# From Transactions to Transformations: A Bibliometric Study on Technology Convergence in E-Payments
## 2 Theoretical Underpinnings: Evolution of E-Payment Technology and Converging Domains
Technology convergence refers to the integration of distinct digital technologies--such as AI, blockchain, and NFC--into cohesive, interoperable platforms that enable new systemic functionalities, going beyond mere parallel adoption or sequential use (The Technological Convergence Innovation [18; 19; 20]). The era of unprecedented technological convergence within the e-payment domain mirrors advancements in related technological fields, creating innovative solutions that redefine traditional paradigms. This convergence has \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l} \hline \hline
**Period** & **Evolution** \\ \hline
1960s & Development of ATMs \\
1975 onwards & Introduction to EFT \\
1990s & Advent of Online Banking and Emergence of PayPal \\
2005 onwards & Proliferation of Digital wallet and mobile payment solutions \\
2010s & Introduction of Bitcoin and Blockchain technology \\
2020s & Surge in contactless payment, NFC, due to COVID-19 \\
2023 onwards & Focus on security, usability, and financial inclusion in \\  & e-payment research using AI and ML \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Timeline of e-payment technology development. led to the seamless integration of digital payments into daily life and business operations, reflecting a broader trend towards a seamless, integrated digital ecosystem. The synergy between mobile technology and NFC, along with the incorporation of AI and ML, has streamlined payment processes and enhanced the security and reliability of e-payment platforms. Research highlights the transformative role of blockchain, the potential of AI and ML in fraud detection and customer service, and the need for cohesive standards to support widespread adoption. While individual technologies like blockchain and AI have been explored [1, 2], there is a call for more research on understanding the convergence phenomenon and its collective impact on system performance, security, and user experience, emphasizing the dynamic and rapidly evolving field of e-payment technology. This study adopts a bibliometric analysis approach--a quantitative method widely used for systematically reviewing and mapping the structure and evolution of large-scale academic literature. Bibliometric techniques enable researchers to analyze publication trends, citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence networks, topic evolution, co-authorship structures, and institutional collaborations across time and disciplines [16, 17, 21, 22, 23]. Bibliometrics provides a robust framework for tracing the chronological development of a scientific domain from a multi-disciplinary perspective, helping to uncover the underlying intellectual structure of a field [23]. This is achieved through widely adopted techniques such as co-citation clustering, bibliographic coupling, and centrality analysis of keywords--each offering objective insights into research influence and thematic convergence. In recent years, bibliometric studies have played an increasingly prominent role in shaping theory and evaluation within fields such as digital finance, e-commerce, and information systems. For example, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [24] conducted a comprehensive classification and literature review of e-commerce research, applying citation-based mapping to track the development of knowledge in decision support systems. Similarly, [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON] and [PERSON] [21] combined co-word analysis and patent citation analysis to forecast emerging technology trajectories. In the context of mobile and digital payments, [PERSON], et al. [25] conducted a bibliometric analysis highlighting how mobile payment systems have matured through cross-domain innovation, as revealed by keyword clustering and citation evolution. Meanwhile, in the broader fintech landscape, [PERSON] et al. [26] provided a conceptual review of innovation and disruption mechanisms in financial services, while [PERSON] and [PERSON] [PERSON] and [PERSON] [5] applied bibliometric techniques to assess the global expansion of fintech research, identifying key geographic and thematic clusters.