Back to BlogWhat Merchants Expect from Acquirers in 2025
What Merchants Expect from Acquirers in 2025
As we step into 2025, the online payments landscape is evolving faster than ever. Merchants are starting the year with fresh goals and new opportunities, seeking acquirers that can help them thrive in this dynamic environment.
They need partners who provide stability, advanced risk assessment, and access to alternative payment methods (APMs). Let's have a look at the key priorities merchants consider when choosing an acquirer and how innovation is reshaping their expectations.
1. Stability and Trust
Merchants want to know their payments are in safe hands. A sudden disruption or system failure can mean lost sales and frustrated customers. That’s why reliability is critical.
With industry-leading up-time, built-in redundancies, and offline transaction capabilities, Shift4 ensures seamless operations—even during peak sales periods. Our geographically distributed data centers and real-time failover systems minimize downtime risks, so your business never has to worry about payment interruptions.
At Shift4, we pride ourselves on being the steady hand behind your payments. Our robust systems are engineered for resilience, ensuring every transaction is processed smoothly—no matter the volume or demand.
2. Risk Assessment
Merchants need an acquirer that prioritizes both security and reliability. With the rise of fraud and chargebacks, having advanced fraud prevention systems and tailored risk assessment tools is essential to protecting transactions and maintaining customer trust.
At Shift4, we leverage AI-powered fraud detection, real-time monitoring, and customizable risk management solutions to safeguard your business from evolving threats—keeping your payments secure and your reputation strong.
3. Local Payment Methods
Imagine a customer in Spain seamlessly completing a transaction using Bizum or a shopper in Denmark effortlessly paying with MobilePay. Providing these local payment options not only facilitates purchases but also significantly increases conversions by eliminating checkout hurdles.
Additionally, it fosters customer loyalty by aligning with their preferred payment methods, creating a more personalized and satisfying shopping experience.
Without these local options, merchants risk losing sales. Consumers today demand payment flexibility, expecting options like popular e-wallets, direct debit systems, credit cards, and even cryptocurrency to match their preferences.
With our vast network of local and cross-border payment solutions, you can expand your business globally without any limitations, meeting your customers wherever they are and driving higher conversions and loyalty.
Non-Negotiables for Merchants in 2025
Merchants are prioritizing acquirers who can align with their goals in the payments landscape. Here are the key considerations driving their decisions this year:
- Redundancy: Merchants value acquirers with multiple redundancies to avoid single points of failure in their payment systems.
- Connection to Alternative Payment Methods (APMs): Integration with various APMs ensures global reach and customer satisfaction.
- Easy Integrations: Simplified onboarding and API-based integrations save time and resources for merchants.
- AI Applications: Merchants want acquirers that leverage AI for tasks like data analysis, fraud detection, and streamlined back-office operations.
- Reconciliation: Accurate and efficient reconciliation processes improve financial transparency.
- Stability: Reliable acquirers provide consistent performance, reducing operational risks.
- High Acceptance Rates: Merchants prefer acquirers that can support high-volume transactions and optimize approval rates to ensure maximum profit.
- Industry-Specific Focus: Acquirers with expertise in specific sectors like hospitality or iGaming can better tailor solutions to merchant needs.
- Consultancy Services: Merchants value acquirers who act as strategic advisors, offering insights and best practices.
How Shift4 is Empowering Merchants to Overcome Challenges
From managing jurisdictions and compliance to increasing cross-border capabilities, our suite of solutions is crafted to address the unique challenges merchants face in 2025. Whether you’re looking for:
- Seamless local payment methods to meet global customer needs
- AI-powered tools to enhance operational efficiency and streamline decision-making
- High approval rates that ensure consistent transaction success
- Expert advisory services tailored to your industry to help your business thrive in the dynamic online payments landscape.
Looking Ahead to 2025
This year we’re poised to build on its achievements with a strategic focus on the following key areas:
Global Expansion: Building on our strong foundation, we’ll continue to strengthen our presence in emerging markets and support go-live initiatives in more countries, ensuring seamless operations as merchants expand into new regions.
Portal & Data Advancements: We’ll enhance our already powerful merchant portals and data insights, delivering even more actionable analytics to improve user experience and empower merchants to make smarter decisions.
Automating Customer Experiences: By advancing our automation capabilities, we’ll streamline processes even further, offering effortless and highly efficient customer experiences.
Infrastructure Stability: We remain committed to maintaining the reliability and robustness of our global network, ensuring uninterrupted service merchants can rely on every day.
Vertical Solutions: We’ll continue to tailor solutions to the unique demands of specific industries, helping merchants address their challenges with even greater precision.
Localized Payment Methods: Building on our extensive offering, we’ll further expand local payment methods to meet diverse regional preferences and strengthen market penetration.
Partnering for a Smarter Future
The payments ecosystem in 2025 demands more than just transactional support—it calls for true partnerships that drive growth and innovation. By delivering stability, cutting-edge technology, and industry-specific solutions, Shift4 is committed to being more than a payment processor—we’re your partner in achieving long-term success.