Over a year, the share of people attempting to pay with a QR code rose from 60% to 85%. Yet this method remains three times less popular as a permanent option than paying with a plastic card. This finding comes from a Delobank study referenced by the editorial team of socialbites.ca.
The research shows that 15% of participants have never tried QR payments. Experts identify five main barriers that keep people from using QR codes: 40% do not know how to use the method, 36% report it was not offered to them, 11% cite poor internet connections, and 9% note that keep using feature phones with older push-button interfaces that fail to read codes reliably.
Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of those who have tried QR payments also offered the option to merchants, and an additional 31% said they would pay via QR if the seller provided it. This suggests a growing awareness among early adopters who become advocates for the payment option at the point of sale.
Delobank’s director Irina Kuzmina emphasized practical ways for businesses to promote QR SBP payments. Retailers can display the QR code at the register or equip payment terminals with a built-in prompt that explains how to use the code. The lesson from current practice is clear: technology helps when it complements human interaction, not when it replaces it. The most successful firms are those where sales staff actively present the QR option and demonstrate its use to customers.
Earlier commentary from experts explored why payments via SBP had risen so sharply, highlighting a broader shift toward contactless and code-based transactions. As more regions explore QR and SBP-like solutions, merchants and payment providers alike are recognizing the value of clear communication at the point of sale and straightforward setup for customers.
In a broader context, the adoption of QR payments is part of a trend toward flexible payment ecosystems. Shoppers in Canada and the United States tend to favor solutions that are fast, reliable, and easy to verify. Even when a portion of the population has not yet tried QR payments, familiarity grows as merchants routinely offer the option and provide explicit, on-the-spot instructions. The result is a more inclusive checkout experience that accommodates varying levels of tech comfort and connectivity. As the digital payments landscape evolves, businesses that combine visible QR prompts with friendly guidance at the register stand to capture a larger share of frequent, impulse, and international shopper segments alike, all while maintaining trust through clear messaging and robust support channels.