
Contactless checkout – let customers tap and pay on your screens
Why send customers to a separate terminal when they can tap the screen in front of them?
Contactless checkout uses the hardware you already have, such as tablets, self-checkouts or mobile POS devices, to accept secure payments directly on the screen.
No terminals. No PIN pads. No additional setup.
With certified SoftPOS software, your screen becomes a secure payment point.
The screen becomes the final step in the journey, where the customer taps to pay.
What is contactless checkout?
Traditional checkout setups often rely on separate card terminals, extra devices, and fixed flows. Contactless checkout removes that dependency.
It turns an NFC-enabled screen into a secure payment point. There is no need for PIN pads, cables, or terminals. Customers tap their card, phone, or smartwatch directly on the screen they are already using to complete the payment.
This makes payment part of the same experience. The screen displays items and prices, and then becomes the place where the transaction happens. There is no need to redirect the customer or break the flow.
Retailers use contactless checkout to bring payments closer to the customer. It shortens the distance between the buying decision and the final tap.
Retailers typically use contactless checkout in:
-
Self-checkout areas
-
Mobile checkout with tablets
-
Customer-facing screens at service counters
-
Small or temporary stores, or pilots without dedicated hardware
How does contactless checkout work in-store?
Contactless checkout adapts to your store setup. Whether it is a self-checkout kiosk, a service counter, or a mobile POS, the customer taps to pay directly on the screen they are already interacting with.
For example, a store associate can scan items in the aisle using a handheld screen. The customer pays by tapping their phone or card on that same screen. At a self-checkout, the payment happens directly on the kiosk itself without requiring a separate terminal.
This keeps the experience consistent and efficient. There is no need to wait in line. No need to move to another device. Just one screen from start to finish.
Retailers benefit by:
-
Accepting contactless payments without adding terminals
-
Reducing queues and speeding up service
-
Freeing up space in the checkout area
-
Serving more customers during peak hours
-
Ensuring secure payments that comply with PCI CPoC
-
Reduce fees and ensure fallback options with a multi-acquirer setup
Two essential components of contactless checkout
Your contactless checkout solution is built around two central elements:
SoftPOS:
certified payment software
SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale) is certified software that turns your screen into a secure contactless payment point. It allows you to accept contactless payments directly on the screen without terminals, PIN pads, or cables.
Tap on screen: intuitive customer experience
Tap on screen describes the experience. It refers to how customers pay. The customer taps their card, phone, or watch right on the screen to pay. This flow is enabled by SoftPOS and used across setups like self-checkout, mobile POS, and customer-facing screens.
Fully integrated with 52ViKING POS
All contactless checkout flows integrate directly into your existing 52ViKING POS platform. You maintain consistent checkout logic, pricing, real-time data updates, loyalty integration and complete control across your payment points.
When contactless checkout makes sense
Retailers already use contactless checkout to tackle real-world challenges. It is particularly valuable when you want to:

-
Expand checkout capabilities without installing extra terminals
-
Support mobile POS setups and in-aisle checkout
-
Offer seamless payments on customer-facing screens
-
Reduce checkout queues during peak hours or seasonal peaks
-
Generate additional revenue through retail media at checkout
-
Optimise small stores or pop-up locations with limited space
-
Test or pilot new checkout concepts quickly and affordably

Contactless checkout terms explained:
SoftPOS, tap to pay, PCI CPoC and more
These related terms describe different aspects of the same checkout experience:
-
SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale):
Certified payment software that turns a screen into a secure contactless payment point. It runs on supported NFC-enabled devices and follows standards such as PCI CPoC. -
Tap on screen:
This describes the action the customer takes. They tap their card, phone or smartwatch directly on the screen to pay. This experience is made possible by SoftPOS. -
Tap to pay:
A broad term used by card schemes for any contactless payment. This includes payments made on traditional terminals, smartphones, smartwatches or SoftPOS-enabled screens. -
NFC (Near Field Communication):
The wireless technology that enables contactless payments. It allows secure communication between two nearby devices, such as a card and a payment screen. -
PCI CPoC (Contactless Payments on COTS):
A security standard for contactless payments made on commercial off-the-shelf devices, such as Android tablets. It ensures that payments are encrypted and compliant. -
Multi-acquirer setup:
A setup where the retailer connects to more than one payment acquirer. This allows for fallback options, flexibility in routing and better control over transaction costs.

Søren Brammer Riis
Let me guide you!

Myver
Myver’s PCI-certified platform provides real-time digital receipts that work with any payment method. This enhances every transaction, reveals customer loyalty, and helps retailers, banks, and expense platforms drive growth through data insights.

Nets
Nets delivers secure and simplified payment solutions supporting various payment methods.

Quickpay
Quickpay is a robust payment gateway supporting multiple payment methods for secure and seamless transactions.

Smartbox
Smartbox provides a flexible voucher solution, allowing recipients to choose and book experiences like dining, wellness, and travel, offering personalized gifting and seamless redemption

softpay.io
Softpay is a mobile app that enables contactless card and wallet payments without extra hardware. Enter an amount, tap the card or wallet to the phone, and process payments seamlessly.

Verifone
Verifone is Denmark’s largest supplier of payment solutions for shops and chains across the country. Their solutions include stand-alone payment terminals, integrated payment terminals, and mobile terminals.

Vipps MobilePay
Vipps MobilePay provides user-friendly mobile payment solutions for quick and secure transactions both online and in-store.

Worldline
Worldline offers a payment stack with modern card terminals for fast and flexible card payments and beneficial cashing agreements, as well as an extensive and user-friendly payment solution for webshops.