Three payment predictions for 2025, and three more for 2030

We’re halfway to 2030, and the payments and business operations landscape continues to evolve at pace. Technology and consumer behaviour are reshaping traditional industries, driving businesses to adapt to a more customer-centric and integrated future.

We asked our leadership team in EMEA for their thoughts on what lies ahead for payments and business operations. Below are three key predictions for 2025 and another three for 2030.

Three predictions for 2025

1. Customers will demand tailored payment solutions

Businesses are becoming more discerning in how they select payment providers, and providers are adapting by offering solutions tailored to specific needs based on a faster customer feedback loop. Companies want more than off-the-shelf payment options; they seek systems that support unique or point-in-time business models, enable global scaling, and provide actionable insights.

Payment providers must go beyond offering basic services. Businesses want partners who listen, anticipate future needs, and provide strategic insights through robust data and analytics. This collaboration builds trust and drives long-term industry innovation, ensuring both businesses and payment providers evolve together.

The trend is clear: bespoke solutions will define the future of payments. Providers who embrace this demand for flexibility and deeper engagement will stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape.

2. The AI sector will drive the future of payment operations (but as a customer)

AI companies often start with a scrappy, fast-paced approach, channelling their energy into rapid development and staying afloat in a competitive market. However, for the growing number of AI businesses now ready to scale globally, establishing the right infrastructure will be crucial.

A more standardised and sophisticated approach to financial management will be key for these companies. Relying on a disparate array of providers and tools to manage global spending, expenses, invoicing, and reconciliation can lead to inefficiencies and chaos. This not only drains valuable resources but also detracts from the core mission of growth.

Out-of-the-box financial management solutions can play an essential role in addressing these challenges. These pre-built platforms allow businesses to quickly implement robust and intuitive systems, bypassing the time-consuming development of custom solutions. Scalable by design, they accommodate the needs of a growing business while ensuring compliance with ever-changing global financial regulations. This reduces the risk of non-compliance, which could severely harm a company’s reputation.

For AI businesses, such solutions free up resources to focus on what they do best - advancing technology and serving customers. By prioritising financial infrastructure, AI companies will not only improve operational efficiency but also position themselves to thrive in an increasingly competitive and globalised market.

The leader most freed up? The CFO.

3. CFOs will view payments holistically

In 2025, CFOs will continue to prioritise payments as a critical component that’s woven throughout their operational strategies. Integrated financial platforms will give CFOs real-time visibility into payment data, enabling them to make faster, more informed decisions; like peering into one of the many inspection chambers in their payments infrastructure.

The shift from fragmented payment systems to unified platforms will enhance efficiency and reduce risks. CFOs will champion solutions that enable seamless global operations, improving forecasting, risk management, and overall financial performance. Crucially, CFOs will be more reluctant to have payments functions running outside of their core systems and domain, whether that’s collecting customer funds or paying expenses.

As strategic leaders, CFOs will play a pivotal role in driving innovation, ensuring businesses remain agile in an increasingly competitive global market.

Three predictions for 2030

1. Embedded payments will revolutionise traditional industries

Industries like automotive, retail, and SaaS are transforming through the adoption of embedded payments. Digital-first services such as ride-hailing and food delivery have led the charge, but now traditional sectors are catching up, integrating payments to streamline processes and enhance customer experiences.

In sectors like automotive, the payment process has historically been a point of friction. Buying or selling a car involves substantial financial stakes, and issues like clunky platforms or confusing error messages can disrupt transactions. Embedded payment systems are resolving these pain points by enabling seamless, secure, and intuitive payment flows.

For businesses, this means more than just smooth transactions - it’s about delivering trust and convenience to customers. By adopting end-to-end platforms with features like same-day payouts and multi-currency support, traditional industries can stay competitive and exceed customer expectations.

2. Bundled services will become standard

Research shows that 76% of SMBs are willing to pay more for one-stop solutions that can be accessed through a single vendor. It’s no surprise then that fintech providers are bundling services, offering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) integrated solutions that combine payments, analytics, invoicing, and more. This shift is driven by the convenience and efficiency these bundles provide, allowing businesses to reduce costs, streamline operations, and focus on growth.

SMBs are particularly drawn to the operational simplicity and cost savings bundled services offer. Instead of juggling multiple subscriptions, they can manage everything through one platform, gaining a unified view of their financial health.

As fintech companies refine these offerings, SMBs will continue to benefit from greater scalability and access to the tools they need to thrive. Bundled services are not just a trend - they’re a cornerstone of the future fintech ecosystem.

3. Global marketplaces will attract merchants away from their regional-first strategies

The global gross merchandise volume (GMV) of online marketplaces is expected to reach $3.8 trillion by 2025 and continue growing into 2030. For merchants, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the allure of online marketplaces lies in the potential to easily reach new geographical markets. However, many are discovering that their regional-first strategies have created structural inefficiencies, hampering their ability to expand globally.

To capitalise on the opportunities these marketplaces offer, merchants must address key operational barriers. The first step is catering to customer preferences by enabling local currency and payment method acceptance. These adjustments reduce friction, lower transaction fees, and significantly enhance the customer experience - key factors in driving cross-border success.

2025 will mark a shift as merchants actively work to resolve these inefficiencies and adopt a global-first approach. This includes reversing the constraints imposed by regional strategies and fully leveraging the international access that marketplaces provide. Beyond payments, merchants will need to develop expertise in managing multi-currency operations and navigating the complexities of global business.

Collaboration with the right partners will be critical. By working with payment providers and financial platforms designed to handle cross-border complexities, merchants can streamline operations and reduce the challenges of expanding into new regions. As SMEs educate themselves and embrace these strategies, they’ll be better equipped to unlock the full potential of global marketplaces, turning structural challenges into opportunities for growth.

The road ahead

The rest of this decade promises a significant transformation in payments and business operations. In 2025, customer-centric solutions, the AI sector and a renewed CFO focus on payments, will demand greater sophistication and relevance for their payment operations. Looking further ahead, bundled services, embedded finance, and a global-first approach among merchants will shape both the global and local payments landscapes by 2030.