Highlights

  • 97% of global retailers partner with multiple acquirers; 96% report higher revenue.
  • Mobile wallets, A2A payments, and BNPL increasingly influence acquirer selection.
  • 70% of retailers utilize AI for acquiring strategies, mainly fraud detection and analytics.

A recent survey by ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ:ACIW) and Payments Dive indicates that global retailers are increasingly working with multiple acquirers as part of their payment strategies. The survey report Unlocking Opportunity: How Payments are Powering Merchant Growth reveals that 97% of retailers work with multiple acquirers, and 96% of these retailers have experienced increased revenue.

For tier-one global retailers, the primary reason for engaging additional acquirers is to offer more payment options (53%), followed closely by expansion into new markets (51%) and improving authorization rates (48%).

Tailored Payment Approaches for Global Expansion

The research emphasizes the importance of localized payment strategies in supporting international growth. Around 85% of retailers intend to expand into new international markets over the coming 12 months. To cater to local payment preferences, 69% are onboarding local acquirers, and 58% are selecting acquirers that support region-specific payment methods.

Adoption of Alternative Payment Methods and Crypto

Alternative payment methods (APMs) are now mainstream. Mobile wallets were identified by 83% of retailers as a key factor when selecting acquirers. Other popular APMs include Account-to-Account (A2A) payments at 67% and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options at 57%.

Cryptocurrency payments are also influencing acquirer choice, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z. Around 55% of retailers noted that cryptocurrency adoption affects which acquirers they choose, driven largely by stablecoins that offer lower fees and faster settlement times.

AI Integration and Payment Orchestration Platforms

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role in payment strategies, with 70% of retailers integrating AI primarily for fraud detection (65%) and predictive analytics (63%).

Payment Orchestration Platforms (POPs) are being used—or planned by 90% of retailers—to consolidate multiple acquirers, gateways, and payment methods into a single interface. POPs assist in streamlining operations and enhancing fraud prevention.

Management Perspective

"The next wave of retail growth is being driven by AI-powered tools and insights, enabling merchants to optimize performance and increase customer engagement, while embracing emerging payment methods such as mobile wallets, A2A payments, and digital currencies," said Adriana Iordan, global head of merchant at ACI Worldwide. "As retailers adopt a multi-acquiring strategy, the growing complexity underscores the need for smarter payment infrastructure. Intelligent payments orchestration isn't just about improving efficiency; it's about unlocking new revenue streams and transforming payments into a powerful catalyst for revenue uplift."