The way that merchants can accept payments seems to be growing at an exponential rate. Cash and credit has been joined by mobile applications, EMV systems and near field communications (NFC) technology. While the solutions are by no means brand new, according to one expert they have reached the tipping point or infiltrating the mainstream.

In a recent guest column for Computer Business Review, Pat Carroll, the CEO of ValidSoft - a mobile payment fraud prevention company - gave his outlook on what the payments industry can expect in the next year. According to Carroll, as consumers become more comfortable with mobile devices, the shift toward mobile payment options is going to be quicker than many experts are predicting.

"2013 is going to be the year of mobile payments more generally," wrote Carroll. "Consumers are increasingly coming to terms with the concept of paying for things on their phone, whether that's through apps for shopping or banking, by accessing various accounts through the web browser of a phone, or having downloaded virtual versions of things such as store credit cards."

He went on to say that unlike the mobile devices themselves, there is no clear cut leader in how mobile payments will progress. Many different versions are fighting for market share and speculation is rampant. One of the biggest disappointments in 2012 from a mobile payment standpoint was the lack of an NFC chip in the iPhone 5.

Companies in the B2B sector will also be feeling the pressure to incorporate these solutions, especially as those making purchases for other companies start to use these methods in their private lives. Organizations that are early adopters will be able to tinker with the system and make sure they can offer desired B2B purchasing functions like line item detail and the ability to accept p cards.