RESEARCH STUDY

The Merchant Lens Report 2026
(UK Market)

Full Report

Insights from UK merchants to help you truly understand their needs, expectations, and challenges - now, and in the future. 

The Merchant Lens is a merchant-led research study designed to give PSPs, acquirers and payment providers a clear, evidence-based view of how merchants perceive their payment partners today, and what they will expect from them tomorrow. 

Through robust quantitative research, the report captures the voices of 216 UK merchants across:

• Verticals: Retail & eCommerce and Hospitality
  Segments: Small (<£5m annual turnover), Medium (£5m - £50m annual turnover) and Large (£50m< annual turnover)

 What insights are in The Merchant Lens? 

• Provider Perceptions: Merchant satisfaction, how they view their current payment provider, and how this stacks up against competitors.
  
  

• Merchants Today: A look at merchant frustrations, what would make them switch, and what they look for in a new provider.
  
  

• Merchants Tomorrow: What merchants say they need next, how they want their provider to support them, and what services they are willing to pay for.
  
  

• Hot Industry Topics: Merchant attitudes to the trends and technologies shaping the payments industry.
  
  

• Key Takeaways: What it all means and where the real opportunities lie for providers.
  

What questions will The Merchant Lens help you answer? 

This study gives you the intelligence to make data-backed strategic decisions. Whether you're evaluating where to deploy resources, which segments to pursue, or how to defend and grow your position, the findings speak directly to what UK merchants need and where payment providers like you can get ahead. 

• Where should you focus your acquisition and product investment?
  

• Which market segments offer you the biggest opportunity to win share?

• Where should you compete and differentiate?

• What revenue streams exist beyond payment processing?

• Which industry trends and innovations should you prioritise?

With single company license as standard, you are free to share internally within your organisation (external sharing is not permitted). 

Want to see the headlines?
➡️DOWNLOAD THE FREE REPORT FINDINGS SUMMARY