Global Payments Releases its 2026 Commerce and Payment Trends Report

Rhea-AI Impact

(Low)

Rhea-AI Sentiment

(Very Positive)

Key Terms

ai-powered technical

"AI-powered" describes technology that uses artificial intelligence to perform tasks, make decisions, or analyze information automatically. It’s similar to having a highly skilled assistant that can learn from data, recognize patterns, and improve over time, helping to make processes faster and more accurate. For investors, this means better insights and more efficient operations, potentially leading to smarter investment choices.

point-of-sale technical

The point-of-sale is the place and moment where a customer completes a purchase — think of the checkout counter, card reader, or online checkout page. It includes the hardware and software that record the sale, accept payment, and update inventory and sales records. Investors care because POS systems drive revenue collection, customer data, and operational efficiency; outages, fees, or weak data from POS can directly affect sales, margins and forecasts.

embedded finance financial

Embedded finance integrates financial services directly into the products or platforms people use daily, such as online shopping or business software. It allows users to access services like payments, loans, or insurance seamlessly within those platforms, making transactions faster and more convenient. For investors, it represents a way for companies to generate new revenue streams and deepen customer relationships through integrated financial offerings.

stablecoins financial

Stablecoins are a type of digital currency designed to maintain a steady value, often linked to traditional currencies like the dollar or euro. They function like digital cash that offers the convenience of online transactions while avoiding the large price swings common with other cryptocurrencies. This stability makes them useful for investors and users who want a reliable way to store and transfer value without exposure to sudden market changes.

programmable digital currencies financial

Programmable digital currencies are electronic money that carry built‑in rules or code which automatically execute actions—like releasing payment when conditions are met or restricting how funds can be used. Think of them as a digital wallet with a programmable timer or checklist that enforces agreements without a middleman. For investors they matter because they can create new revenue models, speed transactions, lower costs and introduce novel risks tied to technology, security and regulation.

cross-border transactions financial

Cross-border transactions are business or financial dealings where money, goods, services, or ownership move between parties in different countries, like sending payment to a supplier abroad or selling shares to a foreign investor. They matter to investors because they introduce extra costs and risks — such as currency swings, different rules, taxes, and slower settlement — that can affect a company’s profits, cash flow and the value of investments, much like extra fees and delays when ordering from another country.

self-service commerce technical

Self-service commerce is when customers buy products or services and complete transactions themselves using digital tools or kiosks instead of relying on staff — for example, using a mobile app, website, or in-store terminal like a vending machine. Investors care because it can lower labor costs, speed up sales, and scale a business more easily, much like an automated checkout line increases throughput compared with a staffed counter.

embedded finance financial

12/11/2025 - 08:30 AM

Report Highlights Six Trends Shaping Everyday Commerce

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), a leading worldwide provider of payment technology and software solutions, today released its sixth-annual Commerce and Payment Trends Report. The 2026 report, based on in-depth discussions with industry experts and a survey of hundreds of global technology and payment professionals, reveals how steady investments in payment technology are creating cascading opportunities to streamline and advance commerce across the global landscape.

"The evolution of commerce and payments is often not dramatic, but rather is characterized by steady innovation building upon itself. Each advancement in payment technology opens new possibilities," said Cameron Bready, chief executive officer of Global Payments. "Our 2026 report examines how interconnected developments — from AI-powered shopping agents to the evolution of point-of-sale systems — are reshaping the payment landscape and creating opportunities for businesses of all sizes."

The report focuses on six trends that are impacting commerce, providing insights into how businesses are leveraging payment technologies and software to enhance customer experiences and drive operational efficiency.

The trends include:

AI is your shopping agent – Agentic commerce is taking shape as AI evolves from a search tool into an active purchasing agent.
Payment is everywhere – The point-of-sale revolution continues as POS systems move far beyond transaction terminals.
Embedded finance gets more accessible – Embedded finance has moved beyond bolt-on features to become core business infrastructure.
When you need your money now – A combination of technologies has jointly created a more fluid, instantaneous and low-friction mode for moving money — but it is not without risks.
Crypto's moment? – Stablecoins are taking the stage as programmable digital currencies that could reshape cross-border transactions.
Frictionless by design – Self-service commerce has changed consumer expectations, with merchants planning to automate more customer interactions.

To download the full report, visit globalpayments.com/commerce-payment-trends.

About Global Payments

Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) helps businesses around the world enable commerce and provide exceptional experiences to their customers. Our payment technology and software solutions enable merchants, issuers and developers to deliver seamless customer experiences, run smarter operations and adapt quickly to change. Because if it has anything to do with commerce, we are already on it.

With 27,000 team members across 38 countries, we have the scale and expertise to help businesses grow with confidence. Headquartered in Georgia, Global Payments is a Fortune 500® company and a member of the S&P 500.

Learn more at company.globalpayments.com and follow Global Payments on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.