The Philippine payments landscape is expected to witness a more seamless, secure, and interconnected setting in 2025, according to a forecast by Visa, and amid a rapidly changing digital economy, this is driven by technological advancements and evolving consumer behaviour.
Visa says this reflects a broader movement toward efficiency and inclusivity, reshaping how organisations engage with digital transactions.
This is why finance leaders, as they look forward and plan ahead for their companies, ought to look into diverse purchasing opportunities which will also foster greater confidence for growth and value creation, as the changes in the payments landscape will undoubtedly affect their decision-making process--embracing these shifts as means and ways to grow and innovate.
Finance leaders in Asia are expected to face unprecedented challenges in 2025 in navigating a landscape shaped by rapid technological advancements, evolving consumer behaviours, and heightened regulatory demands, this is why the finance function must adapt to digital disruption, integrating automation and real-time data analysis for better decision-making, as every choice is crucial to the overall results and endpoint of each and every plan and initiative.
Chief financial officers should be focusing on managing financial risks to bring in strategic growth initiatives, compelling them to embrace innovative solutions amid the shifts and changes in the market.
In a report by Gartner, it was found that CFOs are increasingly recognising that their time is best spent on the challenging, unanswered questions on finance’s evolution, which in 2025 will be centering more on the use of technological advancements rather than on traditional finance automation.
Jeff Navarro, country manager at Visa Philippines, says the rise of digital payments has changed how finance leaders make decisions, pushing them to adopt new technologies and approaches.
2024 in a snapshot
In viewing what 2024 brought in the payments scene, Navarro says one of the biggest shifts they have seen is the continued adoption of digital payment methods.
"More consumers and businesses embraced digital payments as their preferred way to transact, driven by convenience, security, and the growing integration of seamless technologies." Jeff Navarro
He observed that there have been significant advancements in cross-border payment solutions, making it easier for consumers to shop globally and for businesses to expand internationally.
Another key change, according to Navarro, was the rise of AI-driven security measures.
"These tools have been pivotal in combating fraud and ensuring trust in digital transactions, which is critical as the volume of online payments continues to grow." Jeff Navarro
In addition, Navarro says there has been a strong push towards inclusivity—ensuring that payment innovations reach underserved communities and providing everyone with access to the digital economy.
How these shifts affected the Finance department's decision-making process, Navarro says, leaned on the way businesses and consumers moved to digital platforms--driving organisations to invest in secure and efficient payment systems.
"For instance, Visa’s data shows in the Philippines, 58% of respondents now prefer digital remittance services, while 72% of SMEs say digital payments have improved their business operations." Jeff Navarro
Navarro notes that these shifts are driving finance leaders to focus more on technology upgrades and risk management to keep up with market demands and stay ahead in a competitive landscape.
Three lessons
For lessons that finance leaders can review and look into in regards with innovations in payments, Navarro enumerates three:
Stay Flexible to Stay Ahead. Navarro says the pace of change in payments is fast, so being able adapt and remain agile is essential. Embracing innovations like real-time payments, AI-driven fraud prevention, and mobile wallets help businesses meet evolving customer expectations and remain competitive in an increasingly global economy.
Security is Non-Negotiable. The Visa Philippines country manager stresses that trust is the foundation of any financial relationship, that is why strong security measures are key to earning and keeping it. In his view, investing in technologies like tokenization, risk-based authentication, and AI-powered fraud prevention does not just protect customers—it reassures them that their transactions are safe, fostering loyalty over time.
Inclusivity Matters for Growth. Navarro says the future of payments is about creating systems that are accessible to everyone. By focusing on inclusivity, businesses can reach underserved markets, expand their impact, and unlock new opportunities for growth. "It’s not just good for business—it’s the right thing to do," he notes.
Expectations in 2025
Now in 2025, Navarro says finance leaders can likely anticipate that the payment landscape will continue evolving and shifting toward a focus on better seamlessness and security in the payment experience, and overall inclusivity for all in the payments ecosystem.
"Real-time payments will become even more prominent, enabling faster and more efficient transactions across borders, which is particularly beneficial for businesses expanding internationally." Jeff Navarro
He adds that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will play a bigger role, not just in fraud prevention but also in personalising payment experiences for consumers and optimising financial processes for businesses.
Further, finance heads can also anticipate the growth of connected commerce, where payments integrate more deeply into digital ecosystems, making transactions smoother for both consumers and enterprises.
Navarro says innovations in payments can help to drive inclusivity and aim to bridge access gaps, ensuring more people can participate in the digital economy.
"Finance leaders who stay ahead of these trends will be able to leverage them to drive growth, enhance customer trust, and build more resilient infrastructure to ensure they remain competitive," he highlights.
Recommendations
As the world step into the new year and finance leaders open the books for a new chapter, it is important they know how to navigate.
For Navarro, there are three nuggets of advice that the Finance function must keep in mind in 2025:
● Invest in Digital Solutions: Navarro stresses the need for finance leaders to embrace the shift toward digital payment systems to improve operations and meet customer needs, as this will be serve as key for staying competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
● Strengthen Security: As digital payments become more common, Navarro says the focus on effective fraud prevention and cybersecurity practices to protect customers and businesses will play a big role.
● Adapt to Market Trends: The Visa Philippines country manager says there is a need to address the increasing demand for digital platforms by offering efficient and reliable payment solutions that align with user preferences.
