Click to pay: frictionless payments, real results
One big shift in European payments is the rise of Click to Pay – a fast, secure way for customers to check out using stored card details. Customers can pay with just a click instead of manually entering their information every time, whether using a credit or debit card. This cuts friction, speeds up transactions, and boosts conversion.
As Maarten Kolenbrander, Head of Merchants & Acceptance Netherlands, at Visa, explains: “Thanks to Click to Pay, European businesses see up to 10% increase in conversion rate. It helps to deliver profitability, security, and omnichannel/unified commerce.”
Beyond convenience, Click to Pay also helps strengthen security – a growing priority as fraud risks rise and regulations evolve.
Tokenisation: seamless security, stronger trust
Customers want fast, smooth checkouts. And they also want to know their data's safe. That’s where tokenisation – a new ecommerce payment trend – comes in.
Instead of storing or sending real card details, tokenisation swaps them out for a unique, encrypted code – a token. This keeps your checkout seamless while reducing the risk of fraud and data breaches.
And there’s more on the way. Biometric authentication is set to take secure payments even further.
“Biometric authentication will transform payments,” says Guido Berben, Manager of Digital Acceptance at Mastercard. “Using passkeys to offer frictionless experiences makes authenticating payments as simple as unlocking a phone, eliminating the need for redirects to external environments."
Regulations like PSD3 are on the horizon and will tighten security requirements across Europe. But don’t wait. Adopting tools like tokenisation and biometrics now doesn’t just prepare you for what’s coming – it builds trust with the customers visiting your shop today.
Buy now, pay later: here to stay
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) isn’t just a trend – it’s a regular part of how people pay. Our own data shows that nearly half of consumers (47%) use BNPL more often, 41% use it regularly.
But usage is shifting. Shoppers are more selective, sticking with providers they trust and using BNPL for bigger, planned purchases. That makes trust, transparency, and a seamless experience more critical than ever.
“Better app experiences and AI-powered personalisation are shifting consumer expectations,” says Riverty’s Product Lead, Alex Scheibel. “Consumers increasingly favour cohesive, branded experiences across all channels. For retailers, this means embedding BNPL solutions in your brand experience to drive trust.”
In 2025, it’s not just about offering BNPL – it’s about doing it well.
Explore the data and more about this in our BNPL trends and usage guide.
Payment data: insights that drive growth
Your checkout isn’t just where you get paid – it’s where you learn what works. In 2025, it’s always a good idea to track and use your payment data to reveal exactly where customers drop off, what payment methods they prefer, and how to boost your conversion rate.
“Continuously using available payment data to increase the key success rate metric, 'payments ÷ payment attempts,' allows companies to pinpoint where, how, and what customers want to purchase," explains Maarten (from Visa – back here to share his expertise again).
Start by looking at the metrics that are likely to help you most: authentication success rates, payment method usage, and where shoppers abandon carts. Then, use these insights to fine-tune your flow, reduce friction, and personalise your customer experience. You will convert more customers.
Open Banking: big potential, fewer barriers
Open Banking and bank transfer methods are gaining ground – and fast. With lower costs, faster settlements, and better control over cash flow, they can help transform how your business gets paid. But the road to adoption can feel unclear.
Across Europe, the landscape of bank-based payments is fragmented and messy. Decommissioned methods, inconsistent standards, and a lack of localised support make it hard to know what to offer – or how to integrate it.
As Iryna Agieieva, Head of Payments at Mollie, explains: “The hurdle at the moment is navigating the fragmented European landscape of bank-based payment methods. Here at Mollie we’re actively working on a system to help businesses ensure they’re using the right methods at the right time.”
That includes guaranteed payments with Pay by Bank, local IBANs, SEPA Instant support, and more.
Because we believe payments should power growth – not slow it down. So, we see it as our job to help you remove friction, simplify complexity, and scale across Europe with the right tools. And Open Banking isn’t just the future – it’s part of building smarter payments today.
Digital wallets: fast, familiar, and everywhere
Digital wallets aren’t new — but they’re quickly becoming the default. In 2025, they’re predicted to account for 50% of ecommerce payments, up from 40% in 2021. That growth shows no signs of slowing down.
Shoppers love the speed and simplicity. Whether it’s Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal, they can check out in seconds – no cards, no forms, just a tap or a scan.
For your business, meeting that expectation matters. Offering digital wallets means fewer drop-offs, faster checkouts, and a payment experience that feels familiar and secure.
In-person payments: software first, hardware optional
In-person payments are changing fast. Businesses are moving away from clunky, hardware-locked setups to flexible, software-driven solutions that are easier to scale and cheaper to run.
We believe hardware should be optional – not mandatory. You shouldn’t need to buy a box to get paid. Whether using a terminal, your phone, or a payment link, taking payments should be as flexible as your business.
As Iryna explains: “We believe the future of POS payments is software-first. That means allowing businesses to accept payments however works best for them – with a terminal, their phone, or with no extra hardware."
At Mollie, we’re building in-person solutions for businesses of all sizes:
For smaller businesses: Tap to Pay turns a phone or tablet into a payment terminal – no extra hardware needed.
For larger businesses: Lightweight, modern terminals help staff take payments quickly without exposing your payment system’s entire backend.
In 2025 and beyond, the future of POS is about flexibility. And we’re building the tools to make it effortless.
Localised payments: meet customers where they are
As you expand into new markets, one thing becomes clear fast: localisation isn’t optional, it’s essential. This is driving one of the biggest cross-border payment trends. And it means offering the correct payment methods in the right language, backed by trust.
Shoppers want payment experiences that feel familiar. In the Netherlands, that might mean iDEAL. In Belgium, it’s likely Bancontact. Customers who see their preferred options at checkout are more likely to convert.
And you can even go further, as Colleen Harrison, Partner Marketing Lead at Woo, explains: “Focus on localisation, which goes beyond translation; it involves adapting product offerings, payment methods, and cultural elements to resonate with local audiences. Tailor your website and marketing efforts to specific regions to significantly boost customer engagement.”
The bottom line? To scale across Europe, you need to go local. That means blending regional preferences with globally recognised methods to create smoother journeys and stronger results.
