2015 will (finally!) be the year when mobile payment platforms become commonplace. Starbucks now processes 7 million mobile payments a week in the US. Venmo processed USD 700 million in Q3 2014, up 500% in a year. Apple Pay saw 1 million cards registered in its first three days after launch. And by 2017, there are forecast to be 450 million mobile payment users, up from 245 million at the end of 2013 (Juniper Research, June 2014).
One practical opportunity? FAIR SPLITTING, and the use of new forms of real-time tools and data to help consumers seamlessly share costs. And not just for products, but services and experiences, too.
Need more data to convince your boss/client? A recent study found that 45% of Millennials in the US & UK would like to use their mobiles to split bills with friends (JWT, October 2014).
Your challenge for 2015: turn the moment of payment into a moment of pleasure for your customers.