Why Digital Payments Demand Testing Precision

As highlighted in a recent Datos Insights publication, the global payments industry is currently undergoing a seismic shift. According to Datos research, consumer digital payment spending reached nearly $50 trillion in 2024, and is projected to hit $70 trillion by 2029. Wallets, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), Any-to-Any (A2A) payments, and card-based e-commerce are all evolving rapidly, reshaping how consumers pay and how financial institutions, processors, fintechs, and retailers must test and certify their payment systems. 

At Paragon Application Systems, we understand that testing speed, accuracy, and automation have become critically important to any payment industry participant that wants to stay ahead of this tidal wave of change. That’s why we built Web FASTest  - to help organizations test smarter, faster, and more collaboratively in this fast-paced environment. 

Digital Wallets Dominate 

Wallets now account for over 80% of global digital payment spending, with usage split between online and in-store transactions. From QR codes in Asia-Pacific to NFC in Europe and North America, the diversity of wallet technologies demands flexible, specification-rich testing environments.  

Web FASTest supports a wide range of message formats and protocols, enabling issuers, acquirers, processors, networks, and merchants to simulate and validate digital transactions across geographies and technologies. 24/7 browser-based access means diverse teams can test anytime, anywhere - shortening deployment cycles and reducing risk.

Alternate Payments Growing Fast 

BNPL spending surged to $1.3 trillion in 2024 and is expected to nearly triple by 2029. Meanwhile, A2A solutions like Pix in Brazil, PayID in Australia, and iDEAL in the Netherlands are transforming local markets. These innovations require rigorous regression and performance testing to ensure seamless consumer experiences. 

Web FASTest enables teams to: 

• Automate large-scale regression tests to quickly and easily validate new features and compliance updates. 
• Run performance tests using existing functional scripts to simulate peak loads. 
• Accelerate certification cycles with self-service tools and real-time feedback. 

This means faster time-to-market for new payment methods—and fewer surprises in production. 

Collaboration and Control in a Global Testing Environment 

As the global payment ecosystem becomes more complex, collaboration across teams and time zones is essential. Web FASTest provides: 

• Centralized command and control for managing users, roles, and test assets. 
• Shared access to test scripts, cards, and media, improving consistency and reducing duplication. 
• API integration with CI/CD pipelines, enabling continuous testing in Agile and DevOps environments. 

Whether your teams are in São Paulo, Seoul, or Singapore, Web FASTest ensures everyone is working with the same data. 

Future-Proofing Payments Testing 

The Datos Insights paper predicts that pure card e-commerce will continue to grow modestly, while wallets, BNPL, and other alternative payments will continue to surge. This shift requires a testing platform that can adapt to new technologies and transaction types without missing a beat. 

Web FASTest is: 

• Cloud-ready and scalable, supporting on-prem, private, or public cloud deployments. 
• Built for continuous innovation, with support for EMV, ISO 8583, ISO 20022, XML, JSON, etc. 
• Trusted by leading global processors, who rely on it to deliver speedy, secure, and seamless payment experiences. 

Looking ahead: As AI and machine learning play a bigger role in fraud detection and real-time decisioning, Web FASTest will be essential to validate these complex systems before production rollout.

Test Smarter, Deliver Faster 

As digital payments race toward $70 trillion, the pressure for operational speed, accuracy, security, and innovation has never been greater or more important for the payment business. Web FASTest gives your teams the tools to test with confidence, collaborate with ease, and deliver a superior payment experience on every transaction. 

Let’s talk about how Web FASTest can help you stay ahead in the fast-moving world of digital payments.