Strength in Unity

An underappreciated hero

Industry insiders are all too aware that the importance of POS hardware is chronically undervalued. Bear in mind that besides managing transactional data and inventory, the POS terminal is what supports in-store business applications and loyalty engines. It is the mission-critical core of the powerful business systems driving outcomes for retail and hospitality.

Until now, the majority of these systems have been Windows-based — but this is changing. In an effort to free staff from behind the counter — or the Great Wall of Retail — businesses are equipping salespeople with mobile devices for clienteling.

To further improve the customer journey and remove barriers, retail and hospitality businesses are opting for solutions such as self-service kiosks and other technological touchpoints that ensure visitors enjoy an efficient and pleasant purchase experience. And Android is the key platform that is allowing technology, software development and hardware design to eliminate those barriers.

Driving forces

The convergence of POS and Payments is being driven by customer and merchant demand. As people want to do more with the systems they have available, we are pushing the boundaries of innovation to provide a superior experience for both staff and customers. Having a single Android device that can accept payments as well as run multiple applications is freeing staff from behind that ‘great wall’ to deliver a personalised customer journey.

Payment devices have traditionally been seen as separate additions required to augment POS hardware — but this is no longer the case. There are many advantages to Android being used as a payment platform, such as the ease with which a SmartPOS device can support multiple applications running together. This means a single point-of-service device can now be used for everything from recording a sale and checking inventory levels to managing loyalty points as well as, of course, accepting a payment.

By supporting these varied applications, Android is facilitating payment systems to become omnimorphic, making them part of a comprehensive retail ecosystem that includes e-commerce. Loyalty is another key factor joining the convergence of POS and Payments, as the omnimorphic approach supports seamless integration through features such as gamification on payment terminals and digital stamp cards.

POS and Payments in one terminal

The Element CA30X series, which runs Android GMS (Google Mobile Services), supports a PCI-certified Softpos solution to ensure the utmost in security. This all-in-one terminal features POS functionality for staff and the convenience of onboard payments for the customer. It offers standardised hardware that can be used across many industry verticals and segments, ranging from fashion and convenience to grocery, fuel and hospitality.

But besides being used as a POS/Payments terminal, it offers a variety of form factors utilising the same environment and a common technology support base. This means the CA30X series can be utilised as a self-service kiosk or digital display, and it is compatible with peripherals such as a side-mounted NFC reader, scanner or MSR (magnetic stripe reader).

To assist customers with different operating system preferences, the CA30X series also supports a backpack variant that provides a Windows option. In this case, the priority is on the OS, as only the Android variant is designed for combined POS and Payment functionality.

As POS and Payments converge, Element is at the forefront, ready to equip you with hardware and software that embodies design, quality and purpose. Contact Element to learn how you can harness this retail revolution, transforming the staff journey and customer experience your business can offer.