Global Payments' Unified Payment Application: transforming the future of secure, flexible payment solutions

The payments landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by the increasing expectation for seamless, secure and flexible payment solutions that can adapt to various market segments. That’s where Global Payments’ Unified Payment Application (UPA) comes in. UPA is a single, unified platform that provides businesses versatility in delivering real value — whether deployed on premise or in the cloud. UPA ensures efficiency and scalability to stay ahead in this dynamic, ever-changing market by addressing these critical needs.

Flexibility across all payment methods

Gone are the days when cash or credit were the only options at checkout. Today, consumers expect payment flexibility. UPA empowers partners by allowing them to select their preferred OEM and offer these diverse payment experiences to their customers without being tied down to a single supplier. According to McKinsey’s 2023 Global Payments Report, cash usage is declining rapidly in favor of digital and instant payments, particularly in markets like Brazil and Nigeria, where instant-payment networks such as PIX have reshaped the landscape¹. Our UPA is catering to the needs of the modern shopper and business by enhancing the customer experience and driving higher conversion rates and satisfaction.

Security and compliance you can count on

Every business today must prioritize data security — especially in the face of increasing digital transactions. Our UPA is fully compliant with PCI DSS standards to safeguard transactions from fraud and ensure the highest levels of security and customer data protection. Forrester and Gartner emphasize that security features such as tokenization and end-to-end encryption are essential for protecting sensitive payment data. In addition, by leveraging leading technology such as point-to-point encryption (P2PE), UPA guarantees cardholders’ data and information are securely encrypted from the beginning of the transaction through the entire transaction process. Businesses can rest assured that their customers’ data is protected, enabling them to focus on growing their operations.

Elevating the customer experience

Customer experience (CX) is now a critical differentiator in the payments industry. According to Forrester, frictionless transactions are essential for retaining customers, and poor checkout experiences can lead to cart abandonment⁴. Our UPA is designed to streamline the payment process, ensuring a smooth, efficient experience that keeps them coming back. The McKinsey 2023 Global Payments Report further reinforces this, noting that the rise of real-time payments is reshaping consumer expectations for fast, seamless transactions¹.

Seamless omnichannel support

Merchants today desire flexible payment options and enhanced customer experiences. Our UPA offers an omnichannel experience for merchants and partners with robust payment hardware options and payment methods that provide a dynamic, consistent payment experience for customers regardless of where or how they make a purchase. This aligns with Gartner’s focus on omnichannel solutions, which are becoming essential as consumers increasingly expect continuity in their purchasing experiences⁶. By managing all payment data centrally, businesses can ensure efficiency and security at every step of the customer journey.

Wrapping it up: delivering value for growth

At Global Payments, we are committed to building solutions that solve real business problems and drive value. Our Unified Payment Application does just that by offering flexibility, security, superior customer experiences and scalability. Whether you’re a business owner looking to streamline operations or a partner seeking advanced solutions, UPA is built to support your growth in a rapidly-evolving market.

The future of payments is bright, and we’re proud to be leading the way. Stay tuned for more innovations from Global Payments as we continue to set the standard for payment solutions.

References

• McKinsey. "The 2023 Global Payments Report." McKinsey.
• IBM. "What Gartner, IDC, and Forrester Say About Payments Solutions." IBM.
• Forrester. "Industry Reports on Payment Security and Customer Experience." Forrester.
• Gartner. "Magic Quadrant and Omnichannel Payment Trends." Gartner.
• IDC. "MarketScape: Payment Technology Trends and Scalability." IDC.