What Are Some of the Challenges and Opportunities for Real-Time Payments? | ACI Worldwide

ACI Worldwide believes the future of payments isn’t about waiting for new technology – it’s about accelerating real-time adoption. The rails are in place. The technology is ready. What’s missing? Incentives that move consumers and businesses to act.

Thomas Warsop, President and CEO, ACI Worldwide, explains how in the U.S., real-time payments have the potential to revolutionize transactions. But habits are hard to change without compelling reasons. Today, consumers are deeply loyal to rewards –credit card points, cash back, travel perks. We understand that loyalty, and we know that to drive real-time payments, incentives must be just as powerful – or even better.

ACI is at the forefront of creating real-time payments ecosystems that reward users, empower merchants, and simplify transactions. Imagine a world where paying a bill, splitting a restaurant tab, or making a major purchase happens instantly – with tangible benefits to both the payer and the payee.

Instead of outdated practices like cash discounts—which carry hidden costs for merchants—real-time payments open the door to smarter, more efficient incentives. Lower costs for businesses mean more opportunities to pass savings back to the consumer. It’s a win-win.
Merchants have everything to gain by encouraging real-time payments: lower transaction costs, reduced fraud risk, and faster access to funds. Consumers, in turn, enjoy quicker, more secure transactions – with rewards that rival or surpass traditional card programs.

The future isn’t about asking when real-time payments will be ready – it’s about making them irresistible today.