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Education

What makes and supplementing existing goods and services with new
digital complements
a POS smart? The challenge lies in integrating the intimacy of the

traditional brick-and-mortar environment with the
efficiency and always-on capabilities of the digital. That
requires a greater effort than simply providing access
to an electronic marketplace of non-integrated apps and
services.

By Martina Jeronski Payment service providers need an enablement platform
that integrates the entire chain of services required to
AEVI provide merchants with solutions that accept and manage
all payments, combined with business productivity and
ompared to classic payment terminals, any customer-facing digital services running on whatever
new and shiny Android-based dedicated pay- hardware is deployed in-store. With this type of platform
ment system could easily be presented as a strategy, service providers can assemble solution sets
C "smartPOS." But the easy way doesn't necessar- tailored to different types of merchants, of all sizes.
ily provide a merchant with transformational solutions.
Particularly in light of the ongoing pandemic's impact on This approach challenges the existing business model
merchants, the industry needs more than ever to deliver of merchant payment solution providers, who cannot be
solutions that truly make a difference. expected to build their own integration and enablement
platforms. They need technology platforms that
No standalone device can live up to the smartPOS automatically and seamlessly handle the orchestration
expectations unless it unites the physical and digital between the payment transaction and value-added apps
merchant worlds, taps into the richness of data analytics, and services and partners who can support them with
and can readily integrate side-by-side with classic payment building the relevant support layer for their merchants.
terminals that are not likely to disappear anytime soon.
The technology platform should function as a data
It's tempting for acquirers to believe a smart-looking aggregation layer to partners, allowing the service provider
Android device with access to a B2B app marketplace to access digital services that work in concert to create
provides them with a merchant proposition fit for the unique experiences. The platform should be adaptive to
modern omnichannel world. But a smart payment device accommodate future digital services for existing and new
with access to an app store is not in itself a magic wand partners.
that can wave away all processor and merchant challenges.
SmartPOS is less about devices than an encompassing Combined, the platform and services will provide existing
approach that unites the digital with the physical world, payment solution providers with an integrated, merchant-
payments with data, and new approaches with legacy ready smartPOS offering that provides a non-intrusive
systems. upgrade path so that merchants can grow with new
devices and apps as their needs evolve.
Delivering a smartPOS solution involves creating unique
solutions to serve the needs of different merchant types SmartPOS has immense potential for payment processors
and addressing the needs and expectations of individual and merchants alike: it allows both to up their game
merchants. Mom-and-pop corner groceries have different through digitizing business, innovation, efficiency and
requirements than clothing and apparel franchises. What flexibility. This new paradigm comes with challenges,
works for those corner bodegas won't suffice in meeting as not all merchants are digital savvy and will look to
the expectations of a chain of gas and convenience stores. their trusted advisers to help them enter the new digital
enhanced omnichannel world.
Integration and orchestration are crucial elements of
smartPOS delivery—more so than the devices. The right Nevertheless, those who offer this guidance will be
smart toolset will enable solution providers to update and rewarded with greater merchant trust and loyalty—they
upgrade devices as needed to meet particular merchant will be rewarded not only with new merchant business,
needs. but also with a new outlook for their own businesses.
Smart merchant enablement Martina Jeronski is the creative force behind AEVI's marketing efforts
with a personal mission to bring a fresh marketing wave into the
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, merchants large global digital finance industry. As vice president, Global Marketing &
and small struggled to transform their businesses. Now Communications, she leads the marketing, brand and communication
they have even more problems to address, such as an initiatives, and ensures corporate image and messages represent AEVI's
increasing shift to contactless payment, reduced in-store
density, the need to bolster curbside service and delivery, propositions and the benefits it brings to the market. Contact her at
martina.jeronski@aevi.com
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