2016 - the year when the ‘real’ work started…
I have to admit that writing this end of year summary for 2016 fills me with a sense of dread. To put it simply, 2016 appeared as a pivotal year for the industry and one that was best described by one lady's turn of phrase as a ‘Annus Horribilis’. Incidentally she’s on TV this year - Christmas Day 3:00pm - everywhere…
While 2015 was a boom year for contactless in terms of introductions - Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay and the like, 2016 was the year in which introductions were well and truly over and gave way to that long, hard slog called ‘roll-out’. Sometimes embraced - sometimes not, as in the case of Apple Pay and the Australian Banks.
We also saw contactless payments move into the mainstream for transportation and not just on public transport - this was the year that the iconic London Cabs went contactless - after many years of digging their heels in. Quite a turning point for them - I think you’ll agree. In fact, the one area that DID expand in many ways was the continued roll out of contactless ticketing across may public transport authorities both in the UK and in Europe (I guess I will have to get used to writing that specific phrase more and more next year). Thanks Brexit!
The charity sector also grasped contactless for 2016 and made the very most of it; from Save the Children to the always innovative Cancer Research, there was a lot of interest in the subject within the UK this year. A thank you to all those companies and readers that came along to out Charity Roundtable event this July - a very informative day, I hope you’ll agree. Work on contactless donations continue to roll out throughout the sector as we speak - it is Christmas (the time for giving), after all.
For me, the most interesting change this last year was the slow but sure introduction of China’s Alipay as it made its way into the UK and Europe. Starting with airport shopping and gradually moving into those traditional stores that Chinese tourist list as one of their ‘must see’ venues when travelling. It makes a great deal of business sense for retailers in Europe to offer Chinese tourists the chance to pay using “their” mobile payment app. In the UK, Alipay announced they were working with Zapper to allow over 250,000 Chinese tourists visiting the UK to pay using the Alipay app in over 1,000 locations nationwide. In fact, Zapper became the first European mobile partner allowing active Alipay users to pay via the Alipay app across its full estate of affiliated Zapper businesses in the UK, Europe and North America.
The final homage to how payment has really changed in 2016 was the Amazon Go video posted two weeks ago showing the experimental shopping experience without checkout desks. While the jury is out on this particular approach, it was probably the most far-thinking, innovative, approach we have seen so far this year.
If you want hear what others have thought about 2016 in terms of payment, look no further. We have end-of-year reports from both André Stoorvogel, Head of Marketing, Rambus Bell ID and Andreas Strobel, President, Smart Payment Association and you can read both by clicking on the links here or in the columns below.
We also saw many changes in the actual corporate landscape in 2016. Things just got, I don’t know - weird? Visa Inc. took over Visa Europe with all the accompanying changes and uncertainty that a corporate change such as this creates. Other major technology players have dropped their contactless and NFC focus to concentrate on other areas, meaning that the teams we once worked with have moved and there appeared to be a greater number than usual of individuals who have changed focus and industry. It’s inevitable but sad - we have worked with these people for over a decade. But life (and the industry) goes on.
One change for next year though. We are resting the Contactless & Mobile Awards for 2017. A combination of the need for realignment and refocus has meant that, instead of focusing on our own awards event, we are supporting the NFC Forum in their 2017 Innovation Awards. You can find further details by clicking the banner below. Companies and developers using NFC in new, disruptive and innovative ways can submit award entries showcasing their work for the chance to win in one of three award categories and participate in the NFC Forum's Members Meeting Awards Reception on March 14, 2017 in Las Vegas. Finalists receive two nights paid hotel room in Las Vegas, award trophy, global recognition and networking opportunities. There is no cost to enter the competition, and the deadline for award submissions is January 11, 2017. So come on - what do you have to lose?
That’s all I want to cover this last editorial. In the words of the seasonal Queen song, ‘It’s been a long, hard year / But now it’s Christmas / Yes, It’s Christmas / Thank God it’s Christmas…
Words to end the year on.
Steve Atkins
Contactless Intelligence
P.S. We will be back in the new year on the 17th January. Until then - Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays and have a very Happy New Year.
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