On today's episode, we discuss what brand new forecasts the forecasting team cooked up in Q2, including social media buyers and buy now, pay later service users. We then talk about the 2021 NBA finals ratings, a landmark ruling that lets brands work with NCAA athletes, and why OOH ad prices are on the rise. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer forecasting analyst Nazmul Islam and director of forecasting at Insider Intelligence Oscar Orozco.

On today's episode, we discuss which pandemic personas will stick around, why brands are struggling to know who their customers are, and the most important ways consumer behavior has likely changed permanently. We then talk about how people will shop once businesses are fully reopen, two new in-store virtual reality (VR) experiences, and what Apple's new “buy now, pay later” service could do to the space. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer principal analyst at Insider Intelligence Suzy Davidkhanian.

Apple Pay’s large acceptance network and user base could make it a formidable player in the buy now, pay later space—posing a major threat to incumbent BNPL providers and credit cards.

The top 3 buy now, pay later platforms

HERO lets online customers connect with in-store retail associates to ask product questions and seek other support—which could help Klarna strengthen its merchant relationships.

The installment lending solution helps Amazon boost ecommerce sales and break further into India’s payment space—and it may also help the etailer capitalize on the global buy now, pay later market.

The banking giant will build out its buy now, pay later footprint by creating two key roles within its Marcus direct bank—and its ambitions could add prospects for its upcoming checking account.

Splitit partnered with UAE-based BNPL provider tabby, and Singapore-based fintech Fave launched its BNPL service in Singapore and Malaysia as global appetite for installment lending services increases.

This fall, US consumers will be able to use Afterpay’s app to shop at popular retailers even if those stores don’t have a partnership with the BNPL provider, helping it capitalize on a lucrative market and fostering increased customer engagement.

More than 45 million people ages 14 and older in the US will use buy now, pay later (BNPL) services this year, according to our inaugural user forecast for these financing options. That’s up 81.2% over 2020, and the age range of BNPL users will widen over the coming years as well.

Affirm partnered with Shopify to give customers access to a BNPL solution, and Klarna got a $639 million cash injection to fund expansion.

Afterpay and Klarna affirm their dominance

The buy now, pay later firm saw record-breaking volume driven by significant US growth and is positioning itself to keep up this momentum through international expansion and new retail partnerships.

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) services have emerged in recent years as more retailers, including Walmart and Macy’s, began offering consumers financing options when checking out.

After the coronavirus pandemic forced issuers to adapt rewards, enhance forbearance, and build out digital tools to cope with a volume hit in 2020, they’re looking to reimagine their offerings in the future to add new customers and regain primary card status.

US consumers want Venmo to offer rewards

The pandemic accelerated payments industry digitization across the entire landscape, as merchants turned to ecommerce to keep doors open, consumers eschewed cash in favor of electronic and contactless payments, and payments technology providers rapidly developed and launched new solutions to keep up.

Buy now, pay later solutions are quickly gaining adoption as consumers look for new financing options and merchants aim to drive sales. But the industry is still unsettled as a number of firms are battling to lead the space, while card networks and issuers are looking to get involved too.