In the midst of shifts in Singapore's retail industry, regulatory and technology shifts are setting the stage for a new era in how businesses think about payments.
Building Trust in the Age of Agentic Commerce
Agentic commerce is now becoming a defining part of how transactions are initiated and completed, with AI agents initiating and completing transactions on behalf of consumers. The payments ecosystem thus faces a fundamental rethink of what security means.
The traditional payments infrastructure was designed for traditional card and wallet-based transactions, but with the rise of autonomous, agent-led interactions, this gap has triggered a wave of industry-wide collaboration. New security protocols from OpenAI, Visa, and Mastercard all reflect the same underlying need: establishing verifiable trust between the core stakeholders: agents, networks, and merchants.
As these standards take shape, a merchant-first approach becomes critical. Businesses must remain in command of the payment flow, the underlying data, and the customer relationship, even when the interaction is delegated to an automated agent. The future of payments will therefore depend not on isolated innovation, but on coordinated security frameworks that balance automation with clear lines of accountability. The industry is entering a phase where collaboration - rather than competition - will determine how safely and successfully agentic commerce scales.
Mobility reshapes payments and expectations
Mobile point of sale is changing what reliability and convenience look like in practice, with forty one percent of Singapore merchants noting that offering PayNow and digital wallets drives speed, convenience and repeat spending.
Security expectations are rising in in-person commerce too. The current PCI PTS 5 standard - a global framework for security concerning payment terminals - will expire in April 2026, prompting businesses to move towards upgraded PCI PTS 6-certified devices. As payment journeys become more mobile and flexible, security is no longer a background requirement. It is central to trust at the moment of purchase.
Payments now happen in aisles, at restaurant tables, in delivery routes and at pop-up events. Handheld terminals demonstrate how mobile and portable devices can scale quickly during peak demand. In hectic settings, these devices are not just about consumer convenience. They help businesses cope better with queues and turn tables faster, overall keeping operations running efficiently - making mobility a core operational need rather than a good-to-have feature. At the same time, the newest generation of purpose-built terminals provides the hardware resilience needed for fast-paced environments.
In Singapore mobile-first consumers are accelerating the adoption of flexible payment touchpoints. The direction is clear: payments infrastructure must adapt to where interactions take place and where trust is built.
Purpose becomes part of the payment experience
Payments are also becoming a way for businesses to create social impact. Twenty two percent of Singaporeans already use a round up feature at checkout, while thirty five percent of Singapore businesses intend to integrate donations into both their in-store and online journeys as part of their customer experience strategy in 2026.
The growing appetite for digital giving in a global charitable landscape was the reason why Adyen Giving was launched, allowing shoppers to round up their purchases to support causes they care about. In March 2025, Adyen Giving generated over USD 25 million in donations to worthy causes around the world.
The appeal for businesses is straightforward. Adyen absorbs all fees, so one hundred percent of each donation goes to the nonprofit. There is minimal integration work and Adyen manages contracts, routing and payouts in the background.
The outlook for 2026
As businesses navigate tighter margins and changing customer expectations, one key priority runs across the sector. Payments are becoming personal, portable and purposeful. Every transaction is now a chance to earn trust, build loyalty and create value for both customers and communities.
