Canadian Merchants Need Modern Payment Tech to Continue Growing
Canadian Merchants Need Modern Payment Tech to Keep Growing Hero


Small business owners across Canada are realizing that payment processing can make or break their success.

How your business handles transactions has determined how much—and quickly—it can grow. It’s also a reliable predictor of future customer loyalty. For instance, about 86% of all transactions in Canada are now completed through digital payment methods.

The way your business accepts payments isn’t just about getting paid—it influences everything from day-to-day efficiency to customer satisfaction and loyalty. Accepting modern, digital payment methods is essential to compete and thrive in today’s market.

Businesses that embrace local expertise and cutting-edge payment technology are turning transactions into opportunities for growth, while those who fail to evolve risk getting left behind.

Outdated Payment Systems Are Holding Canadian Businesses Back

Many small Canadian businesses still rely on outdated payment systems that quietly limit their potential. Clunky point-of-sale terminals, disconnected online and in-store systems or manual record-keeping feel familiar, but they’re creating more problems than they solve.

From hidden fees and wasted time to an increased risk of fraud, older systems hold businesses back from growing. With rising customer expectations and tightening security standards, these old setups just aren’t working anymore. Here’s how outdated payment tools hurt your business.

  1. Fragmented systems waste time: Handling multiple, non-integrated payment platforms wastes time. It uses up man hours that could be spent on serving customers or expanding the business. Over half (53%) of financial decision makers admit they spend too much time on transaction admin instead of business growth.
  2. Surprise fees hurt margins: Many outdated payment systems come with complex fee structures. You might be subject to hidden surcharges, which negatively affect profit margins and cost forecasts.
  3. Security gaps increase fraud risks: Outdated software and hardware often lack the latest security features, leaving businesses more vulnerable to fraud and data breaches. Without strong encryption and compliance, your business risks losing money and damaging its reputation.

These limitations don’t just slow down payments. They restrict your ability to serve customers, scale operations and make confident decisions. Replacing outdated and underperforming systems isn’t about blindly adopting latest tech just for the sake of it. Today, it’s about setting your business up with the tools that remove friction, reduce risk and support growth in a way that modern shoppers have come to expect.

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Streamlined Payments Unlock New Opportunities for Merchants

Disconnected payment systems result in lost hours, missed insights and slower sales. When payments are unified under one platform, those small inefficiencies disappear.

You gain more control, better visibility and a setup that actually supports business growth. It becomes easier to respond to your business—not chase after it. Here’s what modern payment systems can do for your business.

  1. Reach customers everywhere: A unified system lets you sell in-store and online seamlessly, providing a consistent experience across channels.
  2. Smoother operations: Integrated payments automate manual tasks and speed up cash flow, freeing up hours to focus on the business instead of paperwork.
  3. Data-driven decisions: Consolidated transaction data reveals sales patterns and customer behaviours, helping you make informed decisions about inventory, marketing and more.
  4. Easy adaptability: Modern platforms allow quick adoption of new payment trends (from mobile wallets to buy-now-pay-later) so you can offer the latest conveniences without hassle.

Smooth payments make running a business seamless. Your team spends less time on admin and more time growing the business, And customers enjoy a better experience at every checkout.

Customer Experience Starts With the Payment Experience

Customers expect to shop without thinking or feeling irritated. A clunky payment process can spoil an otherwise great shopping experience, while a smooth payment process leads to more customer loyalty.

Today’s shoppers expect fast, convenient and secure payment options as part of good service. Two-thirds of Canadians say that businesses that fail to offer digital payment methods will struggle to survive.

For instance, customers expect the ability to use their preferred payment card or digital wallet, and when they can’t, it’s a major source of frustration. Many customers will even abandon their purchase if paying becomes a hassle or if they feel their information might not be safe.

On the other hand, offering a user-friendly payment experience leaves a positive impression, and it shows that your business respects your customers’ time and privacy. A seamless payment isn’t just the end of a sale; it’s the start of your relationship with that buyer. Delivering an effortless payment experience encourages loyalty, positive reviews and repeat visits.

The Right Payment Partner Makes Scaling Simple and Secure

The right payment partner makes scaling your business easy. This could mean increased transactions, more locations or even new sales channels. A capable partner provides a platform that can handle increasing volume and complexity, all while keeping your transactions safe.

Additionally, a good provider offers flexible solutions that grow with your business. Whether you’re adding an online store or a seasonal pop-up, a good system should accommodate these seamlessly, syncing all your sales into one view. Plus, the right tech can handle peak transaction loads without any downtime.

Something else to consider is security as your business scales. With more transactions and a higher profile, growing businesses become targets for fraud.

Half of all Canadian small businesses have experienced attempted fraud in the past year. Over one-third of those suffered financial losses (about $7,800 on average).

A strong payment partner significantly reduces these risks with strong fraud prevention and data protection measures in place. For instance, any good payment provider should at least include end-to-end encryption and continuous fraud monitoring. As you can see, the right partner acts as both a catalyst for growth and a shield against threats, letting you expand your business confidently.

Local Expertise Gives Canadian Merchants an Edge

Canada’s payments landscape is unique—from the dominance of Interac Debit to local compliance rules. That’s why working with experts who know the Canadian market matters. They can design solutions global providers often overlook. In fact, 90% of Canadian shoppers say buying from a local website is easy, compared to just 67% for international ones.

Working with a Canadian payments partner means fewer headaches and faster support. They already understand local regulations and support Interac Debit and other domestic networks. Transactions also settle quickly through Canadian banks, and bilingual support teams are close by when you need them. That local expertise builds trust—both for you and your customers.

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Moneris Powers Canadian Commerce with Seamless Payments

Moneris is Canada’s leading payment processor, and our homegrown expertise shapes every solution we provide. We believe that secure, seamless payments and a trusted partnership are the foundation of growth in Canada, and this philosophy guides our innovations.

We understand the unique needs of Canadian merchants—from local payment methods to compliance standards. We aim to make payments effortless and secure for both your business and its customers. Our all-in-one platform comes with transparent pricing that shows you exactly what to expect. This means saying goodbye to surprise fees and juggling separate systems. With Moneris, you can accept any modern payment method, including credit, debit, mobile wallets and even online payments through one integrated solution.

Security is also very important to us, so we protect your transactions with advanced fraud detection and encryption. And if you ever need help, our support team is available 24/7.

FAQs

Key takeaways

  1. Outdated payment systems limit growth by creating friction, exposing security risks and eating into margins.
  2. Streamlined, unified payment platforms reduce complexity and unlock operational flexibility across channels.
  3. The checkout experience directly affects customer satisfaction, loyalty and repeat business.
  4. The right payment partner should support scaling securely, not just facilitate transactions.
  5. Canadian merchants benefit most from providers who understand local preferences, compliance, and service expectations.

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Moneris Team

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Moneris is a leading provider of payment processing solutions in Canada. Our blog is your go-to resource for insights into the ever-evolving world of payments. We cover everything from the latest industry trends and technologies to practical advice for businesses of all sizes. Our blog's mission is to spotlight small businesses and provide resources that help them succeed in today's economy. Blog articles are written by members of Moneris' in-house marketing team with support from internal product and industry experts.

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