Cross-border remittance platforms have evolved drastically over the years, and one such evolution is alternative payment methods. APMs can do wonders that your customers could not even imagine. Yes, APMs have changed the perspective of cross-border payments.
Additionally, mobile wallets, local bank schemes, and cash pickups are helping customers bypass the usual delays and high fees. They’re solving real problems in real time. In fact, global APM transactions are expected to surpass $15 trillion by 2027’ says Apexx Global. That alone shows how fast things are shifting.
You’re not just dealing with evolving tech. You’re dealing with evolving expectations. If you want to deliver smarter cross-border remittance services, you need to understand what APMs offer and what you stand to gain.
Let’s start by breaking down what APMs really are and how they work.
Here we go!
What is APM actually?
Alternative payment methods aren’t new, but they’re finally getting the spotlight in cross-border remittance solutions.
You may think of cards and bank transfers as the default. But most people around the world don’t rely on them. APMs are everything beyond the traditional. They include:
Mobile wallets like M-Pesa, bKash, and GCash in the eastern and western African regions.
Local payment schemes such as UPI in India or PIX in Brazil
Cash pickups and prepaid vouchers
These options match local preferences. They also work well in places where banking infrastructure is limited. That’s exactly why users prefer them and why you need to offer them.
Why APMs are revolutionizing cross-border payments
You’re no longer serving just one type of customer. You’re serving a global base with different expectations and habits. APMs let you meet those expectations with speed and flexibility.
People trust local payment methods
Customers feel safe while using the platform that they know. When they see familiar names like GCash or UPI, they’re more likely to complete the transaction.
In the Philippines, over 80% of digital transactions now go through mobile wallets. These numbers show trust. You just need to offer what they already use.
APMs help you lower transaction costs
Traditional banking routes charge high fees. Intermediary banks, currency conversion, and SWIFT charges eat all your margins. But the good news is “APMs cut through all that”.
Yes, alternative payment methods allow direct-to-wallet or direct-to-account transfers using local rails. That saves money for you and your customers.
Real-time or near-instant delivery
Traditional cross-border transactions often consume a lot of time to process. And the procedure is often delayed due to several factors, such as currency conversion, clearance, etc. Customers demand instant payments in cross-border transactions, too. Domestic or across the border, it’s all the same for them.
And such delays damage your brand. Your customers don’t want to wait three to five days. With APMs, you can process payouts in minutes or even seconds.
Real-time rails like UPI or PIX already offer instant settlement. It’s fast, reliable, and what your customers now expect.
Access to the unbanked and underbanked
Over 1.4 billion people globally are unbanked. But the good thing is, that most of them have smartphones.
Using this opportunity, you can provide these customers with a seamless cross-border remittance platform. Through this, your customers can send and receive money in a secure way.
How APMs help you stay ahead of the competition
You don’t win in remittance by copying your competitors. You win by moving faster, serving better, and scaling smarter. And APMs help you do all of that. Here’s how they help you:
Expand in high-volume remittance corridors
Your growth lies in the busiest corridors: the Philippines, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. These countries rely heavily on inward remittances.
When you support locally preferred APMs in these markets, you become more than a provider. You become a go-to choice.
Deliver a seamless user experience
Often, customers drop off when payments feel complicated. With APMs, you offer interfaces that customers already know. You can simplify KYC, make onboarding easy, and remove unnecessary steps.
This further drives adoption and repeat use.
Increase retention through lower fees and better speed
Customers always compare fees and speed before choosing a remittance provider. If you offer faster delivery through APMs and reduce transfer costs, they’ll keep coming back. That’s how you boost retention without increasing your operational load.
What you need to consider before integrating APMs
It’s not about adding APMs just for the sake of it. You need to do it right to avoid issues later. Here’s what you need to do:
Select trusted APM providers
Every region has its leaders. Working with providers who have a strong local presence and understand compliance gives you an edge over the competition.
Check their track record. Look at their uptime, support quality, and delivery success rates.
Make compliance a priority
APMs are still bound by AML and KYC regulations. But you don’t have to complicate onboarding.
You can go with providers that support digital KYC and automated checks. That way, you stay compliant without slowing things down.
Build for interoperability
Your backend must support different APMs easily. That includes APIs, wallet integrations, and smart routing engines.
That’s why you should choose a platform that allows quick onboarding of new APMs as user preferences evolve.
Future trends that will shape APM in remittance
APMs aren’t standing still. If anything, they’re growing smarter and more connected by the day. Here’s how:
Local real-time rails will become global
Mobile wallets have already become popular for APMs in remittance. And more such corridors will open up. Expect local instant payment networks to become cross-border channels.
This will reduce dependency on SWIFT and cut down costs even further.
Smart routing will optimize cost and speed
You won’t have to guess the cheapest or fastest route anymore. Smart engines will compare the APMs for you in real time and choose the best one.
That means better performance and happier customers.
More partnerships will unlock new corridors
Wallet-to-wallet transfers between countries will rise. Banks, fintechs, and wallet providers will join hands to support instant payouts.
You just need the infrastructure ready to plug into this growing ecosystem.
Conclusion
Alternative payment methods are reshaping the future of cross-border remittance. They lower transaction costs, speed up delivery, and connect you with users who were once beyond reach. By offering trusted local payment options, you meet real customer needs with real solutions.
APMs help you stay competitive, relevant, and ready for the markets that matter most. Ignoring them means falling behind in a space that’s rapidly moving forward.
Now is the time to act. Upgrade your remittance platform with the right APM integrations and lead the change. Offer smarter, faster, and more inclusive remittance services, starting today.
