The Future of Merchant Payments: Localized, Intelligent & Global

Payments as a Growth Engine

Payments used to be thought of as a “back-end” function — something that happened quietly after a customer clicked “buy.” But today, payments are at the heart of business growth.

Global e-commerce sales are expected to hit US $6.42 trillion by 2025 (emarketer). That growth comes with massive opportunity — but also with complexity. Customers expect localized payment experiences, regulators demand compliance across markets, and merchants face real costs when payments aren’t optimized.

Forrester highlights how merchant payment providers are central to growth. In their Q4 2025 Merchant Payment Provider Landscape, they include Reach as a solution to the complexity merchants face worldwide.

Why Merchant Payments Matter More Than Ever

The numbers are clear: payments are no longer “just” operational. They’re strategic.

• E-commerce is booming. Online consumer goods spending exceeded US $4.12 trillion in 2024, growing 14.6% year over year (The Global Statistics).
• Digital payments are mainstream. Nearly 90% of consumers in the U.S. and Europe report using some form of digital payments in the past year (McKinsey).
• Payments are fragmented. More than 25 payment types across 48 countries drive over 90% of global GDP, creating operational headaches for merchants (McKinsey).

As Forrester notes, merchants rely on providers not just to process transactions, but to ensure payments are secure, compliant, and successful. That’s a tall order in today’s fragmented landscape — and it’s exactly why payments are now a growth lever, not just a cost center.

Three Trends Shaping the Future of Merchant Payments

1. Localized Payments = Higher Conversions

Brands that don’t localize lose conversions. In fact, merchants who adapt checkout experiences to local expectations consistently report double-digit improvements in completion rates.

Consumers want to pay in a way that feels natural. That means:

• Local currencies.
• Familiar payment methods (like Afterpay, Shop Pay Installments, Klarna, or local debit schemes).
• Seamless checkout experiences embedded in their preferred channels.

Forrester highlights localization as a critical capability for providers — and it’s one we see every day with merchants expanding globally.

2. Intelligence & Automation Are Non-Negotiable

Payments aren’t just about processing anymore. They’re about optimization.

• AI and machine learning are being deployed to improve authorization rates, detect fraud, and dynamically route transactions.
• Data-driven insights are turning payments into a revenue lever — helping merchants understand where money is being lost and where conversion can be gained.
• Composable architectures and API-driven models allow brands to innovate without ripping apart their existing systems (Capgemini).

As Forrester’s research reinforces, the future belongs to providers who don’t just move money — they actively help merchants grow.

3. Global Scale, Local Trust

Merchants want to expand fast — into new regions, new channels, new categories. But the reality is that every market comes with new layers of regulation, tax complexity, and compliance requirements.

• In the U.S., sales tax compliance alone is a major operational burden.
• In Europe, PSD2 requirements demand stronger authentication and stricter standards.
• Across APAC and LATAM, local card schemes and regulatory frameworks add further complexity.

Forrester highlights this tension between global ambition and local compliance. Payments providers who solve for both enable merchants to scale confidently and sustainably.

How Reach Fits In

Being included in Forrester’s Merchant Payment Providers Landscape, Q4 2025 isn’t just recognition — it’s validation of how Reach is addressing exactly these challenges:

• Localized checkout experiences that reduce abandonment and boost conversions.
• Global tax and compliance coverage that removes operational headaches.
• Data-driven optimization that helps merchants cut costs and grow revenue.
• Scalable infrastructure that supports expansion without compromise.

By staying merchant-focused, we’ve built solutions that align directly with the trends Forrester points to as shaping the future of payments.

The Road Ahead

Being named in Forrester’s Landscape is a milestone — but it’s not the destination.

For merchants, the next chapter of growth will be written by those who:

• Offer truly localized payment experiences.
• Harness intelligence to optimize not just transactions, but revenue.
• Scale globally while navigating compliance complexity with ease.

At Reach, this has been our mission from day one. We’re proud of the recognition, but even more excited about what’s ahead: helping merchants unlock new levels of growth in the rapidly evolving payments landscape.

To learn more book a demo!

Disclaimer

Forrester does not endorse any company, product, or service depicted in its research publications.