What is Tap to Pay and how can it benefit your business?

Tap to Pay is a contactless payment method that allows shoppers to securely complete transactions by tapping their credit card, debit card, or smart device against a payment terminal or mobile device. 

This way, they don’t have to swipe their card or use cash. It’s an easier and faster way to pay, enhancing the overall shopping experience.   

The rise of Tap to Pay and cashless payments 

In recent years, contactless and cashless payments have seen a global surge in popularity:

• Singapore’s contactless payment market was valued at SGD$318 million in 2025, and projected to grow to SGD$424 million by 2032.

• The UK had around 1.57 billion contactless card transactions as of June 2026.

• 42% of adults in the US no longer use cash for purchases in a traditional week.

• In 2023, almost 80% of adults in Singapore owned and used mobile wallets.

• Digital wallet users will exceed 5.2 billion worldwide in 2026.

The takeaway? Shoppers in Singapore are increasingly looking for more flexible payment options, and businesses who adopt Tap to Pay technology can see massive growth. 

Adyen’s Tap to Pay is a go-to payments solution for leading businesses. Easy install. Secure transactions. Fast checkouts. Contact our team to learn more.

Tap to Pay works by using near-field communication (NFC) technology to wirelessly transmit encrypted payment data between a shopper's payment device or card and the business’s payment terminal or compatible smart device. 

1. The business initiates the transaction. The business enters the exact purchase amount into their point-of-sale (POS) system, payment terminal, or a compatible smartphone acting as a terminal.

2. The shopper presents their payment card or device. The shopper holds their NFC-enabled credit card, debit card, smartphone, or wearable device within a few centimeters of the merchant's payment reader.

3. The devices establish a connection. The NFC technology securely transmits the encrypted payment details from the shopper's device to the payment terminal in less than a second.

4. The payment network authorizes the transaction. The payment gateway immediately routes the encrypted data to the acquiring bank and the major card networks for approval.

5. The payment is confirmed. The merchant receives an instant approval notification on their screen, and the checkout process is complete.

Because these transactions rely on tokenization, the actual card details are never stored directly on the merchant's device. This ensures greater security against fraud while maintaining a smooth payment flow. 

Plus, since Tap to Pay is software-based, you can create customized in-person payment options across locations — turning compatible devices like phones, tablets, and POS systems into a flexible terminal fleet.

Is Tap to Pay safe?

Yes, Tap to Pay is a secure way to make payments and is less susceptible to fraudulent activities that can occur after swiping your card. 

With Adyen’s Tap to Pay for iPhone, payment transactions are encrypted and payment data isn’t stored locally on your phone. 

Encryption is a protective measure used to protect personal data from being stolen or compromised — making every transaction safer. 

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Businesses of all types are using Tap to Pay: 

• Platforms like Lightspeed, where POS integrations need to be reliable and scalable. 

• Large retailers like Lululemon, where staff can go directly to customers who are ready to buy, allowing them to bust queues.

• Hospitality brands like Belmond, where effortless check-ins and checkouts can be a game-changer for guest satisfaction.

• Food and beverage SaaS companies, where dynamic payment options give customers more freedom.

3 benefits of using Tap to Pay for your business

The top three benefits of using Tap to Pay, regardless of your industry, are: 

1. Drive revenue 

With Tap to Pay, you remove the dependence on traditional payments hardware and minimize their expenses. 

Not only does this reduce costs but Tap to Pay’s fast setup facilitates more seamless rollouts and scalability. 

2. More flexible payment options 

Shoppers are increasingly seeking more flexible payment options. 

With Tap to Pay, you can transform any compatible device (e.g., smartphone) into a terminal — creating a more simplified and effortless checkout experience. 

It gives shoppers an easier and faster way to purchase and lets businesses cater to their customers. 

For example, say a customer is trying on shoes near a display area. Rather than queuing to buy them, they can tap their payment method on your smartphone and walk out the door. Simple. 

3. Secure and fast checkouts 

Payment fraud can have a massive impact on efficiency and consumer trust — making security an important factor for brands. 

As mentioned earlier, Tap to Pay is a secure payment solution that speeds up checkouts and enhances the overall customer experience. 

And for businesses, a happy customer is key.

Whether you’re using a smartwatch or digital wallet, these are the most common methods for making a contactless payment:

1. Debit and credit cards with NFC 

Many new debit and credit cards now have built-in NFC technology, allowing them to easily accept contactless payments. 

Once the shopper “taps” or hovers their card near the compatible device, the transaction goes through. 

2. Digital and mobile wallets

Digital wallets, like Apple Pay or Google Pay, let customers make contactless and online payments — with their mobile phones. 

And according to our retail report, 49% of shoppers use digital wallets and other payment methods that don’t involve cash, cards, or bank payments. 

How does it work? Similar to using an NFC-integrated physical payment card, customers simply open their digital wallet on their phone, and “tap” or hover it to make a payment. 

3. Smartwatches and other wearables 

Where digital wallets mean you don’t have to carry a physical payment card, smartwatches take convenience to another level. 

With this type of payment method, all customers need is a compatible smartwatch or wearable, and voila — they can easily “tap” or hover it to pay.

The speed and contactless nature of Tap to Pay is resonating with consumers and businesses alike. 

As its widespread adoption and acceptance continue to grow, it’s time to get on board and transform your devices into versatile payment terminals. 

Ready to enable Adyen's Tap to Pay solution? Contact our team to learn more.

For large-scale organizations, setting up Tap to Pay involves integrating Adyen's SDK into their POS or business apps. This supports a consistent checkout experience across thousands of devices and locations without the logistical overhead of physical terminal management. Enterprise security features ensure that the process is only activated when intended, which stops accidental payments in busy environments.

Professional retail or hospitality brands often follow this workflow:

1. The staff member selects the items on the enterprise POS app on a managed device.

2. The payment amount is automatically pushed to the Tap to Pay interface.

3. The staff member presents the device to the shopper for a contactless tap.

4. The shopper authorizes the transaction via card, phone, or wearable.

5. The system confirms authorization in real-time, updating the inventory and financial systems via the unified platform.

How to enable Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android

At an individual device level, the process is easy and follows simple steps:

1. Unlock the device or ensure the contactless card is ready.

2. Hold the card or device near the reader.

3. Wait for the confirmation sound or visual cue.

4. Complete PIN or biometric verification if the transaction amount requires it.

What’s the difference between Tap to Pay on iPhone and Tap to Pay on Android?

The primary difference between Tap to Pay on iPhone and Tap to Pay on Android is that with iPhone, users tap their payment instrument on the front screen of the device to pay and with Android, users tap the back of the device.

As Tap to Pay adoption continues to grow, businesses must ensure their payment infrastructure can accept all types of contactless transactions.

Adyen provides businesses with a single, unified platform to seamlessly accept contactless payments across all devices and global sales channels. 

Adyen’s financial technology allows merchants to transform compatible iPhones and Android devices into secure, flexible payment terminals without needing extra hardware. 

By integrating Adyen's Unified Commerce solutions, your business can quickly scale its in-person payment capabilities, optimize the shopper experience, and leverage rich data insights to fuel long-term growth.

Are you ready to transform your in-person payment experience and speed up your checkouts? Explore our solutions or reach out to our team to get started.

• Tap to Pay is an NFC-based contactless payment method that requires no swiping or physical card insertion.

• Shoppers can pay instantly using NFC-enabled credit or debit cards, digital wallets, and smart wearables.

• The step-by-step transaction process is completed in seconds via secure, encrypted data transmission.

• Merchants can use Tap to Pay on smartphones to eliminate hardware costs and enable mobile queue busting.

• Adyen provides secure, unified Tap to Pay solutions that integrate with both iPhone and Android devices.