Paytech companies in Poland are outpacing banks in the adoption of new technologies, according to the Capgemini World Payments Report 2026. The study shows that by implementing modern solutions such as generative artificial intelligence, payment orchestration, and Soft POS technology, paytechs are increasingly setting service standards for merchants and businesses in Poland.
The report highlights clear differences in the adoption of key technologies. Generative AI has been implemented by 60% of paytechs operating in Poland, compared to 40% of banks. In areas such as integrated payment process management and Soft POS, the proportions are 70% versus 30%. This advantage is not solely the result of greater technological agility. Paytechs build their platforms using API-based architectures, enabling rapid service integration, scalability, and process automation. The result is a payment environment capable of responding in real time, rather than in weekly or monthly cycles.
“Modern solutions such as generative AI and payment orchestration are no longer technological novelties—they have become the main battleground for market share in Poland’s payment sector. The ability to implement these innovations quickly and effectively directly translates into market position, and the report’s data clearly show that paytechs are setting the pace of change,” comments Michał Purzycki, Director of Banking and Capital Markets at Capgemini Poland.
Merchant onboarding in 60 minutes
The technological advantage of paytechs is particularly evident in the onboarding process for new merchants. Paytechs can onboard a new merchant in under 60 minutes at an average cost of $145. In contrast, traditional banks may take up to seven days for the same process, with costs reaching $397.
“A key element of this advantage is the full automation of pre-screening, verification, and risk assessment using AI. In practice, this means businesses can start selling within hours rather than days, which in a dynamic commercial environment becomes a real source of competitive advantage,” adds Michał Purzycki.
Greater reliability through orchestration
Another area where merchants benefit from paytech innovation is payment quality and reliability. As many as 69% of companies consider high transaction success rates to be fundamental to their operations, while only one in five banks declares full readiness to provide infrastructure at that level. Moreover, 100% of large merchants using banking services reported experiencing up to nine hours of unplanned service downtime annually, significantly impacting their business.
Payment orchestration—implemented by 70% of paytechs in Poland—enables intelligent, real-time management of the entire transaction process. It allows systems to select the optimal authorization path, optimize routing, and minimize transaction declines. As a result, merchants achieve higher conversion rates and more stable revenues, particularly in high-volume sectors or those driven by impulse purchases.
Soft POS as the new standard for mobile payments
One of the innovations gaining rapid traction thanks to paytechs is Soft POS technology. Already, 7 out of 10 payment technology firms in Poland have implemented this solution, compared to just 3 out of 10 banks. Soft POS turns a standard smartphone into a payment terminal, eliminating the need for dedicated, costly hardware.
For merchants, this means greater mobility, lower entry costs, and the ability to accept payments anywhere—from small service points to field deliveries and seasonal stalls. This flexibility enables businesses to respond more quickly to customer needs and introduce new sales models without additional investment, which is particularly valued by small enterprises and occasional or hybrid sellers.
The next step: agentic payments
The report indicates that the technological gap between banks and the paytech sector is not accidental but stems from banks’ gradual withdrawal from the capital-intensive, low-margin acquiring business. The resulting market gap is being rapidly filled by specialized payment technology firms investing in solutions that directly support merchants, while banks focus their resources on core activities.
The next stage of this competition will revolve around agentic payments—a model in which autonomous AI systems not only support payments but also initiate, optimize, and secure them independently. The World Payments Report 2026 shows that some companies are already implementing such solutions, using them both in customer interactions and in back-end processes such as merchant onboarding, risk assessment, and payment orchestration.
In this evolving landscape, competitive advantage will belong to those who control the technological layer—data, real-time decision-making mechanisms, and the ability to autonomously respond to risks.
