Future Payment

Costs vary significantly across payment methods, and indirect costs – such as technical integration effort, payment defaults, or customer service – are often underestimated; according to a study by ibi research and EHI, they can account for up to 50% of total costs. In brick-and-mortar retail, cash often remains cheaper than electronic methods despite its handling overhead, while among card payments, credit cards are considerably more expensive than debit or girocard payments. Retailers therefore benefit from regularly analyzing their full cost structure rather than focusing on transaction fees alone.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping payment on multiple fronts at once.

Through agentic commerce, AI agents can already shop and pay autonomously on behalf of customers, for example via ChatGPT or Google Gemini: specialized protocols such as Google's AP2 or the Visa Trusted Agent Protocol capture user intent in digital contracts, match it against the shopping cart, and only then trigger payment.

At the same time, machine learning models analyze vast volumes of transaction data in real time to detect fraud – flagging unusual purchase locations, suspicious typing patterns, or questionable account links – often before any damage occurs. AI also supports individual transaction risk scoring and behavioral biometrics for authentication with no password required.

For retailers, that potentially means higher conversion rates and fewer fraud cases, but also new demands on machine-readable product data and robust security infrastructure.

The digital euro is intended to complement cash as state-backed central bank money, giving consumers a secure, direct way to pay. For retailers, that means an additional payment method – likely mandatory to accept – requiring corresponding adjustments to checkout systems and processes. The path forward is becoming more concrete: the EU legislative process is expected to conclude by the end of 2026, with a pilot phase planned for the second half of 2027 involving selected payment service providers and retailers – and a potential first issuance in 2029.

Wero is a European real-time payment system and digital wallet, operated by the European Payments Initiative as an alternative to international providers like PayPal. Since late 2025, Wero has been gradually rolling out for online retail as well, and since 2026 NFC-enabled payments have been available in brick-and-mortar stores. For retailers, Wero potentially offers lower costs and real-time settlement, though it's still in an early rollout phase with limited reach outside its launch countries of Germany, France, and Belgium.

Instant payment enables real-time transfers, with funds reaching the recipient within seconds instead of the days typical of conventional bank transfers. In retail, this opens up new possibilities – for example, instant refunds or direct account links at checkout, bypassing card payment systems entirely.

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or stablecoins are increasingly moving beyond pilot projects into everyday retail use. Retailers like SPAR Switzerland have managed to cut transaction costs by around two-thirds compared to credit cards. Payment works similarly to mobile payment apps: customers scan a QR code, authorize the transaction in their wallet, and the amount is typically converted automatically into the local currency. This can be especially appealing for internationally active retailers, since payments can be made without additional bank fees or currency exchange costs.

With QR code payments, customers scan a code at the register or on the product using their own smartphone to complete payment directly via an app or wallet. Alternatively, the retailer scans a code displayed on the customer's smartphone. The method requires no additional hardware, such as NFC-enabled terminals, making it especially cost-effective and quick to implement.

QR code payments are already widespread internationally, for instance via Alipay or WeChat Pay, and are gaining ground in Europe too, partly in combination with instant payment solutions. For retailers, this offers a flexible, easy-to-integrate addition to standard contactless and mobile payment options.

Future Payment matters for any retail business looking to future-proof its payment infrastructure and offer customers their preferred way to pay. That includes chain retailers and department stores as well as food artisans such as bakeries and butcher shops, gas stations and convenience stores, drugstores, and pharmacies. Restaurants and food service chains, shopping center operators, and wholesalers also belong to the relevant audience, as do leisure and hospitality providers, for whom smooth, international payment processing is especially important.

The topic is particularly relevant for IT and digitalization leads, as well as store and branch managers, who need to keep an eye on cost, security, and customer experience in the payment process all at once.

EuroCIS showcases the full range of modern payment technologies: from card and EFT terminals to contactless payment and chip card / chip-and-PIN systems, to mobile and online payment und biometric payment systems. The offering is rounded out by POS software, POS systems/checkouts, and POS printers, that reliably process these payment methods, along with mobile computing for payments taken right on the shop floor.

Background operations play a central role too: network operation and processing solutions ensure reliable handling behind the scenes. The lineup is completed by cash handling and management, money-counting systems, and coin and banknote counterfeit detectors – proof that cash remains a relevant field for innovation as well.

EuroCIS brings leading payment technology providers together in one place. Visitors get a comprehensive market overview and can compare different technologies and solutions side by side.

Talks, use cases, and real-world reports on the stages also offer concrete insights into how other retail businesses have already successfully modernized their payment processes. The program is rounded out by networking opportunities with providers, users, and industry experts – a chance to find new partners for your own projects.

EuroCIS 2027 takes place from February 16–18, 2027, at the Messe Düsseldorf exhibition grounds (Stockumer Kirchstrasse 61, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany). Visitor hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.