At best, we consumers fear the payment moment. Will the payment go through? Do I have the funds in my account? Will my card work? Will I see that spinning wheel when I pay online? Are my card details being sent off somewhere to the dark web?

It’s the same for Merchants. Taking payments has always been the tedious part of their selling experience – whether it’s in-store, in-venue, online or via mobile. Payments is that complex, technical, difficult but necessary piece of kit required to actually take money safely and securely from the consumer. And it always has very little to do with a Merchant's core business.

Now though, paying for goods and services has to be lightning fast. From our phones, via our browser, tapping our cards on terminals. We demand unfussy, quick, effortless payments. And post pandemic, safe payments doesn't just mean secure payments. Now, paying for things has to be beyond comfortable – it has to be dazzling – because it's the most important moment in the entire experience.

For Retailers, it's the dazzling moment when all their efforts go on stage. All that time spent researching consumer segments, getting a detailed understanding of needs and buying patterns, the detailed time and effort spent bringing a product to market. Selecting a store location, scripting a sales ceremony that amplifies the brand experience. And delighting a consumer in-store to actually approach the counter to pay for goods. It all comes together on stage; that payment moment.

Think about all the preparatory work Hoteliers do – every detail of the guest experience – how to make the Hotels visible online, the booking engine, the pre-registrations, and the loyalty programs. The furnishing inside every hotel, the choice of linen, shampoos, soaps, clock, lights. The amount of detail that needs to be fully thought through. As we guests rock up to the front desk, it all goes on stage, when we put our card in the terminal – for that payment moment.

Restauranteurs care deeply and passionately about the craft behind their food offering and dining experience. The amount of time it takes to research the produce, to craft a menu, to market to consumers. To train staff on the dining experience, the table dressings, the furniture, the lighting, the music, the ambience. It all goes on stage at the end of the meal, when the member of staff approaches the diner with the terminal. The card is presented for that payment moment.

Online sales have similar drama. Think of all that effort taken to sell a product online, researching consumer buying habits, designing a web site to communicate product benefits, thinking through the journey and the flows to increase conversion and basket size. You've got the customer to add an item to the basket and then, for that payment moment, your whole experience goes on stage. At one click of a “pay now” button.

For all brands, that payment moment is that moment - the moment when they can convert all their efforts and energy into delighting shoppers, diners, guests or consumers. Turning effort into revenue through a dazzling payment moment. It’s the moment they go on stage. They've prepared, they’ve rehearsed. They have one brief moment to get it right. They don’t get a second chance.

At Planet, we know this moment well. We're the cast, the supporting crew. We've the smarts, the knowledge, the technology and the services to help our customers shine. We recognise that it's their stage, not ours. That it's their brand and their relationship with their customers that we celebrate. Every idea, every debate, every effort we make at Planet, is directed to helping our customers – at that payment moment.