Power to the People: Digitized Payments Make Payments Safer and Easier

The first electronic payment debuted way back in 1871 when Western Union used a telegraph network to “wire” money between Boston, New York City and Chicago, and we sure have come a long way since then. And while wire transfers have been commonplace for centuries, what we now call digital payments really began showing their worth with continued spectacular growth over the last several years. They present an ultra-secure, convenient way to make payments anytime, from anywhere. They’re so convenient and secure, in fact, that Forbes refers to them as “the backbone of global commerce.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic first made contactless payments the norm, overall adoption of digital payments has skyrocketed. According to a report by Statista, the total transaction value of digital payments is expected to reach $20.37 trillion by the end of 2025, and should hit $36.75 trillion by 2029. This exponential surge in growth is driven by the increasing demand for seamless and secure payment methods, which cater to consumers’ ever-increasing preference for convenience and safety.

In addition to purely digital transactions, digital payments can also be facilitated through physical means. This includes using a card number or a physical card embedded with a secure element, such as a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip or near-field communication (NFC) technology. These technologies allow for the digital delivery of payment data through a physical medium, blending the tangible and intangible aspects of transactions. This hybrid approach ensures that even in-person payments maintain the same level of security and convenience as their fully digital counterparts, catering to a wide range of consumer preferences and scenarios.

What Are Digital Payments?

Consumers are increasingly growing accustomed to all types of digitized experiences. With a few taps on your smartphone, a pizza can arrive within minutes—no phone call, cash or even answering the door, in some cases. This convenience offered through digital experiences also creates an added layer of safety, allowing transactions without any needed human interaction. And as digital experiences have become more ubiquitous, consumers have come to expect them to be available anytime, on any channel—especially when it comes to making payments.

The payments process plays a pivotal role in each customer’s experience. According to  CSG’s 2025 State of the Customer Experience report, personalization was the biggest driver of customer loyalty in 2024. In terms of staying competitive, digital payments are no longer a nice-to-have—they are a must.

Benefits of Digital Payments

There are several benefits for both merchants and customers when it comes to digital and contactless payments.

1. Convenience: When asked why they wanted contactless options, 2% of respondents cited convenience as their primary reason for using contactless payments. Contactless payments remove the need for signatures.
2. Enhanced experience: Digital payments offer a more seamless customer experience while cutting operational costs for merchants.
3. Security: Contactless payments featuring RFID- and NFC-enhanced technologies are secure, especially when paired with an enterprise-grade point-of-sale (POS) terminal with advanced security.

Choose CSG Forte for Digital Payment Solutions

From managing employees to balancing the books to creating an exceptional customer experience, merchants have more than enough to worry about—partnering with a payments provider with the right solution helps.  At CSG Forte, we offer a full suite of solutions to make digitizing payments scalable, secure and convenient.

Our V400C Plus device makes contactless payments easy. The device was designed with merchants and their customers in mind by offering enhanced features like a color touchscreen interface, wi-fi connectivity and thermal printing. This technology allows merchants to smoothly conduct transactions, providing an exceptional customer experience. Alternately, for merchants that require flexibility or portability, the Magtek Dynaflex II Go card reader can help you accept EMV cards and digital wallets while either located at a fixed setting or on the move.

The V400C Plus can be used as a standalone device, be connected to a point-of-sale application or seamlessly integrate with CSG Forte products. Merchants can accept every major credit card, as well as mobile wallet payments, like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Combined with our cloud-based platform Dex, merchants can gain insights into what payments customers prefer and allow them to easily manage the entire transaction lifecycle. Reach out today to learn more about how offering secure and convenient contactless payment payments powered by the right technology can get your company more satisfied customers and increase your revenue.