Which forms of payment will prevail?

The launch of Apple Pay in July has already spurred Swiss financial institutions into action, which is why the Postfinance payment system Twint and UBS's Paymit will merge in January 2017. However, the business of receiving money or paying for goods via alternative channels is no longer the sole preserve of financial institutions or credit card companies. Paypal, Google Pay/Android Pay, WIR, Samsung Pay, Masterpass and Bitcoin are also available as alternatives, with Paypal undoubtedly having the highest level of awareness with 87% supported mentions, ahead of Bitcoin (41%), Twint (39%), Apple Pay and Google Pay/Android Pay (30% each), WIR (29%) and Paymit (20%). Samsung Pay (10 %) and Masterpass (8%) bring up the rear, with Paypal in particular already being used effectively as a payment channel by 58% of the population. With 7% effective use, Google Pay/Android Pay is still ahead of Twint (6%) and the newly launched Apple Pay (5%).When it comes to planned use within the next 12 months, it is worth keeping an eye on Paypal (63%), Twint (11%) and Apple Pay (7%). Google Pay/Android Pay, on the other hand, is already showing signs of weakening (6%).

This first representative "Alternative Technologies Monitor" was conducted by Marketagent.com Schweiz AG, an institute specializing in online market research. A total of 1,290 people from German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland aged between 14 and 65 were surveyed from August 29 to September 7, 2016.