Global: FIS Unveils Smart Basket to Enhance Real-Time Purchase Intelligence and Streamline Payments

FIS, a global leader in financial technology solutions, has announced Smart Basket, an upcoming innovation designed to transform the checkout experience through real-time, item-level purchase intelligence and automated payment optimization.

The Smart Basket solution will leverage an advanced adjudication engine and transaction gateway to analyze consumer shopping behavior, proactively applying the best rewards, discounts, and payment methods in real time. This will enable shoppers to save instantly while fostering stronger brand and retailer loyalty.

Recent research by FIS and Oxford reveals that friction in payment processes costs organizations an average of $4.9 million annually, with over half (51%) identifying payment processing—also known as “money-in-motion”—as the area with the greatest inefficiencies. Smart Basket aims to address this challenge by integrating three core FIS technologies: its real-time payments gateway, loyalty platform, and filtered spend technology.

By enabling payment method selection at the item level, the new system is expected to reduce transaction costs, enhance customer experience, and empower merchants with precision-driven loyalty and rewards capabilities.

“Smart Basket represents a significant leap forward in how money can be moved and put to work during the shopping experience,” said Jim Johnson, President at FIS. “Through real-time, item-level intelligence, we’re seeking to deliver personalized value and frictionless savings for consumers while equipping retailers and brands with the insights they need to optimize performance. This is truly a game-changer for the payments industry.”

Why Smart Basket Matters

For Consumers:
Smart Basket is designed to automatically apply personalized rewards and optimal payment methods for each purchase, including debit, credit, prepaid, and even healthcare spending accounts (HSA/FSA). By digitizing and automating discounts, the system eliminates the need for physical coupons and manual payment choices—making the checkout process faster, smarter, and more rewarding.

For Retailers and Brands:
The solution will empower merchants to segment items in a shopping basket across multiple payment types—such as loyalty points or flexible spending accounts—while providing deeper insights into shopper behavior. This will help retailers fine-tune marketing strategies, improve inventory management, and drive incremental sales growth.

For Financial Institutions:
Smart Basket will allow card issuers to develop advanced, tailored loyalty programs, integrating diverse payment sources like real-time payments, stablecoins, and traditional card networks. It can also help institutions detect fraudulent activity through real-time basket-level intelligence.

Ultimately, Smart Basket embodies the next evolution in intelligent commerce, positioning FIS at the forefront of the global effort to create a seamless, data-driven, and sustainable payment ecosystem where every transaction becomes an opportunity to add value—for consumers, businesses, and financial institutions alike.