GITNUXREPORT 2025

Merchant Industry Statistics

Merchant industry growth surpasses $50 trillion, driven by digital and contactless payments.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The number of digital payment users worldwide is expected to reach 4.4 billion by 2025

Statistic 2

53% of consumers say they are more likely to shop with a retailer that offers multiple payment options

Statistic 3

By 2023, contactless card payments are expected to surpass 50% of POS transactions globally

Statistic 4

The merchant discount rate (MDR) for credit card transactions typically ranges between 1.5% and 3.5%

Statistic 5

The share of digital wallets used in in-store retail transactions increased by 24% in 2022

Statistic 6

The average cart abandonment rate in e-commerce is about 69.8%, impacting merchants’ revenue

Statistic 7

The average revenue per user (ARPU) for digital payment platforms was $67 in 2022

Statistic 8

45% of consumers prefer to pay with digital wallets or mobile payments rather than traditional cash

Statistic 9

Merchant loyalty programs can increase customer retention rates by up to 25%

Statistic 10

Contactless payments reduced checkout times by approximately 20 seconds per transaction

Statistic 11

The average transaction size for digital payments is approximately $76, compared to $50 for cash transactions

Statistic 12

Retail merchants that offer buy now, pay later options see a 20% lift in conversion rates

Statistic 13

60% of shoppers prefer to buy from merchants that offer flexible payment options

Statistic 14

38% of merchants reported that hybrid online and in-store sales strategies led to increased revenue

Statistic 15

The use of QR codes for payments among global merchants increased by 35% between 2020 and 2022

Statistic 16

Merchants that integrate online reviews into their sales process see a 20% higher conversion rate

Statistic 17

The average cost per transaction for merchants using cryptocurrency payments is approximately $0.15, significantly lower than credit card processing fees

Statistic 18

63% of merchants report that improved data analytics directly contributed to increased sales

Statistic 19

The use of voice commerce among merchants has grown by 50% in 2022, providing new channels for customer engagement

Statistic 20

Nearly 70% of merchants believe that environmental sustainability programs influence customer loyalty

Statistic 21

54% of merchants use customer feedback data to tailor their product offerings and improve sales

Statistic 22

The penetration of contactless payment terminals in small retail stores increased by 45% from 2020 to 2023, providing faster checkout options

Statistic 23

E-commerce sales accounted for 19.5% of all retail sales worldwide in 2022

Statistic 24

Mobile commerce sales are expected to make up 73.4% of e-commerce sales globally by 2025

Statistic 25

Digital payment fraud costs merchants worldwide approximately $32 billion annually

Statistic 26

Over 80% of merchants plan to increase their investment in cyber security in the next year

Statistic 27

The global point-of-sale terminal market is expected to reach $11 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 7%

Statistic 28

Merchant industry data breaches increased by 45% in 2022, warning of rising cyber threats

Statistic 29

The global merchant acquiring market is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2025, driven by e-commerce growth

Statistic 30

The average chargeback rate for merchants is approximately 0.4%, but can reach up to 1% for high-risk industries

Statistic 31

65% of merchants plan to adopt cryptocurrency payment options within the next 3 years

Statistic 32

The average number of payment gateway providers used by merchants is 3, aiming for redundancy and better rates

Statistic 33

85% of merchants offer online shopping options, which has increased customer reach and sales

Statistic 34

In 2022, over 70% of merchants experienced a data breach or cyber attack, highlighting cybersecurity risks

Statistic 35

The global industry is seeing a rapid increase in cross-border e-commerce transactions, accounting for about 22% of all online sales in 2023

Statistic 36

The global courier and delivery industry serving merchants is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% through 2028, driven by e-commerce

Statistic 37

Approximately 35% of merchants globally plan to implement green logistics practices by 2025, to reduce carbon footprint

Statistic 38

The global merchant industry is projected to reach a market size of $50 trillion by 2027

Statistic 39

The average merchant spends approximately 1-2% of sales on payment processing fees

Statistic 40

The retail merchant industry in the U.S. employs over 15 million people

Statistic 41

67% of merchants reported an increase in online sales during the COVID-19 pandemic

Statistic 42

In 2022, standalone point-of-sale (POS) system sales increased by 12% globally

Statistic 43

The CAGR (compound annual growth rate) for the merchant services industry is projected at 7.5% through 2027

Statistic 44

Small-to-medium-sized merchants make up nearly 80% of merchant service providers

Statistic 45

In 2023, global merchant industry e-commerce revenue is expected to surpass $6.3 trillion

Statistic 46

Subscription-based merchant services have grown by 30% annually over the past five years

Statistic 47

The average lifecycle of a merchant account is approximately 3 to 5 years before switching providers

Statistic 48

The average gross profit margin for merchants in the retail industry is about 40%, with variations depending on sector

Statistic 49

Merchant industry employment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4% through 2028, particularly in e-commerce

Statistic 50

The global POS software market size is expected to hit $18 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 13%

Statistic 51

The adoption rate of omni-channel retail strategies among merchants increased by 35% between 2020 and 2022

Statistic 52

70% of merchants surveyed believe that integrated payment solutions improve operational efficiency

Statistic 53

The number of merchants utilizing cloud-based point-of-sale systems increased by 50% from 2020 to 2023

Statistic 54

Merchants who utilize AI in customer service see an increase of 15% in customer satisfaction scores

Statistic 55

The penetration of self-service kiosks in retail merchant locations increased by 40% from 2020 to 2023

Statistic 56

In 2023, 60% of merchants reported implementing automation tools to streamline operations

Statistic 57

55% of merchants use social media platforms for marketing and reaching new customers

Statistic 58

The adoption rate of automated checkout systems among U.S. retailers increased by 45% from 2020 to 2023

Statistic 59

Digital receipt adoption among merchants increased by 50% between 2020 and 2023, reducing paper waste and improving efficiency

Statistic 60

A survey found that 65% of merchants are planning to increase investments in omnichannel retail technology in the next year

Statistic 61

Subscription-based services for merchants, such as SaaS tools, are growing at a rate of 28% annually

Statistic 62

The percentage of merchants with integrated online and offline sales channels increased to 85% in 2023 from 65% in 2020

Statistic 63

48% of domestic merchants now use artificial intelligence for inventory management, up from 25% in 2020

Statistic 64

Merchants utilizing augmented reality (AR) for marketing and sales increased by 32% in 2022, enhancing customer engagement

Statistic 65

The use of blockchain technology among merchants to secure transactions increased by 20% in 2022, indicating rising interest in secure payment solutions

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Sources

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Key Highlights

The global merchant industry is projected to reach a market size of $50 trillion by 2027
E-commerce sales accounted for 19.5% of all retail sales worldwide in 2022
Mobile commerce sales are expected to make up 73.4% of e-commerce sales globally by 2025
The number of digital payment users worldwide is expected to reach 4.4 billion by 2025
The average merchant spends approximately 1-2% of sales on payment processing fees
The retail merchant industry in the U.S. employs over 15 million people
53% of consumers say they are more likely to shop with a retailer that offers multiple payment options
By 2023, contactless card payments are expected to surpass 50% of POS transactions globally
The merchant discount rate (MDR) for credit card transactions typically ranges between 1.5% and 3.5%
67% of merchants reported an increase in online sales during the COVID-19 pandemic
In 2022, standalone point-of-sale (POS) system sales increased by 12% globally
Digital payment fraud costs merchants worldwide approximately $32 billion annually
Over 80% of merchants plan to increase their investment in cyber security in the next year

The merchant industry is poised for explosive growth, with projections reaching $50 trillion by 2027 and innovative payment technologies transforming how consumers shop, pay, and interact worldwide.

Consumer Payment and Engagement Behavior

The number of digital payment users worldwide is expected to reach 4.4 billion by 2025
53% of consumers say they are more likely to shop with a retailer that offers multiple payment options
By 2023, contactless card payments are expected to surpass 50% of POS transactions globally
The merchant discount rate (MDR) for credit card transactions typically ranges between 1.5% and 3.5%
The share of digital wallets used in in-store retail transactions increased by 24% in 2022
The average cart abandonment rate in e-commerce is about 69.8%, impacting merchants’ revenue
The average revenue per user (ARPU) for digital payment platforms was $67 in 2022
45% of consumers prefer to pay with digital wallets or mobile payments rather than traditional cash
Merchant loyalty programs can increase customer retention rates by up to 25%
Contactless payments reduced checkout times by approximately 20 seconds per transaction
The average transaction size for digital payments is approximately $76, compared to $50 for cash transactions
Retail merchants that offer buy now, pay later options see a 20% lift in conversion rates
60% of shoppers prefer to buy from merchants that offer flexible payment options
38% of merchants reported that hybrid online and in-store sales strategies led to increased revenue
The use of QR codes for payments among global merchants increased by 35% between 2020 and 2022
Merchants that integrate online reviews into their sales process see a 20% higher conversion rate
The average cost per transaction for merchants using cryptocurrency payments is approximately $0.15, significantly lower than credit card processing fees
63% of merchants report that improved data analytics directly contributed to increased sales
The use of voice commerce among merchants has grown by 50% in 2022, providing new channels for customer engagement
Nearly 70% of merchants believe that environmental sustainability programs influence customer loyalty
54% of merchants use customer feedback data to tailor their product offerings and improve sales
The penetration of contactless payment terminals in small retail stores increased by 45% from 2020 to 2023, providing faster checkout options

Consumer Payment and Engagement Behavior Interpretation

As digital wallets and contactless payments surge globally—reaching billions of users and overtaking cash—merchants who embrace flexible, data-driven, and eco-conscious payment strategies are not just staying competitive but are increasingly winning over the modern, convenience-critic shopper.

E-commerce and Digital Payment Trends

E-commerce sales accounted for 19.5% of all retail sales worldwide in 2022
Mobile commerce sales are expected to make up 73.4% of e-commerce sales globally by 2025
Digital payment fraud costs merchants worldwide approximately $32 billion annually
Over 80% of merchants plan to increase their investment in cyber security in the next year
The global point-of-sale terminal market is expected to reach $11 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 7%
Merchant industry data breaches increased by 45% in 2022, warning of rising cyber threats
The global merchant acquiring market is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2025, driven by e-commerce growth
The average chargeback rate for merchants is approximately 0.4%, but can reach up to 1% for high-risk industries
65% of merchants plan to adopt cryptocurrency payment options within the next 3 years
The average number of payment gateway providers used by merchants is 3, aiming for redundancy and better rates
85% of merchants offer online shopping options, which has increased customer reach and sales
In 2022, over 70% of merchants experienced a data breach or cyber attack, highlighting cybersecurity risks
The global industry is seeing a rapid increase in cross-border e-commerce transactions, accounting for about 22% of all online sales in 2023

E-commerce and Digital Payment Trends Interpretation

As the merchant industry surges into a digital era with nearly 20% of retail sales online and mobile commerce poised to dominate by 2025, businesses are wisely investing in cybersecurity amidst rising data breaches and fraud costs, while expanding payment options—including cryptocurrency—and embracing cross-border sales—highlighting a high-stakes race between innovation and cyber threat mitigation.

Logistics, Delivery, and Contactless Payment Infrastructure

The global courier and delivery industry serving merchants is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% through 2028, driven by e-commerce
Approximately 35% of merchants globally plan to implement green logistics practices by 2025, to reduce carbon footprint

Logistics, Delivery, and Contactless Payment Infrastructure Interpretation

As global e-commerce surges, the courier industry is racing ahead at an 8.6% CAGR, while a third of merchants are doubling down on green logistics by 2025—proving that delivery speed and sustainability can both deliver excellent results.

Merchant Industry Growth and Market Share

The global merchant industry is projected to reach a market size of $50 trillion by 2027
The average merchant spends approximately 1-2% of sales on payment processing fees
The retail merchant industry in the U.S. employs over 15 million people
67% of merchants reported an increase in online sales during the COVID-19 pandemic
In 2022, standalone point-of-sale (POS) system sales increased by 12% globally
The CAGR (compound annual growth rate) for the merchant services industry is projected at 7.5% through 2027
Small-to-medium-sized merchants make up nearly 80% of merchant service providers
In 2023, global merchant industry e-commerce revenue is expected to surpass $6.3 trillion
Subscription-based merchant services have grown by 30% annually over the past five years
The average lifecycle of a merchant account is approximately 3 to 5 years before switching providers
The average gross profit margin for merchants in the retail industry is about 40%, with variations depending on sector
Merchant industry employment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4% through 2028, particularly in e-commerce
The global POS software market size is expected to hit $18 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 13%

Merchant Industry Growth and Market Share Interpretation

As the merchant industry surges toward a $50 trillion milestone fueled by a 7.5% CAGR and a booming $6.3 trillion in e-commerce revenue, it’s clear that merchants are investing heavily—spending 1-2% of sales on payment fees and embracing innovative POS systems—while the industry’s rapid evolution, from a 3-5 year account lifecycle to a 30% annual subscription growth, underscores a marketplace where adaptability and scale are key to thriving in the nearly 80% SME-dominated landscape.

Technological Adoption in Merchant Operations

The adoption rate of omni-channel retail strategies among merchants increased by 35% between 2020 and 2022
70% of merchants surveyed believe that integrated payment solutions improve operational efficiency
The number of merchants utilizing cloud-based point-of-sale systems increased by 50% from 2020 to 2023
Merchants who utilize AI in customer service see an increase of 15% in customer satisfaction scores
The penetration of self-service kiosks in retail merchant locations increased by 40% from 2020 to 2023
In 2023, 60% of merchants reported implementing automation tools to streamline operations
55% of merchants use social media platforms for marketing and reaching new customers
The adoption rate of automated checkout systems among U.S. retailers increased by 45% from 2020 to 2023
Digital receipt adoption among merchants increased by 50% between 2020 and 2023, reducing paper waste and improving efficiency
A survey found that 65% of merchants are planning to increase investments in omnichannel retail technology in the next year
Subscription-based services for merchants, such as SaaS tools, are growing at a rate of 28% annually
The percentage of merchants with integrated online and offline sales channels increased to 85% in 2023 from 65% in 2020
48% of domestic merchants now use artificial intelligence for inventory management, up from 25% in 2020
Merchants utilizing augmented reality (AR) for marketing and sales increased by 32% in 2022, enhancing customer engagement
The use of blockchain technology among merchants to secure transactions increased by 20% in 2022, indicating rising interest in secure payment solutions

Technological Adoption in Merchant Operations Interpretation

As merchant industries embrace digital transformation—from a 35% leap in omni-channel strategies to a 50% surge in digital receipts—it's clear that the only thing retail is not doing faster than ever is standing still.