2018 a turning point for in-store m-payments, eMarketer

More than a third of smartphone users will this year use in-store mobile payments at least once every six months, according to eMarketer. By 2021, that figure will reach 39.8%, or roughly 1.12 billion people. eMarketer expects that 13.2% of the global population will be proximity mobile payment users this year. By 2021, that proportion is expected to grow to 17.2%. China is the world’s leader; more than 61% of mobile payment users in 2018 will be based in the country.

The main driver of growth will be rising retailer acceptance, in tandem with the rise of the big three international providers, Android Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, and China’s Wechat Pay and AliPay, which have been expanding throughout Asia-Pacific.

“This year will be a turning point for in-store mobile payments, as it’s the first year the majority of new users will come from outside of China,” says Chris Bendtsen, Senior Forecasting Analyst at eMarketer. “China is still the only country with mainstream adoption, but now consumers and retailers in other parts of the world are starting to welcome the idea of using a phone to make a purchase. The specific services and technology may differ depending on the country, but it’s the same growing reliance on smartphones in everyday life that’s driving usage worldwide.”