Context
We have been cooperating with the company mStart plus for many years. The payment infrastructure we built together through this cooperation allows end users to process and route payment transactions directly to the card issuer, which significantly simplifies the process of paying with credit and debit cards at points of sale.
One of the greatest advantages of that infrastructure is the use of a single payment terminal to process all payment transactions in direct communication with the issuing bank. This may seem self-evident, but in fact it is not quite simple because different issuers generally have different processing models, especially for specific transactions such as installment sales. Because of this, merchants often have several terminals at their point of sale that are dedicatedly connected to central systems of each issuing bank.
Our solution allows the use of a single device for transparent connection with all issuers, which significantly increases efficiency and reduces costs. Through the partnership with mStart we are present in almost all countries in the region, and we support all types of users: from small shops, through specific solutions (e.g., for insurers) up to large retail chains with thousands of points of sale.
Problem
One of the basic problems in implementing card payments at merchants’ points of sale is the integration of the payment terminal with the checkout system. Current solutions for that problem are based on a physical connection between the checkout hardware and the payment terminal or on emulation of a physical connection using, for example, Bluetooth technology. It turned out that both approaches generate an additional set of problems in practice, especially in today’s era of advanced technological progress.
That is why we devised a modern product intended for connecting the checkout with the payment terminal exclusively via logical connection, i.e., through a web service or, more modernly, via a “cloud service.” In this way, we managed to avoid physical connection via cables, simplify integration, and increase the level of security. We named the product Nextpoint POS.
Solution
Nextpoint POS is designed and implemented as a cloud solution that enables the checkout to transparently connect with the terminal using modern technologies. In addition, the service allows the checkout software to manage multiple terminals at the same time as well as for one terminal to serve multiple checkouts. This has introduced a small revolution in the integration of checkout and terminal with the goal of completely eliminating the need to use the physical connection of the two devices, outdated technology, and specific data protocols. The key points of this service are as follows:
- Virtual connection – the checkout and EFT-POS terminal log in to our cloud service, which establishes a secure channel for exchanging messages about transactions
- Terminal sharing – one checkout can be connected to multiple terminals, which is especially useful at larger points of sale or hospitality establishments, and likewise one terminal can be shared between multiple checkouts if the dynamics of the point of sale demand it
- Full support for mobile checkouts – smartphones and tablets can be significantly more easily and reliably connected to the payment device, even when using web applications
- Security – although the checkout and terminal generally do not exchange sensitive card data, Nextpoint POS implements all advanced methods of data protection and ensures that all communication takes place in accordance with best practices and data exchange standards
- Transparency for the user – for the cashier everything remains the same, i.e., there is no change in the user experience compared to working with a locally connected terminal, except that the need for technical support is significantly reduced.
Result
mStart has implemented the Nextpoint POS solution with most of its users who recognized the added value of this product. This is especially true for insurance companies with a large number of insurance agents who use tablets for sales and mobile payment terminals for payment. The Nextpoint POS solution was ultimately realized in the following way:
- A cloud platform was established as a central service that serves for device registration in the system and for message redirection between checkouts and terminals
- SDKs and APIs were developed for different types of checkout software as well as for different types of payment terminals in order to facilitate the integration process for development teams
- A user portal was implemented that enables the service provider to easily roll out new merchants into the system, and enables merchants to independently adjust parameters and pair checkouts with terminals
- Advanced functionalities were implemented to support all types of transactions, including specific transactions such as installment sales, administrative transactions (e.g., for service performance check), and the possibility of extending message routing to external systems that collect sales data such as loyalty systems, systems for digitizing receipts and transaction confirmations, and similar
Conclusion
Connecting checkouts and payment terminals via a cloud service represents a key innovation in the digitalization of retail. Nextpoint POS has eliminated the need for physical connection, enabled terminal sharing, and opened the door to even wider use of mobile checkouts. Our project has proven that the “cloud” architecture can simultaneously provide flexibility, security, and scalability while maintaining existing functionalities and introducing advanced ones — thereby giving merchants a modern infrastructure ready for future market demands, reducing installation and maintenance costs, and achieving greater flexibility and independence in equipment usage planning.