What if checkout could happen anywhere in the store, without hardware restrictions or fixed flows? What if your staff could complete the transaction right where the customer stands, using nothing more than a phone?
For retailers working with assisted checkout, queue busting, or self-service, those questions are no longer hypothetical. With SoftPOS and tap on screen, payment becomes software. And the point of sale moves into the hands of staff and customers alike.
SoftPOS is a software-based solution that turns standard devices into secure payment terminals. Tap on screen refers to the intuitive retail experience it enables, where checkout happens in the moment, wherever the customer is.
That shift was central in a live conversation during an episode of Retail Dialogues, a webinar series from Fiftytwo. Søren Brammer Riis, CCO at Fiftytwo, and Jacob Aisen, VP of Sales and co-founder at Softpay.io, shared insights and real use cases. Drawing on concrete examples, they explored what happens when checkout becomes part of the store experience, not just the end of it.
"You're not just digitizing payment. You're changing the point of contact."
Søren Brammer Riis, Fiftytwo
"SoftPOS is more than just a way to take payment. It’s a way to meet the customer where they are," said Søren.
One important concept is MPoC (Mobile Payments on Consumer devices). The term may sound technical, but the result is simple: a tap to pay experience using standard phones or tablets. No dedicated hardware needed.
"It doesn’t even need to be about payment," Søren continued. "You can use the same logic for check-in, loyalty, assistance, or campaigns. It’s about presence, not just transactions."
"Tap to pay is just the beginning. Tap to engage is where it gets exciting."
Jacob Aisen, Softpay.io
SoftPOS runs on standard devices without special cables or fixed flows. That means retailers can define their own interface, manage updates remotely, and place devices where they make sense. It supports everything from queue busting and self-checkout to mobile POS and tap-to-join campaigns.
"You're not locked into a specific acquirer or setup. You are free to build what suits your business," said Jacob.
The result is faster deployment, longer device lifetimes, and lower maintenance. But more importantly, the logic changes. Retailers stay in control.
"You're not locked into hardware. You're in charge."
Jacob Aisen, Softpay.io
In MENY’s pilot store in Bagsværd, the checkout setup runs on a headless architecture. The frontend is fully customizable. Idle time becomes screen time. Waiting becomes a moment for engagement.
"You can show a campaign. Let people sign up for something. Add loyalty or upsell offers. You’re turning checkout into a platform," said Søren.
"It lets you take the whole experience from the store, including the tone, the branding, and the campaign, and bring it into the checkout. Not around it, not before it, but right there."
Jacob added, "You can build your own device, and it’s just one power cable. That is real efficiency."
One of the biggest potentials with SoftPOS lies in assisted checkout. Staff can carry phones or tablets and complete the transaction wherever the customer is.
"You can look the customer in the eye and say: you’re done," said Søren. "That moment matters."
Jacob agreed: "That’s where the sale feels finished. You close it in the aisle, and the customer just walks out."
The setup enables a more human and immediate tone of service. And it removes friction without removing contact.
"It’s the last screen in the store. And it always gets attention. So use it."
Søren Brammer Riis, Fiftytwo
Runs on standard phones or tablets
No hardware lock-in or proprietary cables
Remote updates and full frontend control
Works for SCO, assisted checkout, and campaigns
Reduces cost, shortens rollout time, and extends device life
More about contactless checkout
"We have SoftPOS running in more than 20,000 stores across Europe," said Jacob. "But the real interest lies in what it enables."
That includes tap to check in, tap to join campaigns, and tap to get support. SoftPOS becomes part of a larger retail stack that includes loyalty, CRM, and fulfillment.
Retailers are increasingly asking for flexibility, integration, and consistency across touchpoints. That is exactly where contactless checkout solutions like SoftPOS and tap on screen make sense.
They reduce hardware complexity. They offer lower costs. But more importantly, they put retailers in control of how the customer experience should work.
As Søren put it: "You’re no longer stuck with someone else’s idea of checkout. You can define what it looks like, and what it does."
And it’s already changing how retailers think about checkout. From fixed to flexible. From counter to customer.
Want to explore what contactless checkout could look like in your business?
Explore our contactless checkout solutions or visit the dedicated pages for SoftPOS and tap on screen.