If you requested a car trip through an app, ordered your lunch online, or accessed a streaming platform, it is likely that you have carried out an invisible payment. These simplified transactions are nearly imperceptible to the consumer.
Invisible payments are a part of the daily lives of millions of Brazilians that purchase products and services through digital platforms. Users of apps such as Uber, 99, and iFood, or streaming services like Netflix and Spotify are examples of consumers that benefit from convenient and fluid shopping experiences in a scenario where payment is no longer a barrier.
Frictionless payments in everyday life
Recurring payments and 1-click purchases are features that enable this imperceptible experience. After registering the payment method for the first purchase, the user can make the following payments using the data stored on the platform in a safe and extremely simple way. This is possible thanks to tokenization, a technology that stores data through encryption.
Read also: Recurring payments: 5 tips for efficient subscription management in Brazil
This way, the effort consumers make for future purchases is extremely reduced. For instance: when hiring a subscription plan with recurring payment methods and choosing credit or debit cards as the payment method, consumers only have to fill in their information at the checkout page once, at the first purchase, since the next charges are made automatically in the selected payment method. On the other hand, with 1-click purchases, the only interaction users have is choosing the products and clicking on the button to confirm the order, since the card information is registered in their accounts or digital wallets.
Another example of invisible payments is toll tags, which have long been used in Brazil. Originally designed to automate payments for tolls and parking lots, this technology is now also a payment option for drive-thru. Using the balance or registered payment method associated with the tag, consumers can make a purchase using the device by simply informing the clerk they wish to purchase this way.
Can payments be even more simplified?
The future of invisible payments has already arrived but can be further simplified. Enhancing the checkout experience and reducing the consumer’s steps during the purchase process is the first step. After all, enabling recurring payments or 1-click purchases is only possible after the consumer goes through the checkout page for the first time. If, during this process, consumers find extensive and complex forms, the chances of abandoning the cart increase.
In addition, combining and improving existing technologies and payment methods are the next actions to further simplify the consumer’s shopping journey. Digital wallets, such as Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, in addition to Pix, Brazil’s instant payment method, will be increasingly optimized to promote a more fluid and imperceptible experience.
Read also: Pix: numbers and next steps for the new payment method
Want to learn more?
During his talk at The Future of E-commerce, Payments edition, PagBrasil’s CEO and co-founder, Ralf Germer, explained the main examples of invisible payments in everyday life and how imperceptible transactions are can still evolve. Check out the article with the main insights (in Portuguese) or watch the video (in Portuguese)!
