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Is your payment system ready for 2026?
Looking back at how customers paid in 2025 can reveal what’s working, and what’s not. Whether you run a bustling café, an independent boutique, or a multi-site operation, make sure your business is ready to deliver a fast, flexible payment experience this year.
Read time: 5 mins Added: 21/01/26
Why review your payment setup?
Whether you run a bustling café, an independent boutique, a busy bar, or a multi-site operation, looking back on how customers paid in 2025 - and how smoothly those payments were processed - can highlight what’s working and what might need a refresh for 2026.
The start of the year is the perfect time to take a step back and review how your business performed last year.
Even basic payments data can be a gold mine of valuable insights. As can your team’s reflections on busy sales periods. Here’s what to look out for:
- Peak trading periods: Review transaction volumes to pinpoint potential pressure points in your payment flow. Do you need to plan upgrades, such as additional terminals or greater online processing capacity?
- Payment trends: Did contactless payments increase? Were customers using mobile wallets more often? Watching how customers pay can help shape how you prepare your checkout experience.
- Friction points: Did queues build up, or terminals lag? Did things run smoothly at the checkout online? Small things like this can have a bigger impact during peak times. Addressing them now avoids stress later.
Gathering insights now could help make sure your payment setup continues to support customer expectations in 2026. There’s a handy, downloadable Payment System Review checklist at the end of this article to help you get started.
Spotting and responding to emerging payment trends
Whilst convenience, speed, and reliability are non-negotiable for businesses, customers are showing they expect the same1. Contactless and mobile wallet payments are now the norm2, and customers expect the flexibility to choose how they want to pay3. Is your data telling you that your payment system needs to adapt to meet the needs of customers?
If you noticed more people tapping their phones or watches last year, you may need to make sure your terminals support Apple Pay and Google Pay. Even small upgrades can have the potential to make a difference to customer satisfaction and queue times.
Identifying customer demand and responding to payment trends in this way could help boost conversion and support business growth.
Future-proofing your payment system
Technology moves quickly, and so do customer expectations. While you may not need advanced analytics, offering a choice of payment methods can support a better customer checkout experience. If payment delays frustrate customers, they could abandon their purchase.
Choosing secure, dependable devices that accept contactless, mobile wallets, and Chip & PIN ensures you’re ready to offer flexibility in 2026. If you’re a business that takes bookings or deposits, consider adding a virtual terminal or secure phone payment option for added convenience.
Thinking of upgrading? Common mistakes to avoid
Reviewing or upgrading your payment stack isn’t just about looking at payments data. Here are three additional tips to help you on your way:
- Don’t wait until peak season to upgrade: Make changes when things are quieter.
- Book in some staff training: Even the best technology needs confident users. A quick refresher for your team can prevent errors and hold-ups.
- Don’t overlook connectivity: A reliable internet connection is essential for smooth transactions - especially if you use portable devices.
Small observations today can lead to big improvements tomorrow. Start the year strong by making sure your payment systems are delivering what you and your customers need, ready for growth.
Payment System Review checklist
Designed to help you regularly review performance, security, and customer experience, so you can manage payments efficiently all year round.