What retailers need to know about POS terminals

Designed by Freepik

In the rapidly evolving retail landscape of 2025, POS terminals are no longer just simple payment devices, they have become the core tool of retail operations. Choosing the right POS machine and payment solution can directly impact a business’s survival and growth.

As a retailer, it’s important to recognize that the POS terminals are undergoing significant changes, largely driven by shifts in consumer payment preferences. Only by keeping up with these preferences can businesses capture more sales opportunities and drive growth.

This article explores the latest trends in POS terminals that merchants need to be aware of, outlines the key considerations for choosing a modern POS machine, and explains how Silkpay helps retailers stay ahead of the POS evolution and benefit from it.

What are the key requirements for modern POS terminals?

Modern POS terminals are high-performance devices that integrate both hardware and software, designed to process transactions efficiently while optimizing payment management. For retailers, choosing a fully featured POS terminal not only enhances the payment experience but also helps drive business growth.

Hardware requirements

• Payment terminal: A portable POS terminal is the core device, supporting multiple payment methods including magnetic stripe cards, contactless payments, and QR code payments.

• Receipt printing feature: Although digital receipts are becoming more common, 42% of consumers still prefer paper receipts. Modern POS terminals should support both paper and electronic receipts.

• Integrated camera:  Modern POS terminals should also be equipped with a high-performance camera that can quickly scan customers’ payment QR codes (e.g., Alipay+, WeChat Pay).

Software requirements

• All major payment methods’ integration: A modern payment terminal excels in its core payment functions and can process payments from all over the world. 

For example, Silkpay's PAX A920 Pro supports all major payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Maestro; Google Pay, Apple Pay, UnionPay Yunshanfu; and WeChat Pay, Alipay+ (covering 30+ major Asian e-wallets such as Alipay, KakaoPay, PayPay, LINE Pay, Touch 'n Go eWallet, GCash, GrabPay, and more).

• Payment link creation feature: The ideal POS terminals can support generating payment links that can be shared via SMS, email, or social media, allowing customers to complete payments online.

• Account management tool: Modern terminals should also be equipped with a backoffice that enables centralized management across multiple stores. It consolidates all transaction records, allowing merchants to easily monitor sales and perform actions such as sending payment links or issuing refunds directly from the backoffice.

• Merchant QR code generation: In addition to scanning customers’ QR codes for payment, modern POS terminal solutions must allow merchants to generate payment QR codes for receiving payments. 

Silkpay’s modern POS terminal solution

In today’s complex payment environment, many retailers are seeking partners to help them manage multiple payment methods, especially digital wallets and contactless payments. 

This is where Silkpay plays a crucial role.

Silkpay’s POS solutions for merchants

1. In-Store payments

• POS terminals: Accept credit/debit cards, contactless payments, and QR code payments.

• Mobile POS: Silkpay can turn your smartphone into a powerful payment terminal, enabling secure contactless transactions.

• QR codes: Customers can quickly pay by scanning a QR code provided by Silkpay with their mobile payment apps.

2. Multi-channel payments

• QR codes: Merchants can share their Silkpay QR codes with customers for remote payments.

• PaybyLink: Generate and share secure payment links via email, SMS, or social media, allowing customers to pay with a single click.

3. Support for Alipay+ and 16+ global e-wallets

Silkpay integrates all major e-wallets under Alipay+, with a single Silkpay integration, merchants can instantly accept more than 30 e-wallets covering countries such as China, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, and others. This wide range of payment options is especially valuable for retailers looking to attract international customers, particularly Asian tourists and expatriates.

4. Cost-effective and simplified operations

Silkpay offers competitive pricing and solutions adapted for all budgets. Our merchants have several options:

• Rent or purchase a POS terminal

• Register a Silkpay account and use the Silkpay app to turn your smartphone into a mobile POS 

• Register a Silkpay account and set up a Silkpay QR code for in-store payments

Silkpay offers many approaches that are especially friendly to small retailers who may not have substantial upfront investment resources. 

By consolidating multiple payment methods onto a single device, merchants can also reach millions of customers at a minimum cost.

Silkpay’s modern POS terminal also requires no complicated setup; merchants can start accepting global payments immediately after receiving it. This quick deployment is crucial for retailers who need to start using new payment solutions right away.

Conclusion

In 2025 and beyond, retail POS terminals will be essential for staying competitive in the fast-paced retail environment. As consumer preferences evolve, retailers must shift to using modern POS terminals that support a wide range of payment methods.

Silkpay helps merchants meet the demand for accepting a wide variety of customer payment methods by offering comprehensive payment solutions. Silkpay’s POS terminals support over 30 payment methods, including major e-wallets from Asia, enhance the shopping experience, and ultimately drive sales growth.

As the retail industry continues to evolve, merchants that adopt modern payment solutions and prioritize convenience for their customers will be best positioned to succeed in the long term.

About the author: Silkpay

Based in Paris, Silkpay provides omnichannel and secure payment solutions to help physical stores and e-commerce in Europe and the Americas accept more than 30 of the world's most popular payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, CB, UnionPay, Alipay+, WeChat Pay as well as Asia-Pacific’s major e-wallets.

Silkpay is a winner of the LVMH Innovation Award. The company was also selected as a finalist for the "Money 20/20" Best Startup and in the "MPE Berlin” Startup Awards. Silkpay also won the "Best Fintech" awards from Capgemini and BPCE.

Silkpay helps merchants deliver the smoothest payment experience to their customers. We are a talented and international team driven by a single goal: to improve the customer experience and make payments simple and secure.