Tag: mobile wallet

Retailers have specific demands for mobile wallet adoption

A new ACI Worldwide report has shown that there are two major priorities for these payment apps.

The results of a new ACI Worldwide survey have now been released and, within them, it has been revealed that retailers considering mobile wallet apps are most interested in two major issues: security and the ability to use rewards programs.

That said, between those leading issues, it is the mobile security features that tops the list.

Among the retailers who responded to the survey, two out of every three said that the security aspect of mobile wallet apps is their leading concern. This demand from retailers for mobile payments solutions that provide adequate security should help to assuage some of the concerns that consumers have also expressed with regards to adopting these new types of transaction technologies.

That said, beyond security, there were a number of other expectations retailers had for mobile wallet apps.

Mobile Wallet AdoptionSeventy two percent of the surveyed retailers said that security was their top issue for their mobile commerce apps, in general, but when it came to payments, that figure rose to 75 percent. However, just slightly less – 71 percent – said that they wanted the integration of loyalty options into m-commerce apps, while 55 percent were concerned about that issue with mobile payments apps. Another 55 percent said it was important to be able to achieve seamless ordering through the use of the shopping applications but for wallet apps, that was seen as important only among 46 percent of the respondents.

According to the ACI Worldwide vice president, product line manager, Lynn Holland, in the company’s release on the study, “The proliferation of retail digital channels demonstrates the trend that ‘clicks upstage bricks,’ but even consumers shopping at traditional brick and mortar stores are increasingly using in-store browsing capabilities, which puts the power of information in sales associates’ and consumers’ hands.”

Holland also pointed out that no matter the channel, the results of the research indicated that over m-commerce and mobile wallets, payment security remains a top concern among retailers considering the use of this tech, especially in issues such as point-to-point encryption and tokenization.

WeChat mobile payments rolls out in Hong Kong

The popular messenger app has just launched this new wallet service to users in this market.

The exceptionally poplar messenger app has now announced the launch of a WeChat mobile payments service that is now available to be used as a wallet application by consumers in Hong Kong.

The WeChat Pay service provides Hong Kong consumers with the ability to pay for purchases within the app.

The idea behind the WeChat mobile payments features is that as consumers use the app, they can buy what they want without ever having to exit the application. Essentially, it means their mobile wallet goes where they do while they’re using their smartphone or tablet. According to the Tencent head of Hong Kong and Taiwan Office, International Business Group, Norman Tam, “We are so excited to bring WeChat Pay, a new mobile experience that allows users to pay on the go in the simplest way, to Hong Kong.”

Tam explained that WeChat mobile payments provide both seamlessness and security to m-commerce.

WeChat Mobile Payments - Image of Hong KongHe explained that the mobile app has been specifically customized for users in the Hong Kong market. He said that while WeChat Pay gives users a solid mobile wallet option, it also provides “our partners with the benefit of a direct connection to WeChat’s massive community that other payment platforms cannot provide. This is truly a triple-win for us all.”

In order to be able to use the WeChat Pay service, users must enter their Visa or MasterCard information into their accounts in the app. In order to boost the security level of the transactions, users are then prompted to create a unique six digit PIN that they will need to remember and use every time they want to complete a purchase transaction within the app.

The setup process is meant to be quick and easy. Once it is complete, users gain the ability to immediately purchase products and services by tapping their smartphones on point of sale reader devices. Upon the launch of the WeChat mobile payments service, users are able to buy transportation fares, tickets, and travel products. According to reports on the new feature, there will be additional categories coming soon.