Mobile payments top 975 million pounds in the UK

In-store mobile payments in the UK reached 975 million pounds in 2017, representing a 328 percent year-on-year increase, according to Worldpay, the UK’s largest payment processor.

Worldpay’s data reveals that the number of in-store contactless transactions made via a mobile device totalled 126 million last year, with the amount spent topping 975 million pounds. This increase is due to almost of third of consumers now taking advantage of their phone’s payment capabilities, with around 59 percent of in-store transactions now paid with a smart device.

The supermarket sector has been an important driver in the uptake of digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, with pubs, bars and restaurants making up a further 12.5 percent of the total spend.

But according to Worldpay’s analysis, shoppers are now starting to purchase higher value items via their smartphones, as in the second half of 2017, the average spend per transaction increased by 11 percent, with a notable lift-off following the increase in retailers accepting ‘limitless’ Apple Pay transactions in May.

This has led to luxury department stores and high-end boutiques becoming one of the fastest growing sectors for mobile payments, although the volume of mobile transactions in this category remains a small fraction of the total, just 2.9 percent, however, its share of the market has more than doubled since last year.

In-store mobile transactions increase 328 percent year-on-year in 2017

James Frost, chief marketing officer at Worldpay said: “Digital wallets are growing in popularity every day, but what’s interesting is the shift in the way people are shopping with their smartphone. No longer just restricted to light bites and post-work pints, mobile contactless payments are becoming increasingly popular for higher-end purchases too, as manufacturers integrate more sophisticated security features into handset designs.”

The research also adds that more than half of consumers can now see a future where mobile replaces their card within the next five years. This number rises to 65 percent for Gen Z, 16-20 year-olds, suggesting that digital transactions could soon spell the death of the traditional wallet.

Frost added: “Contactless cards have paved the way for mobile payment adoption, but there is still work to be done before mobile “tap and go” becomes ubiquitous. We know that three-quarters of consumers still prefer plastic when it comes to making a contactless payment, which may stem from our reliance on a physical wallet for other aspects of the checkout process, such as collecting loyalty points, or showing ID.

“But that is all set to change over the next 12 months. The DVLA is set to launch a digital version of the traditional driving license later this year, and with more businesses looking to integrate their loyalty programs with mobile wallets, we can expect the ease of carrying just one device to win out for consumers very soon.”

Images: courtesy of Samsung Pay