Though EMV migration to date has mostly focused on contact payments and acceptance, payments consultancy FIME anticipates upcoming demand for contactless EMV and NFC payments — and as a result is advising the industry to consider these technologies in EMV migration plans.

Apple Pay makes the use of contactless technologies virtually inevitable, said Xavier Giandominici, director of FIME America, in a news release:

The recent announcement of Apple Pay, Apple's NFC-based mobile wallet, will drive consumer demand for NFC and contactless EMV payment acceptance. The question we hear most often is whether the new terminals merchants are installing for EMV will also accept contactless EMV and NFC payments. Most terminals shipped today are flexible and are capable of accepting many forms of payment: magnetic stripe, EMV contact, EMV contactless and NFC payments. However, it is up to each individual merchant to choose if they want to enable acceptance of contactless and NFC payments. These are options they should consider in project plans for EMV migration.

FIME also sees value-added resellers, independent service organizations and independent software vendors playing a large role in guiding businesses through their EMV migrations and NFC implementations.

Giandominici said that in order to support increased demand for EMV and NFC acceptance, VARs, ISOs and ISVs will need additional training and education, which FIME is working with industry associations and other channels to help provide.