Spain advances in digital payments, but the generation gap and cash limit mobile payments
- Mobile payments: an accessible and efficient solution for small businesses
- Subscriptions: recurrence enters the scene in local commerce
- Payments without borders: digital is not always synonymous with global
The point of sale has become the epicentre of change in the payments industry, but a significant portion of commerce still operates with traditional terminals that limit the agility and experience demanded by digital consumers. This is revealed in the new report by Nuek, a technology company specialising in payment infrastructure at Minsait (Indra Group), which analyses how smartphone payments and subscription models are emerging as new levers of competitiveness for commerce.
The study, ‘Payment Acceptance in Commerce,’ prepared by Nuek in conjunction with AFI (Analistas Financieros Internacionales), is based on more than 5,200 surveys conducted in Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Among its main findings, it highlights the rapid advance of digital payments from mobile devices in Latin America and the persistent lag in Europe, especially in local commerce.
Despite the technological potential, the digitisation of the point of sale remains limited by adoption gaps, misaligned regulatory frameworks and a still fragmented ecosystem that prevents the scaling of truly integrated experiences. The Nuek Report places Spain in a position of moderate adoption of new technologies, with a marked generational gap and a persistent preference for traditional methods.
Mobile payments: an accessible and efficient solution for small businesses
In Spain, the adoption of SoftPOS technology (mobile/tablet payments as POS terminals) is more limited than in Latin America and other nearby countries: while Portugal stands out with a rate of over 50%, Spain is around 30-40%. Direct payment from a mobile phone is faster and cheaper than a physical terminal, but its adoption in Spain is progressing slowly. The main barrier is not a lack of interest on the part of users, but rather the slow transition of businesses towards new forms of payment to replace traditional POS terminals.
The generation gap directly influences the adoption of new payment technologies depending on the profile of the customers served by each business. Businesses with a younger clientele are more likely to incorporate smartphone payments, while those targeting older audiences continue to prioritise physical terminals and cash. The data confirms this: only 13% of those over 55 say they have ever been charged for a purchase using these devices, and 42% are unaware that this option even exists.
‘For decades, the acceptance of digital payments has been limited by a physical, rigid and costly model,’ says Javier Rey, executive director of Nuek. "What is happening today is a paradigm shift: the terminal function is integrated into the smartphone, businesses gain agility, and costs are drastically reduced. What was once a technological limitation is now becoming a way to activate a new operating model for businesses that had been left out of the digital transformation."
The report confirms that Latin America is at the forefront of adopting mobile payment solutions, with 62% of the banked population having made payments in businesses that operate with this technology, compared to 41% in Europe. The leap is not insignificant: these types of solutions eliminate the need for physical terminals (POS), allowing small businesses and freelancers to turn any mobile phone or tablet into a contactless payment point.
In Spain, QR codes play a marginal and limited role, as this technology is more widespread in emerging markets. Here, the real transformation will come from solutions that combine mobile payment, biometrics and invisible experiences at the point of sale.
Subscriptions: recurrence enters the scene in local commerce
The report also shows that subscription payment models are gaining ground in local commerce, especially among businesses seeking more stable forms of income and greater customer loyalty. These payments refer to a method in which the consumer authorises recurring charges (usually monthly or annually) to access a product or service. Their penetration is significantly higher in Latin America than in Europe, driven by younger consumers: 58% of users between the ages of 18 and 34 in the region highlight speed as a key factor in choosing this method.
‘We are seeing how new payment formats are being adopted by young people as part of their digital routines. This represents a huge opportunity to design solutions that connect with their expectations from the first touch,’ says Javier Rey.
However, adoption in Europe is lower and more fragmented, affected by an older demographic base and the lower presence of local services operating under this model. In Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy, less than a third of the banked population uses this method, far from the Latin American average.
In the case of Spain, subscription payments are concentrated among young people, with a clear preference for physical debit cards, while in other countries direct debits predominate. The main motivations are convenience, speed and security, above incentives such as discounts.
Payments without borders: digital is not always synonymous with global
Although e-commerce has grown steadily in Europe and Latin America, the cross-border channel has yet to establish itself as a convenient and reliable option for millions of users. Spain stands out with a 30% share of international e-commerce—well above the United Kingdom (15%) and close to Portugal (45%) and Italy (40%)—although only 38% of the banked population has made purchases from retailers outside the European Union, one of the lowest levels among the countries analysed.
The most common friction points for Spanish consumers when shopping internationally are added costs, lack of transparency in exchange rates, security concerns and limited diversity of payment methods. Although security remains the most valued factor, speed and ease of use are gaining importance among younger users.
The problem is not a lack of demand, but the persistence of structural barriers that undermine the international payment experience. The report identifies five major obstacles: security concerns, high costs, authorisation delays, limited diversity of payment methods and lack of transparency in exchange rates.
In Latin America, more than 70% of those who shop outside their country have experienced some kind of problem, compared to 50% in Europe. Most worryingly, young users (those who shop online the most) are also the ones who experience the most friction, reflecting a disconnect between digital expectations and the actual capabilities of the payment ecosystem.
Closing this gap requires an interoperable infrastructure capable of reducing friction and scaling truly global experiences, a goal that is still a long way off in most markets.
(You can access the full report at: Nuek)
