South African Consumers Turn To Biometrics And Digital Wallets As Payment Innovation Accelerates

“While traditional payment methods continue to play an important role – with physical cards still regarded as the most preferred and convenient way to pay – South Africans are showing that trust and technology can go hand in hand, with consumers increasingly willing to adopt new payment solutions when they deliver both convenience and peace of mind,” says Lineshree Moodley, country manager at Visa South Africa.

Innovation meets ease and security

This confidence is reinforced by the widespread adoption of advanced payment security tools.

• Biometrics well entrenched: Two thirds (66%) of South African consumers already authorise payments using biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, suggesting a high level of comfort with secure, technology-enabled transactions.
• Digital wallets gain traction: Nearly four in 10 (39%) South Africans say digital wallets are the fastest payment option, and more than a third would recommend them to others, signalling growing confidence in digital-first experiences.
• Open to the future of money: Among South Africans who have sent money abroad in the past, 57% say they would consider using stablecoins as a form of payment, highlighting a strong appetite for faster and more efficient cross-border transactions.

AI is becoming a mainstream shopping companion

South African shoppers are increasingly turning to AI to make shopping easier and more efficient, and they are signaling the importance of transparency as these tools become part of everyday life.

• AI adoption accelerates: Sixty-three percent (63%) of South African consumers have used AI to assist with shopping-related tasks, including brainstorming gift ideas, researching products, or communicating with customer service.
• Consumer expectations are clear: As shoppers integrate AI into their routines, they're setting clear expectations. Almost 45% believe that AI-powered tools are more likely to find the best possible price. However, 63% prefer to speak with a human customer service representative than AI.

Trust and security at the core

Security remains a key concern for South Africans, but consumers are accepting the role they play in ensuring a safe payment experience.

• Security is top priority: Security is the biggest consideration in choosing a payment method, with eighty-eight percent (88%) of respondents calling it “extremely important.”
• Shoppers are taking responsibility but still rely on the industry: While SA consumers view banks (76%) and then payment networks (71%) as the primary guards against emerging security threats, 67% feel that consumers themselves are “extremely responsible” for the detection of payment fraud and security threats.
• Proactive steps to stay secure: South African consumers are taking their security seriously, with almost 50% enabling two-factor authentication, and 40% regularly changing passwords.
• AI security still a concern: Sixty percent (60%) of consumers are concerned about how their personal data is being used by AI-powered shopping and payment tools. Yet, forty-two percent (42%) say they are confident that they would be able to detect AI-driven payment scams.