Bizum has launched this summer in shops throughout Catalunya, with a gradual rollout that gained momentum between July and August. Although the technology for paying in stores was enabled at the end of May, consulted businesses report "little demand" from customers. Some shops are waiting until after the holidays to implement it, while others believe there was no real need for a new payment system.
Many payment terminals only required a software update to incorporate Bizum, while older ones had to be replaced. Payment is made similarly to traditional cards: the Bizum option is selected on the terminal, the mobile phone is brought close, and the payment is instant. The platform itself admitted that adoption would be "gradual".
Financial institutions such as Banco Sabadell, BBVA, and CaixaBank have already integrated Bizum technology into their new devices for commercial transactions. However, customer demand is almost non-existent. Josep Antoni García, owner of a clothing store in Barcelona's Clot neighborhood, explains that since early July, only one customer has asked to pay with Bizum, reiterating: "Nobody asks for it." Many customers opt for cards or smartwatches.
García criticizes that changes should be driven by real demand, which is not the case with Bizum. Although the payment terminals are ready, the lack of customer requests means the technology is not being used. In the provincial capitals, some shops have implemented Bizum, while others have not, due to lack of knowledge or active rejection.
The president of Barcelona Comerç, Pròsper Puig, indicates that implementation depends on financial institutions and that the distribution of new terminals could take between six and nine months. Although Bizum is "residual" in retail, Puig anticipates faster collections for merchants, even though the difference for consumers compared to cards will be minimal. A flat fee is expected for compatible terminals, along with the future integration of other systems like VeriFactu.
Puig also sees "political interest" behind Bizum as a European system. Meanwhile, chains like Calbet have allowed Bizum payments for months through their own web application, which is particularly useful for online and phone sales. However, in physical stores, especially in areas with an older clientele, payment by card, cash, or bank transfer remains the preferred method.
