ACI Worldwide Study Reveals Critical Modernization Gap in Payments Industry
On December 2, 2025, ACI Worldwide, a leading provider of real-time payment solutions, released a compelling study highlighting a pressing issue in the payments sector. The report, titled “Payments in Transition: Leadership in an Era of Transformation,” showcases a growing chasm between the confidence of industry leaders and their actual readiness to drive innovation. The findings are particularly critical as the industry approaches a pivotal moment in 2026, where consumer expectations are projected to shift significantly.
1. Confidence vs. Readiness: A Stark Contrast
The research, conducted in partnership with Globant, surveyed 500 executives across various regions, including North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific. While a significant 69% of respondents identify their organizations as leaders in payments, only 44% prioritize payments innovation at the C-suite level. This disconnect could hinder their competitive edge in an increasingly demanding market.
Philip Bruno, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at ACI Worldwide, emphasized the urgency of the situation: "It’s time for payments leaders to turn confidence into action. Modernisation is no longer a long-term goal. It’s an immediate need."
2. The Modernization Gap: Risks Ahead
The report uncovers a concerning modernization gap, where ambition surpasses execution. Several key barriers are identified:
- Underutilization of Existing Technology: Over half of the executives (55%) admit they are not fully leveraging the technology currently at their disposal.
- Legacy Systems: 44% of respondents highlight outdated platforms as the primary obstacle to innovation.
- Cultural Resistance: A significant 53% indicate that internal cultural challenges are impeding transformation efforts.
These barriers pose risks not only for individual organizations but for the entire industry as customer expectations evolve. By 2026, secure, instant, and seamless transactions are expected to become standard, with 79% of executives citing customer demand as the leading catalyst for change.
3. Key Findings: A Closer Look
The study reveals several critical insights that shed light on the state of the payments industry:
- Modernization Roadmaps: Only 36% of executives claim their organizations have a clear, long-term roadmap for payment and investment modernization, indicating a lack of strategic vision.
- Phasing Out Legacy Infrastructure: A mere 25% of organizations are actively working to replace outdated payment systems, despite recognizing the limitations these systems impose on agility and new product development.
- Fraud and Cybersecurity Concerns: A staggering 77% of executives believe that risks associated with fraud and cybersecurity are significant barriers to innovation.
- Regulatory Pressures: 63% point to regulatory complexities as an additional challenge, further slowing the pace of modernization.
- Talent and Cost Constraints: 14% of respondents cite cost pressures and talent shortages as barriers, with only 25% believing their organization is effective at attracting and retaining top talent in payments and technology.
4. The Future: AI and Automation
Looking ahead, the study predicts that AI will play a pivotal role in transforming the payments landscape. By 2026, AI is expected to extend beyond fraud detection, driving dynamic routing, real-time anomaly detection, and self-improving models. The rise of agentic commerce and AI-driven payment orchestration will necessitate that businesses integrate intelligence into every transaction to maintain competitiveness.
5. Conclusion: Call to Action for Payments Leaders
The findings from ACI Worldwide’s study serve as a clarion call for payments leaders to align their ambitions with tangible actions. With the potential for increased regulatory changes looming, such as ISO 20022 migration and open banking compliance, modernizing infrastructure and embedding intelligence into payment systems is no longer optional—it is essential.
Philip Bruno encapsulated this urgency by stating, “Those who retire legacy systems and embed intelligence and agility into their platforms now will set the standard for 2026 and beyond.” As the industry stands at a crossroads, the decisions made today will define the future landscape of payments.
The full report, “Payments in Transition: Leadership in an Era of Transformation,” is available for further insights into the current state and future direction of the payments industry.
