Is Android the new Kingmaker on the market for point-of-sales market?
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We live by one of the most important shifts in the retail trade Point-of-Sale (POS) Technology since the introduction of the chip and pins terminal.
After years of trusting rubber clothing, specialist PEDs (PIN input devices) from manufacturers such as Ingenico and Verifone, the retail now embraces generic Android Devices that accept payments using downloadable software.
This shift is more than a change in hardware-it is a complete operating system revolution. But as Android is increasingly embedded in our shopping experiences in the store, a greater question arises: do we surrender control of this ecosystem of several billions of dollars on a single platform? Is Android now the new Kingmaker in the retail trade?
Senior Technology Manager, PSE Consulting.
From patented hardware to programmable platforms
Until recently, the Pos -hardware market was tightly checked. Devices have custom versions of LinuxAnd software applications were usually monolithic, expensive to build and difficult to update. Developing or changing software on these systems required specialist engineering skills, long certification cycles and intimate knowledge of closed systems.
Innovation under this model was suffocated. Only the most brave players tried to build their own apps for PEDs – and many failed. As a result, the pace of progress in the store is Payment gateways Lying behind online and mobile trade, where new functions and updates could be implemented immediately.
That legacy model is now crumbling. Android, originally developed for smartphonesis increasingly used to feed POS devices that are more flexible, to develop more easily and to implement considerably cheaper. This has cleared the road for a new era of programmable retail terminals that are performed on open platforms and offer the same agility as app-based ecosystems.
The rise of Android Pos
In the past 18 months we have seen an increase in only software payment services from large fintech players. Streak Introduced his Stripe Reader S700, which not only processes payments, but also carries out adapted business apps, giving sellers the opportunity to fully adjust the cash register experience. Revolut has also launched his own Android-based Retail Pos Terminal designed for high-speed environments.
This shift is driven by the flexibility of Android. The operating system runs everything from Rugged tablets Used in queue busting or payment stable scenarios for telephones of consumer quality used by mobile traders. Android has already moved to systems in Windows in many cafes, bars and restaurants due to the lower costs and wider developer base.
This transformation is not limited to startups or small traders. Large -scale retailers and payment providers build their own adapted apps with the help of Android, so that they can tailor cash register to their exact operational needs. At the same time, the smallest traders – such as plumbers or exhibitors – can now download a simple Android app to accept payments on their personal phones, without extra hardware.
Projections suggest that this is just the beginning. The global Android Pos market was appreciated at $ 7 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 29.4%, until 2033 more than $ 71 billion. Apple Or Windows alternatives in the retail world.
Specialist Saas -Providers such as Toast Al all bundles Android devices with vertical specific software tailored to restaurants and other niche segments. While Android continues to expand his footprint, the influence on the hardware ecosystem cannot be denied.
But who really has the power?
Despite the rapid climb of Android, the idea is that it is the “Kingmaker” in Pos inadequate. In reality, sellers do not opt for operating systems – they opt for the SaaS platforms that best meet their business needs. These platforms, not the operating system, will ultimately determine which hardware is being implemented, how app shops are compiled and how safe the payment environment is.
Android easily makes more flexibility possible. It gives SaaS providers the tools to innovate or now it is to set tap-to-pay on a handheld device or to implement self-checkout kiosks in fast food restaurants. The operating system is the enabler, but the strategic check lies with the platform operators.
What we witness is the fragmentation of the Posit Landscape in a marketplace of thousands of Saas providers, each of which makes their own decisions about hardware, app provision and consumer experience. These platforms not only vary per country or language, but also per sector. A fast-fashion retailer and a sports store can sell both clothing, but the software they use to manage inventory, payments and loyalty programs can be very different.
This market diversity means that no OS – and inclusive – can dictate how the world world functions. The analogy with the decline of Nokia is striking. Just as Android and Apple have reformed the smartphone industry by having app developers in empowerment and creating open ecosystems, they now unlock similar creativity and value in physical retail trade.
What follows can be a Renaissance in the experience in the store. With open systems and software-based interfaces, retailers are no longer tied to generic, inflexible terminals. They can experiment, personalize and streamline – paying faster, more intuitive and more in line with their brand.
Android is the platform, not the power
Android clearly becomes the operating system of choice for the next generation POS devices. The versatility, affordability and openness make it a natural successor to the closed Linux boxes from the past. But that does not mean that Android is the new Kingmaker.
The real power will be with the SaaS platforms that orchestrate the entire trader experience – from inventory and customer involvement to payments and reporting. These platforms are the new center of gravity in the retail trade and they will continue to shape how we shop in the store.
So yes, Android is perhaps the sanitary ware of the new POS world – but it is the platforms that the taps design.
We mention the best POS system for restaurants and bars. We also have the Best Pizza Restaurant POS system.
This article was produced as part of the TechRadarpro expert insight channel, where today we have the best and smartest spirits in the technology industry. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarpro or Future PLC. If you are interested in contributing to find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-techradar-pro
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