Portugal has become one of Europe’s leaders in the digitalization of points of sale (POS) and payments, according to a new study by Nuek. The country boasts a digitalization rate above 50% and a strong international e-commerce presence (45%), outperforming Italy (39%), Spain (29%) and the UK (17%).
The study - “Acceptance of Payments in Establishments” - surveyed over 5,200 respondents across Portugal, Spain, Italy, the UK and Latin America. It found that Portugal is the only European country where more than half of merchants accept payments through SoftPOS (point-of-sale software), integrating payment functionality directly into smartphones.
Still, barriers remain, including regulatory misalignment and a fragmented ecosystem, which hinder full adoption. The generational gap is also evident: only 13% of those over 55 have used SoftPOS, while 42% are unaware it exists. Common concerns include a preference for other methods (28%), technical issues (24%), and security fears (24%).
“Digital payment acceptance has shifted from a rigid and costly model to a flexible one integrated into smartphones,” says Jávier Rey, CEO of Nuek. The report also highlights that mobile payment adoption reaches only 41% in Europe versus 62% in Latin America.
Subscription payments are another growing trend, with Portugal leading Europe at a 36% penetration rate. Direct debits remain the most popular payment method, driven by convenience, speed, and security.
Despite e-commerce growth, cross-border payments still face obstacles, from hidden costs to currency conversion issues. Even so, 53% of Portuguese consumers shop online outside the EU - the second-highest rate after Italy.
“Portugal is advancing in payment innovation, but traditional habits and regulatory challenges still slow full adoption,” says Miguel Simões, Director of Financial Services at Minsait Portugal.
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