No. 95 - How do you pay? Consumer profiling through payment diaries and Artificial Intelligence
This study proposes a classification of Italian consumers based on their payment habits, developed through a hybrid approach using Artificial Intelligence techniques. Five behavioural profiles were defined ex ante to represent the full spectrum of payment methods, ranging from a predominant use of cash to the adoption of the most advanced digital solutions. Respondents to the Eurosystem's 2024 SPACE survey were then assigned to these profiles through a procedure combining human assessment, Large Language Models and supervised learning algorithms. Most consumers display 'traditional' behaviour, characterized by the use of cash and cards at physical points of sale and a limited use of remote payment channels. Some 24 per cent of consumers do not use cash, while 15 per cent are well integrated into the digital economy. A minority of the population relies predominantly on cash (7 per cent), while an even smaller share (4 per cent) uses it exclusively in combination with prepaid cards. The socio-demographic characteristics of users in the different behavioural profiles are heterogeneous: for example, younger people are more prevalent among those integrated into the digital ecosystem, whereas older people predominate among those who are cash-oriented. Overall, the findings suggest that the transition towards digital payments is not uniform, adopting alternatives to cash does not necessarily entail using more innovative payment solutions, and cash continues to play a significant role. The approach proposed suggests that payment policy initiatives, including those relating to Central Bank Digital Currencies, should take these differences into account.
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06 October 2026
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