ACI Worldwide has released a new survey with Payments Dive, revealing that flexible payment options are now critical drivers of retail revenue growth. The report, “Unlocking Opportunity: How Payments are Powering Merchant Growth,” shows that 97% of global retailers work with multiple acquirers, and 96% report higher revenue as a result.
As the payments industry evolves, global retailers are expanding multi-acquirer strategies to remain competitive. The study highlights growing adoption of alternative payment methods (APMs) such as real-time payments, mobile wallets, and cryptocurrencies, alongside increasing use of AI in payment operations.
Multi-Acquirer Strategies Fuel Retail Success
The research found that 53% of tier-one retailers cite the need for more payment options as their top reason for adding acquirers. Additionally, 51% aim to expand into new markets, while 48% focus on improving authorization rates. Impressively, 86% of retailers report cost savings from working with multiple acquirers.
Global expansion is also driving localization. About 85% of surveyed retailers plan to enter new markets within the next year. To meet customer expectations, 69% are adding local acquirers, and 58% are prioritizing those supporting regional payment methods.
Crypto, APMs, and AI Transform Retail Payments
Cryptocurrency is quickly gaining traction, especially among Millennials and Gen Z shoppers. More than 55% of retailers say crypto payments influence acquirer selection. The rise of stablecoins, with lower fees and faster settlement, fuels this interest.
Meanwhile, 83% of retailers consider mobile wallets a top priority when selecting acquirers. Other popular payment types include Account-to-Account (A2A) payments (67%) and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options (57%).
AI adoption is also accelerating. Around 70% of retailers use AI in acquiring strategies, mainly for fraud detection (65%) and predictive analytics (63%) to enhance transaction security and customer experience.
Payment Orchestration Platforms Simplify Complex Systems
Managing multiple acquirers poses challenges as retailers scale. To address this, 90% of businesses are adopting Payment Orchestration Platforms (POPs) that centralize acquirers, gateways, and payment methods through a unified interface. These platforms streamline operations and strengthen fraud prevention efforts.
“The next wave of retail growth relies on AI-powered tools that enhance efficiency and customer engagement,” said Adriana Iordan, Global Head of Merchant at ACI Worldwide. “As multi-acquirer strategies expand, intelligent payments orchestration will unlock new revenue streams and transform payments into a powerful growth engine.”
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News Source: Businesswire.com
