In Austria too, according to an online survey of 1,000 people, people are increasingly using their smartphones when paying for goods or services. Now one in four people (25 percent) takes out their mobile phone when it comes to paying at the cash register, while two years ago this was only one in six (17 percent). This is stated in the latest “Visa Payment Monitor” published on Thursday. 61 percent now prefer digital payment methods.
When it comes to payments, they find it especially important that it is done quickly (64 percent) and that they have a good overview of their expenses (58 percent). But although nine in ten consumers say they will continue to pay contactless after the pandemic, digital payments will not work everywhere in 2023. It happens to every third person that only cash is accepted at least once a month. This happens most often in small stores (22 percent) and in various markets (20 percent).
While 61 percent of people in Austria prefer digital payment methods in everyday life, according to the credit card company’s research, a quarter (26 percent) now actively avoid stores where they cannot pay digitally. Two years ago, only 19 percent talked about this.
40 percent still prefer cash
Only about 40 percent of respondents prefer cash. However, when it comes to tipping, it is more likely to be used (49 percent) than non-cash methods (33 percent), even if the bill is paid digitally. The most commonly cited reason is the concern that digital gifts will not reach service personnel (58 percent). More than one in five people (22 percent) also use tips to get rid of change in a sensible way.
Compared to previous editions of the online survey commissioned by Visa from forsa with 1,000 users over the age of 18, this time the younger generation under 36 continued to make greater use of digital payment methods. Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) would rather leave the house without a wallet than without a smartphone. In contrast, the majority of people over 60 (59 percent) would be more likely to take their wallet with them. Among the Austrian population as a whole, smartphones (51 percent) have an advantage over wallets (44 percent) for the first time this year.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
