Changing the Game: Why Wero is built around merchants

Wero, the innovative new pan-European payment system from EPI, is designed to simplify buying and selling across Europe. It’s already launched in Belgium, France and Germany, with more countries coming soon. Merchants of all sizes, both online and off, will play a crucial role in Wero’s success by offering their customers a seamless, secure payment experience. 

Let’s explore how merchants will help us change the way Europe pays. 

We’re on the same side 

EPI’s payment model works through acquirers, licensed companies that collect payments from customers’ accounts. However, we understand the critical role of market feedback, particularly from merchants. After all, no matter how enthusiastic consumers may be about Wero, they can only use it if merchants are willing to offer it at checkout. 

Retailers must balance the fees and integration costs of every payment option against the value it offers them. That’s why we’ve built a team dedicated to engaging with merchants and connecting all our stakeholders – and it is why we have been talking to them since long before Wero launched.  

At the heart of our engagement is the Wero Merchant Forum, held twice a year. It allows merchants to connect with EPI, its member banks, technical solutions providers, and each other, at a European level.  

The Forum includes representatives from companies of all sizes, with smaller businesses represented by their associations, and acts as a platform for feedback and updates on Wero’s progress and plans. Its collaborative approach ensures we will always be aligned with merchant needs and expectations – and offers merchants the chance to connect with each other in new ways. 

Inclusive engagement 

The inaugural Forum featured merchants who reached out to us during Wero’s early stages. Going forward, we will include companies that have already integrated Wero or are in the process of onboarding. Additionally, we will continue to reach out to new contacts to explain Wero and understand their needs. Our goal is to create a collaborative environment where merchants feel heard and valued. 

The Merchant Forum Advisory Group ensures the Forum’s agenda stays relevant to the needs and concerns of merchants. Comprising trade associations and individual business representatives, it also ensures feedback is communicated to us, and that we stay attuned to the evolving needs of people who sell with Wero, from the largest multinational to thousands of small retailers and wholesalers across Europe. 

Every merchant matters 

We value hearing merchants’ thoughts on Wero and their ideas for improvement. Local Community meetings provide a platform to discuss local topics with EPI. We’ve already held meetings in France and look forward to more across Europe. These meetings are a testament to our commitment to building and maintaining collaboration with merchants for the long term. 

Recognizing that expectations vary, we have established Expert Groups for focused discussions. For instance, our recent workshop with EV charging providers addressed how Wero’s consent-based payment model helps address specific needs and challenges for that sector. 

Through partnerships with industry experts and businesses of all sizes, we aim to ensure Wero addresses diverse needs for functionality, flexibility, fairness, and affordability. This collaboration will also simplify and reduce the bureaucratic burden of selling, both locally and across European borders. 

Join us in shaping the future of payments 

Building, implementing, and refining a new pan-European payment method, soon to be in the pockets of more than 75% of consumers across Belgium, France, and Germany, is a unique opportunity. Your collaboration is crucial to our shared success, and we invite all merchants to help us perfect Wero for both businesses and consumers alike. 

More info here to get involved. We look forward to having you on board.