New way to pay

A new study has found that the new "wave-and-pay" options at checkout terminals is not yet the smart card killer solution that industry leaders had expected. Consumers are largely in the dark when it comes to understanding and embracing the new contactless technology. Auriemma Consulting Group found that only 3% of the population is familiar with the new technology. However, after reading an explanatory paragraph about contactless payments technology, consumers were 7 times more likely to want a contactless card than before they read the description. Furthermore, after reading the description of the technology, 63% of consumers would use a contactless card more than a standard credit card because of its “cool new technology” and 67% of consumers would use a contactless card more than a standard card due to its “ease of use.” About 23% of consumers would not use contactless cards because of concerns of identity theft; a robust education-focused campaign should address this concern.