Contactless checkout

Accept contactless payments directly on your NFC-enabled 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 screen.

With contactless checkout, customers pay on the same screen they are already using.
There is no need for separate terminals, PIN pads or extra steps.
The screen becomes the place where the transaction happens.

Certified SoftPOS software makes it a secure point of sale.
It becomes the final step in the journey. This is where the customer taps to pay.

What is contactless checkout?

Contactless checkout is a broad term that covers any setup where the customer taps to pay directly on the screen they are already using, whether at a self-checkout, on a mobile device or at a staffed counter with a customer-facing screen.

It’s not just about the payment method. It’s about the entire checkout experience.
While contactless payment removes the need to insert a card or enter a PIN, contactless checkout removes the need to move, queue, hand over a card or interact with a separate terminal. The customer stays in the flow and completes the purchase without being sent elsewhere.

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
Customer-facing screens at service counters
Mobile checkout with tablets
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

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.

Consistent checkout logic across all payment points

No duplicate systems or disconnected apps

Flexibility and full control over store formats

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

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.

Contactless checkout – let customers tap and pay on your screens

What is contactless checkout?

How does contactless checkout work in-store?

Two essential components of contactless checkout

SoftPOS:
certified payment software

Tap on screen: intuitive customer experience

Fully integrated with 52ViKING POS

When contactless checkout makes sense