--- title: How to prepare for the next new normal description: "Commerce is dynamic and always changing. Covid-19 has heightened this, so how can businesses position themselves strongly for the future? The same, only more so: that’s been the impact of Covid-19 on consumer behaviour and commerce. For example, the move towards digital payment was already underway, Covid-19 has merely accelerated it. The same is true of contactless payment, contact-free customer experiences and omnichannel. Digital payments rise, cash falls" image: https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Cashflows_February2021/Images/Next-New-Normal.jpg --- [![blue_logo](https://www.cashflows.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20images/Blog%20Images%202021/blue_logo.png?width=143&height=26&name=blue_logo.png) ](https://www.cashflows.com) - Products - [ Payment Processing ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/payment-processing) ![payment-processing-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payment-processing-icon.svg) #### [Payment Processing](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/payment-processing) Fast, secure, easy - card processing to support your business #### [Anytime Settlement Get access to your funds within hours](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/anytime-settlement) #### [Account Updater Automatically update lost or stolen card details](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/account-updater) #### [Direct Send Pay out to card in minutes](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/instant-payout) #### [3D Secure V2.2 Get ready for two-factor authentication](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/3d-secure) #### [Network Tokens Revolutionizing digital transactions](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/network-tokens) - [ In-Person Payments ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/point-of-sale) ![payments-in-person-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payments-in-person-icon.svg) #### [In-Person Payments](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/point-of-sale) All you need for taking card payments in person #### [SUNMI P3 Seamless, secure and speedy payments](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p3) #### [SUNMI P2 SE Smart POS with the power of Android](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p2-se) #### [SUNMI P3 Mix All-in-one POS solution for business](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p3-mix) #### [Countertop card machine Castles Vega Countertop specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/countertop-card-machine) #### [Mobile card machine Castles Vega 3000 Mobile specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/mobile-card-payment-machine) #### [Smart POS card machine Castles Saturn 1000 F2 specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/smart-pos-card-machine) #### [Compare Card Machines Compare our latest card machines](https://www.cashflows.com/compare-card-machines) - [ Payment Gateway ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/online-payments) ![online-payments-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/online-payments-icon.svg) #### [Payment Gateway](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/online-payments) Start taking payments online today #### [Hosted Checkout Easy, secure and compliant payments for your website](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/hosted-checkout) #### [Virtual Terminal Phone payments made easy for your team](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/virtual-terminal) #### [Pay by Link Take card payment on invoices and emails](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/pay-by-link) #### [Cashflows Portal Access to your data and payment tools in real-time](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows-portal) #### [Click to Pay The revolutionary digital wallet](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/click-to-pay) - [ Fast Onboarding ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/fast-onboarding) ![CF NAV - Faster Customer Onboarding 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Faster%20Customer%20Onboarding%202024.svg) #### [Fast Onboarding](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/fast-onboarding) A game-changing tool that puts you in control of your customer applications - [ Omnichannel ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/omnichannel) ![omnichannel-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/omnichannel-icon.svg) #### [Omnichannel](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/omnichannel) Take payments wherever your customers shop - [ Cashflows Advance ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows_advance) ![Cashflows Advance](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Cashflows%20Advance.svg) #### [Cashflows Advance](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows_advance) Alternative business financing - [ Solutions for sectors ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/solutions-for-sectors) ![CF NAV - Solutions for Sectors 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Solutions%20for%20Sectors%202024.svg) #### [Solutions for sectors](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/solutions-for-sectors) Your industry supported with card payments #### [Retailer payment systems Retail payment solutions to support your business.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/retail) #### [Insurance payment processing Seamless payment processing for Insurance, Brokers and MGA's.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/insurance) #### [Financial services payment solutions From recurring billing, to payout, we’re ready to support you.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/financial-services) #### [Veterinary payment systems Payments you can trust to help your business grow.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/vets) #### [Dental payment systems Seamless and secure systems for dental payments.](https://www.cashflows.com/dental-payment-systems-cashflows) - [Partner with us ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/partnership-opportunities) - [Shift ](https://www.cashflows.com/shift) - About - Resources - Support - [Developers ](https://developer.cashflows.com/) [ Login ](https://www.cashflows.com/login) [ Contact sales ](https://www.cashflows.com/contact) **** - Products - [![payment-processing-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payment-processing-icon.svg) #### Payment Processing Fast, secure, easy - card processing to support your business ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-new-normal#Payment-Processing) - [![payments-in-person-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payments-in-person-icon.svg) #### In-Person Payments All you need for taking card payments in person ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-new-normal#In-Person-Payments) - [![online-payments-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/online-payments-icon.svg) #### Payment Gateway Start taking payments online today ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-new-normal#Payment-Gateway) - [![CF NAV - Faster Customer Onboarding 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Faster%20Customer%20Onboarding%202024.svg) #### Fast Onboarding A game-changing tool that puts you in control of your customer applications ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/fast-onboarding) - [![omnichannel-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/omnichannel-icon.svg) #### Omnichannel Take payments wherever your customers shop ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-new-normal#Omnichannel) - [![Cashflows Advance](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Cashflows%20Advance.svg) #### Cashflows Advance Alternative business financing ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows_advance) - [![CF NAV - Solutions for Sectors 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Solutions%20for%20Sectors%202024.svg) #### Solutions for sectors Your industry supported with card payments ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-new-normal#Solutions-for-sectors) - Partner with us - Shift - About - Resources - Support - [Developers ](https://developer.cashflows.com/) [ Login ](https://www.cashflows.com/login) [ Contact sales ](https://www.cashflows.com/contact) Back [![payment-processing-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payment-processing-icon.svg) #### Payment Processing Fast, secure, easy - card processing to support your business ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/payment-processing) ##### Features #### [Anytime Settlement Get access to your funds within hours](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/anytime-settlement) #### [Account Updater Automatically update lost or stolen card details](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/account-updater) #### [Direct Send Pay out to card in minutes](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/instant-payout) #### [3D Secure V2.2 Get ready for two-factor authentication](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/3d-secure) #### [Network Tokens Revolutionizing digital transactions](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/network-tokens) Back [![payments-in-person-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payments-in-person-icon.svg) #### In-Person Payments All you need for taking card payments in person ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/point-of-sale) ##### Features #### [SUNMI P3 Seamless, secure and speedy payments](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p3) #### [SUNMI P2 SE Smart POS with the power of Android](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p2-se) #### [SUNMI P3 Mix All-in-one POS solution for business](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p3-mix) #### [Countertop card machine Castles Vega Countertop specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/countertop-card-machine) #### [Mobile card machine Castles Vega 3000 Mobile specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/mobile-card-payment-machine) #### [Smart POS card machine Castles Saturn 1000 F2 specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/smart-pos-card-machine) #### [Compare Card Machines Compare our latest card machines](https://www.cashflows.com/compare-card-machines) Back [![online-payments-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/online-payments-icon.svg) #### Payment Gateway Start taking payments online today ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/online-payments) ##### Features #### [Hosted Checkout Easy, secure and compliant payments for your website](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/hosted-checkout) #### [Virtual Terminal Phone payments made easy for your team](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/virtual-terminal) #### [Pay by Link Take card payment on invoices and emails](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/pay-by-link) #### [Cashflows Portal Access to your data and payment tools in real-time](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows-portal) #### [Click to Pay The revolutionary digital wallet](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/click-to-pay) Back [![CF NAV - Faster Customer Onboarding 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Faster%20Customer%20Onboarding%202024.svg) #### Fast Onboarding A game-changing tool that puts you in control of your customer applications ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/fast-onboarding) Back [![omnichannel-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/omnichannel-icon.svg) #### Omnichannel Take payments wherever your customers shop ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/omnichannel) ##### Features Back [![Cashflows Advance](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Cashflows%20Advance.svg) #### Cashflows Advance Alternative business financing ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows_advance) Back [![CF NAV - Solutions for Sectors 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Solutions%20for%20Sectors%202024.svg) #### Solutions for sectors Your industry supported with card payments ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/solutions-for-sectors) ##### Features #### [Retailer payment systems Retail payment solutions to support your business.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/retail) #### [Insurance payment processing Seamless payment processing for Insurance, Brokers and MGA's.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/insurance) #### [Financial services payment solutions From recurring billing, to payout, we’re ready to support you.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/financial-services) #### [Veterinary payment systems Payments you can trust to help your business grow.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/vets) #### [Dental payment systems Seamless and secure systems for dental payments.](https://www.cashflows.com/dental-payment-systems-cashflows) [![arow](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Group%2021%20(3).svg)Explore our blog library](https://www.cashflows.com/blog) [Insights](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/tag/insights) # How to prepare for the next new normal ![](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Cashflows_February2021/Images/Next-New-Normal.jpg) [By Cashflows Press Team](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/author/cashflows-press-team) Commerce is dynamic and always changing. Covid-19 has heightened this, so how can businesses position themselves strongly for the future? The same, only more so: that’s been the impact of Covid-19 on consumer behaviour and commerce. For example, the move towards digital payment was already underway, Covid-19 has merely accelerated it. The same is true of contactless payment, contact-free customer experiences and omnichannel. **Digital payments rise, cash falls** It’s not news that digital payments are growing, while paper-based payments, such as cash and cheques, are falling. Cards and contactless were used for more than half of all UK payments last, says UK Finance. Meanwhile the use of cash fell 15% to make up less than a quarter of all payments. During the Coronavirus pandemic, the trend towards digital payment away from cash has become more pronounced. At the height of lockdown in April, a survey by UK ATM network LINK found that three-quarters of people thought Coronavirus would affect their future of use cash over the next six months. Around half said they would use cards (51%) and contactless/mobile payments (44%) more. The volume and value of cash withdrawals seems to bear this out. In April, cash withdrawals were down around 60% year-on-year. By July with restrictions easing, withdrawals were still down around 30%, as was the average amount withdrawn. This fell from a lockdown high of £85 to £77 in July, compared to £65 in 2019. **Contactless payment** Consumers and businesses were already in the contactless habit. In 2019, contactless payments across UK debit and credit cards increased by 16% to 8.6 billion. Since the Coronavirus outbreak, more than 30 countries have increased contactless spending limits, which has strengthened the contactless payment trend. Contactless is a quick, convenient and hygienic way to pay. That consumers can now make – and businesses accept – even more purchases in-store without a PIN or signature has led to a snowball effect. Card giants Mastercard and Visa confirm that more than 75% of their payments in Europe are now contactless. **Contact-free and omnichannel commerce** Contact-free customer experiences existed pre-Covid. Think: self-service checkout at supermarkets, kiosks at stations, order ahead and collect at Starbucks and just-walk-out shopping at Amazon Go stores in the US. Social distancing has increased the need for contact-free commerce in-store. From kerbside grocery collection to at-table order-and-pay solutions using QR codes, Covid-19 has driven new uses for existing solutions. And a further blurring of distinctions between physical and digital channels and payment methods. **How Cashflows can help** Taking digital payments can help businesses close sales. Whether that’s cards, UK direct debit, Faster Payments or various local payment methods. Cashflows lets your customers pay the way they want to help you convert sales. With regard to contactless payments in-store, Cashflows terminals come with contactless acceptance built in. For new customers, the increased contactless limits come as standard out of the box. For existing customers, this is a software update rolled out remotely. Simple. Cashflows operates a single platform to power omnichannel commerce. However, you sell, we make it happen behind-the-scenes. One platform also means you can track sales, spot trends or plan from a single place in real-time all the time. Payment acceptance can be more than just a quick fix to a specific Covid-19 problem. Implemented correctly, it can be a complete commerce solution to maximise sales across multiple channels for the next new normal. To find out more about payment acceptance with Cashflows [contact us](https://www.cashflows.com/contact) today    --- [[1]](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-new-normal#_ftnref1) ‘Cards used for half of payments for the first time last year’, UK Finance press release, 3 June 2020, https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/press/press-releases/cards-used-half-payments-first-time-last-year [[2]](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-new-normal#_ftnref2) ‘Coronavirus crisis means cash use down but UK still withdrawing £1 billion from ATMs each week’, LINK press release, 28 April 2020, https://www.link.co.uk/about/news/coronavirus-cash-usage-data/ [[3]](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-new-normal#_ftnref3) ‘ATM cash use rising again as retail and hospitality reopen’, LINK press release, 30 July 2020, https://www.link.co.uk/about/news/link-atm-cash-use-rising-again-as-retail-and-hospitality-reopen/ [[4]](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-new-normal#_ftnref4) ‘Mastercard enables contactless limit raise across 29 countries; and champions permanent increase’, Mastercard press release, 25 March 2020, https://newsroom.mastercard.com/eu/press-releases/mastercard-enables-contactless-limit-raise-across-29-countries-and-champions-permanent-increase/ ‘Visa and Vipps team up to accelerate mobile payments in Europe,’ Visa press release, 3 September 2020, https://www.visa.co.uk/about-visa/newsroom/press-releases.3031473.html ## Related Stories [![Selecting the best payment terminal for your business](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/IPP%20Blog.jpg) Insights ## Selecting the best payment terminal for your business In-Person Payments Made Easy "When selecting a terminal for processing payments in your business, ... ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/in-person-payments-made-easy) [![Strategies to enhance your checkout experience](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/ECEXP.jpg) Insights ## Strategies to enhance your checkout experience In the world of eCommerce, a seamless checkout experience can be the difference between closing a ... ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/enhance-your-checkout-experience)