2022, has reached approximately 5.5 billion by the end of 2023, showing an increase of 39% in the past year.
On the other hand, the share of contactless transactions within face-to-face transactions made with cards reached an average of 63% in 2023, in other words, more than 6 out of every 10 card transactions are now contactless. Regarding QR payments, according to BKM records, there were 50,541,006 mobile contactless payment transactions last year.
Juniper Research data suggests that globally, the total amount of contactless payments will exceed $10 trillion by 2027, and there will be a significant increase of 221% in contactless payments between 2022 and 2026. Contactless payment methods pave the way for a world where payment transactions are smooth, secure, and integrated into our daily lives.
The future of contactless payments will not only be limited to the advancement of businesses and technology but will also be shaped by changes in consumer habits and preferences. We will continue to follow trends and innovations that make payments an effortless part of our journey in the digital world. 🚀
