________________________________________________________________________________________________ Main
Interview also enables dynamic pricing, upselling and bolsters inventory optimization. Reliability matters as much as features. In recent independent research in the US, UK and Australia, 43 percent of consumers reported they had experienced a checkout issue in the past 12 months, which is why resilience is a design priority in unattended environments. As a result, unattended retail is emerging as a strategic growth channel for F & B brands looking to scale efficiently while delivering fast, autonomous purchasing experiences.
What role does payment orchestration play in creating seamless experiences for F & B customers? Payment orchestration is a critical component in delivering seamless experiences across the food and beverage sector, especially as customers move between mobile ordering, kiosks, drive-thru and in-store checkout. TNS’ Complete Commerce approach brings orchestration together with acceptance and connectivity to create a unified payments strategy. The most common pain points we see are consistent across markets. A third of consumers dislike being forced to create an account, 22 percent cite too many steps, and 21 percent say their preferred option is missing. Orchestration helps by adding methods quickly, simplifying flows and routing for higher success.
With platforms such as TNSPay Orchestration, payments can be routed to the best-performing acquirer in real time, designed to improve transaction success rates and reduce latency. By removing complexity in the background, payment orchestration helps F & B businesses provide fast, secure and consistent experiences across every touchpoint.
How are small specialty retailers using payments technology to compete with larger chains? Smaller specialty retailers are increasingly using modern payment technology to enhance customer experience and compete effectively with larger chains. By leveraging cloud-based platforms, they can access enterprise-grade capabilities such as contactless acceptance, recurring billing, loyalty integration and realtime routing. Through scalable solutions like TNS’ Complete Commerce approach, which brings together acceptance, connectivity and orchestration, these retailers can deploy advanced payment features without heavy infrastructure investment.
Behavior varies by age, but even among 55-plus there is measurable self-service use, while younger shoppers lean more toward online and unattended. Nearly 59 percent of consumers also value fast in-store Wi- Fi, supporting richer digital journeys. Many smaller retailers are also using transaction insights to understand customer behavior and tailor offers accordingly. As a result, payments are becoming a strategic differentiator rather than a purely operational necessity.
What are the biggest challenges for F & B businesses when adopting new payment methods? One of the biggest challenges is balancing innovation with operational stability. F & B businesses often operate across multiple channels and in high-volume environments, so introducing new payment methods must not disrupt service or slow down transactions. Integration complexity is another hurdle, particularly when legacy systems are involved. Ensuring security and compliance with standards such as PCI DSS remains essential, especially as fraud threats evolve.
Consumer expectations are clear. One in three wants guest checkout, 22 percent want fewer steps, and 21 percent want their preferred method available. Cash also remains material at roughly 15 percent to 16 percent, so inclusive design still matters. This is where managed payment platforms can help by reducing the technical burden while providing quick access to new capabilities.
foodchainmagazine. com 13