Human interaction used to be essential for finalizing transactions at traditional point-of-sale locations.
However, there has been a shift, with unattended payments technologies increasingly becoming indispensable in today’s fast-paced retail environment.
Ellie Smith, global head of digital acceptance at Discover® Global Network, pointed to a confluence of factors propelling this trend in an interview with PYMNTS.
Drawing insights from “Unattended: The Payments Technology Shifting the Future of Commerce,” a joint PYMNTS Intelligence and Discover Global Network research study, Smith emphasized the role of technological advancements in enabling more secure and seamless unattended transactions. That, and the increasing demand from consumers for self-service solutions, has served as a driving force behind the innovation in unattended payments.
“[You] have the payment technology providers and merchants who benefit both from speed and managing their employee base,” Smith said, ultimately creating a unique, “win-win situation” facilitating rapid advancements in the unattended space.