One of the biggest recent shifts in payments is SoftPOS – “Tap to Pay on phone” – which turns an ordinary smartphone into a contactless card reader with no extra hardware. It’s a genuinely useful option, but it isn’t right for every situation.
What SoftPOS does well
For sole traders, market stalls and occasional mobile selling, SoftPOS is hard to beat: no terminal to buy, quick to set up, and it accepts contactless cards and wallets straight from a phone.
Where dedicated EPOS still wins
Once you’re handling volume, managing stock, printing receipts or running multiple staff, a dedicated mobile EPOS or fixed terminal offers speed, durability and deeper features a phone app can’t match. Commercial hardware also stands up to all-day trading.
Many businesses use both
SoftPOS for the occasional roaming sale, dedicated EPOS terminals for the core of the business, is an increasingly common and sensible mix.
B-Spoke Systems focuses on durable, commercial-grade EPOS hardware for businesses that have outgrown a phone app. Talk to us about the right balance for yours.