Unzer Opens New Office in Munsbach

Unzer, a Berlin-headquartered provider of integrated payment and software solutions, officially opened its new office in Munsbach, Luxembourg, on Monday 25 November 2024.

The new Munsbach office replaces Unzer's previous space in Grevenmacher and is intended to support the company's continued growth in Luxembourg. In recent months, Unzer has increased its team and strengthened key functions across the organisation. With plans to grow the Luxembourg team to 40+ members in the coming months, Unzer described itself as well-positioned to meet the needs of local merchants and to further develop its presence in the Grand Duchy.

The grand opening of the Munsbach office took place on Monday evening and featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a tour of the new facility and a presentation of the company's business model.

Chronicle.lu had the opportunity to speak with Birgit Bucari-Kaiser, Managing Director Luxembourg, about the new office and plans for the future.

Chronicle.lu: We understand this new facility in Munsbach replaces the first Unzer Luxembourg office in Grevenmacher. Please tell us about the company's expansion into the Luxembourg market. Why is Luxembourg considered a key market for Unzer?

Birgit Bucari-Kaiser: Certainly! Luxembourg is a key market for Unzer because it's a perfect fit for our all-in-one payment solutions. Merchants there are highly interested in having everything they need from a single provider, and that's exactly what we deliver - both POS [point of sale] systems and online payment options in one place. This setup gives our merchants the convenience of a single point of contact, which has been very appealing.

While Luxembourg may be smaller than other markets, it's further along in its digital journey compared to places like Germany and Austria. This advanced digital landscape, along with a vibrant startup ecosystem, makes it an ideal environment for our state-of-the-art products. Plus, we already have an established team and a Luxembourg licence, which positions us well to grow and meet the market's specific needs. So, we see a lot of exciting opportunities for Unzer in Luxembourg.

Chronicle.lu: How many people are now employed by Unzer in Luxembourg? How many jobs will the opening of this new office create?

Birgit Bucari-Kaiser: Our Luxembourg office plays a vital role in our operations, and we are continuing to expand it. Recently, we moved from our charming but relatively small office in Grevenmacher to a new, larger space in Munsbach. Over the past few months, we've grown our Luxembourg team from 30 to around 40 members, representing all key functions within the organisation.

Sales in Luxembourg is all about building close, personalised relationships with our customers. What really sets us apart from the competition is our dedicated local specialist team. The payment card mix in Luxembourg is different from other markets, and we're actively adapting to meet these unique needs. It's essential to us that our POS solutions align with the specific requirements of the Luxembourg market. That's why we're committed to expanding the team there - I expect to grow it to 50 or more people in the coming months.

Chronicle.lu: Please tell us about the launch of Unzer's mobile point of sale solutions in Luxembourg. Who are these solutions aimed at and what does this launch mean for customers?

Birgit Bucari-Kaiser: Sure! In January, we launched our POS solutions in Luxembourg, which include cashier software, card terminals and our POS Go solution. These solutions are designed with small and medium-sized businesses in mind - restaurants, event vendors, retail stores - any business that wants to keep up with the growing demand for contactless and flexible payment options.

Take our POS Go cashier system, for instance. This single portable device includes a built-in card reader, receipt printer, and scanner, and it is powered by cloud-based cashier software. We see strong demand, especially among food trucks, market stalls and event vendors. And merchants benefit from additional features like digital accounting, receipt storage and real-time sales analysis, which helps them manage their operations more effectively. It has everything needed to run your store and grow your business.

Chronicle.lu: Has Unzer faced any particular regulatory challenges in Luxembourg?

Birgit Bucari-Kaiser: As a regulated financial institution with licences in Germany, Denmark and Luxembourg, we maintain a strong and collaborative relationship with all our regulators, including the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). This proactive partnership has allowed us to seamlessly align with Luxembourg's regulatory expectations.

We proactively address compliance and governance standards throughout our group. Over the past three years, we have invested over €20 million in company-wide compliance initiatives, enhancing our monitoring systems, strengthening our compliance team and implementing a robust three-line defence strategy. These measures show just how committed we are to upholding the highest standards of compliance and corporate governance. And as we move forward, we'll keep demonstrating our dedication to integrity and strong regulatory cooperation here in Luxembourg.

Chronicle.lu: What are some key trends in terms of recent payment behaviours in Luxembourg and elsewhere in Europe? Has Unzer identified any specific opportunities and/or challenges as these behaviours evolve?

Birgit Bucari-Kaiser: I think we can see three clear trends:
First, there's a significant shift from cash to card payments across all markets, including traditionally cash-heavy countries like Germany, Austria, but also Luxembourg. Digital wallets- such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, Amazon Pay and PayPal - are growing in popularity, particularly among younger generations. The appeal is clear: digital wallets allow for quick, secure transactions without the need for physical cash or cards. This shift toward digital payments is largely driven by the convenience and security these methods offer to consumers.

Second, the world is increasingly digital, and the boundaries between online and offline are disappearing. Consumers now expect a unified experience across both channels. Larger international retailers have been investing for years to provide this seamless integration. Unfortunately, smaller and medium-sized retailers often don't have the same budget for such advancements. At Unzer, our goal is to empower these merchants, enabling them to offer the same integrated experience to their customers, helping them stay competitive in this evolving digital landscape.

And third: Payment is all about ease and security. The toughest thing is to change a consumer's habit. Customers will only change their behaviour and preferences if they see a clear benefit. In the end, building trust and providing convenience will be crucial for any new payment method to gain traction. At Unzer, we remain agnostic to specific payment methods. Our role is to support our merchants in providing a seamless shopping experience, making it easier for them to serve their customers effectively.

Chronicle.lu: Looking towards the future, what is next for Unzer (say in the next five to ten years) in Luxembourg and beyond?

Birgit Bucari-Kaiser: In the next five to ten years, Unzer aims to further empower merchants in Luxembourg and beyond by continuing to expand our comprehensive ecosystem of payment and software solutions. We're focused on supporting digital transformation and enabling businesses to sell seamlessly across multiple channels. With our robust offerings and unified platform, we're well-positioned to add real value to merchants across Europe, accelerating our growth and bringing our solutions to new markets.