Smart Card Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Component (Hardware, Software, Service), Functionality (Communication, Transaction, Security & Access Control) and By Geography

Smart Card Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Component (Hardware, Software, Service), Functionality (Communication, Transaction, Security & Access Control) and By Geography

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Smart Card Market is accounted for $14.73 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $20.90 billion by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period. Smart Card is the device type that is used to exchange and manipulate the data stored in it. It is embedded in an integrated circuit chip, which can be either a simple memory circuit or a microprocessor with memory. The smart card is connected to the host controller through the smart card reader based on RF communication technology. It offers key features such as reusability, secure transaction, and provisions for storing numerous data on a card. It is extensively used to encourage the smart payment mode and to enhance the secure payment transactions.

In 2020, the UK manufacturer sales of smart cards amounted to 28.88 million British pounds, an increase from the previous year. Smart cards are those that incorporate an electronic integrated circuit. By the end of 2020, commercial eSIM services for smartphones were available in every region of the world, however, Europe dominated the global market. Europe had 41 percent of the total global operators that have already launched commercial eSIM services for smartphones, whereas Asia-Pacific and North America had 25 and eight percent, respectively.

Market Dynamics:

Driver:

Rising demand for contactless payments

With the outbreak and the spread of the COVID-19, the use of contactless payments grew quickly. Amid the pandemic, which obligates limited contact and social distancing, people buy groceries, household items, etc., using contactless payment options. Consumers aim to limit their exposure during transactions. People consider contactless (tap-and-pay) cards as the fastest and the safest way to pay. The general perception of tap-and-pay cards being the most secure, preferred, convenient, and fastest payment method has expanded since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Restraint:

Concerns regarding security and data theft

Smart cards have generated a great deal of interest among consumers in recent years owing to the advantages offered by them. However, their cost is one of the factors that restrain the growth of the smart card market. The initial capital investments required for setting up smart cards for access control and other applications are high. Smart cards require readers to read encryptions and obtain the information to provide physical or logical access. The deployment of these readers involves additional purchase costs. Costs of these cards increase with the use of chips that have high capacity and offer highly sophisticated capabilities. Thus, equipping employees with multifunctional smart cards is expected to require more initial investments than those required by conventional cards.

Opportunity:

Advent of blockchain technology

Blockchain is a revolutionary technology that helps businesses develop fast and secure applications that fulfill stringent security requirements. Smart cards can effectively manage cryptographic keys, thereby enabling efficient and secure transactions in blockchain applications. They act as vaults for storing cryptographic keys. When smart cards are connected to the Internet through POS readers, the keys stored in them can be matched with keys stored in online libraries. If the match is successful, users are authenticated. This is expected to help banks and other ecosystem players secure and authenticate the identity of users in an improved manner, thereby reducing instances of cyber thefts.

Threat:

Increasing use of digital identity cards

Digital identity cards are the electronic equivalent of identity cards. Unlike paper-based identity cards such as driving licenses and passports, digital identity cards can be authenticated remotely over digital channels. This results in unlocking their access to banking services, government schemes, educational facilities, etc. It is expected that in the next three to four years, mobile devices will serve as digital identity cards to access enterprise services and data. The technology required by digital identity cards is not only easily available but is also more affordable than ever, making it possible for emerging economies to skip paper-based approaches for identification. There is a growing demand for digital identity cards across the world as governments of different countries are adopting this technology to identify their population and cater to their requirements.

Covid-19 Impact

The outburst of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the smart card industry in the first half of 2020 owing to lockdowns imposed in several countries by government administrations. Disruptions in the global supply chains also hindered the manufacturing capabilities of the market players. The industry regained traction in the second half of 2020, following relaxations on pandemic-related restrictions. Since 2020, consumers are increasingly using contactless cards for payments at retail stores, restaurants, transportation terminals, and hospitals.

The contactless segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period

Contactless smart cards include an embedded smart card secure microcontroller or equivalent intelligence, internal memory, and a small antenna; it communicates with readers through a contactless radio frequency (RF) interface. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) or near-field communication (NFC) communication technologies are primarily used for contactless smart card applications. COVID-19 is positively impacting the contactless smart card market as the World Health Organization (WHO) and governments across the world are advocating the use of contactless smart cards for various purposes to ensure social distancing to contain the spread of the virus. Contactless smart cards provide ease, speed, and convenience to users. The contactless interface has become highly relevant in the current COVID-19 situation, especially for payment applications, as it facilitates safe and secure transactions without physical contact.

The subscriber identity module (SIM) & telecommunications segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period

A subscriber identity module (SIM) card is a type of microcontroller-based smart card used in mobile phones and other devices. A SIM identifies and authenticates a subscriber to a wireless cell phone network. Expanding global mobile network and improvements in its infrastructure are boosting the growth of the segment. COVID-19 has also led to an increased demand for connectivity. The current crisis provided a push to the trend of digitalization of business and private communication with cellular technology, along with the generalization of digital conferences. The penetration of high-end SIM card technologies is also expected to augment the market growth in the coming years.

Region with largest share:

Asia Pacific is projected to hold the largest market share owing to expanding and progressing transportation infrastructure in the region. The robust financial system that is being increasingly digitized and government agencies incorporating smart chip-based systems for better monitoring of processes are propelling several Asian countries to adopt smart card solutions owing to increasing demand, specifically in the transportation, BFSI, retail, government, and healthcare sectors. Smart cards are used to purchase tickets in metros, buses, and ferries, among others, in several countries in the region. China is projected to witness the highest demand for smart cards in the region owing to a large consumer base and the presence of a number of smart card manufacturers.

Region with highest CAGR:

Europe is projected to have the highest CAGR due to the high demand for smart card readers for access control in corporate organizations and transit. The corporate organizations in the region are assigning these smart cards to employees to deploy an automated staff identification and attendance system.

Key players in the market

Some of the key players profiled in the Smart Card Market include Thales Group (Gemalto), Giesecke & Devrient (G+D), Cardcom Technology, Cardlogix, HID Global, Identiv, Inc., Eastcompeace, Inteligensa, CPI Card Group, Valid, Watchdata, Idemia, Abcorp, Ingenico, and Kona I Co., Ltd.

Key developments:

In January 2021: IDEMIA signed a four-year agreement with Jyske Bank, the second-largest Danish-owned bank, to introduce the first recycled plastic payment card in Denmark.

In June 2020: CPI and Visa Inc. launched the Earthwise High Content Card, which is made with up to 98% upcycled plastic. Through an exclusive agreement, the companies will initially provide all Visa-issuing financial institutions worldwide access to the Earthwise High Content Card, which is EMV-compliant and dual interface capable, enabling both contact and contactless payments.

In January 2020: Confidex, a leading designer and supplier of short-range wireless identification solutions, entered into a partnership with Thales to develop a flexible smart media for Calypso-based systems. Confidex used Gemalto’s software solutions to create a new category of microprocessor-based smart media. These products include durable contactless paper cards embedded with a PET layer that reinforces the structure of the card. This makes the product resistant to harsh environments associated with transportation applications.

In January 2018: Gemalto expanded its footprint for access management as a service solution across the European Union. This new facility will help the company respond to the rising demand for its cloud-based authentication and smart cards, and help customers maintain privacy and data sovereignty.

Types Covered:
• Microcontroller
• Memory Protection Unit (MPU) Microprocessor
• Memory

Interfaces Covered:
• Contactless
• Contact
• Dual Interface
• Hybrid

Components Covered:
• Hardware
• Software
• Service

Offerings Covered:
• Smart Card Readers
• Smart Cards

Functionalities Covered:
• Communication
• Transaction
• Security & Access Control

Accesses Covered:
• Physical
• Logical

End Users Covered
• Banking, Financial Services And Insurance (BFSI)
• Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) & Telecommunications
• Retail and Loyalty
• Healthcare
• Government
• Entertainment
• Transportation
• Education
• Energy & Utility (Smart Meters for Electricity, Water, and Gas)

Regions Covered:
• North America
US
Canada
Mexico
• Europe
Germany
UK
Italy
France
Spain
Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
Japan
China
India
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Qatar
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:
- Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
- Covers Market data for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2028
- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements