Nairobi, Kenya May 4 – Africans around the continent turned to contactless card payments in the month of March, in obedience to social distancing orders effected by many governments, a new report has said.
According to a study by Mastercard, 70 percent of respondents in the Middle East & Africa say they are now using contactless payment, citing safety and cleanliness as key drivers. Consumer polling by Mastercard, studying changing consumer behaviors in 19 countries around the world, paints a picture of accelerated and sustained contactless adoption.
The act of running to the store for eggs, medicine and other necessities has changed dramatically. Shoppers around the world have had to adjust to social distancing measures and other new challenges when buying everyday supplies for their families and loved ones.
This shift in consumer behavior is particularly clear at checkout, as people express a desire for contactless and voice concerns over cleanliness and safety at the point of sale, according to the new Mastercard study.
In fact, findings from respondents in the Middle East & Africa show:
· Contactless Move to Top of Wallet – Perceptions of safety and convenience have spurred a preference for contactless cards and reminded consumers of the convenience of tapping on a global scale. Six in ten (61 percent) respondents in the region have swapped out their top-of-wallet card for one that offers contactless.
· Confidence in Contactless –The global disruption has led to increased concern from consumers on cash usage and positive perceptions towards contactless due to the peace of mind that it provides.70 percent of respondents in the region say they are now using some form of contactless payment. Amidst the pandemic, 84 percent agreed that contactless is a cleaner way to pay. Furthermore, 79 percent said contactless payment methods have been easy to adopt. Contactless payments are up to 10 times faster than other in-person payment methods, enabling customers to get in and out of stores faster.
· Contactless is Here to Stay –We are in a sustained period in which consumers are making purchases in a very focused way; it’s reinforcing contactless use in markets where adoption is more mature, and it’s stimulating use in newer markets. This trend appears to be here to stay. Nearly two in three respondents (64 percent) confirmed that the pandemic has led them to use less cash, and 81 percent said they will continue to use contactless post-pandemic.
“Social distancing does not just […]