The main way to make point-of-sale payments with Adyen, is to integrate your POS system with Adyen payment terminals using our Terminal API. We also support alternative solutions to make point-of-sale payments using standalone terminals, mobile devices, or plugins to partner platforms.
Terminal API integration
Our Terminal API is based on an industry standard communication protocol called nexo Retailer Protocol, and supports all operations that a modern POS system offers.
A Terminal API integration uses PCI-certified payment terminals that are supplied by Adyen. These terminals are capable of interpreting Terminal API messages.
All topics listed under GET STARTED are relevant for a Terminal API integration. To begin, have a look at the integration checklist.
Standalone terminals
If you do not need a fully-featured POS system, you can use standalone terminals instead. This is our quickest way to start accepting in-person payments. It does not require any development or integration work. Instead of using a POS system, you initiate transactions directly from a standalone terminal that is supplied by Adyen.
In addition, standalone terminals can be used as a fallback for a POS system with integrated terminals: If there is a problem with the internet access, you can continue making transactions by using a standalone terminal instead of an integrated terminal.
For instructions, see Standalone terminals.
Mobile solutions
In addition to traditional payment terminals, you can accept point-of-sale payments on a mobile device like a smartphone, or using a combination of a mobile device and a card reader.
To implement these Tap to Pay and card reader mobile solutions, you first need to integrate your POS system with our Terminal API. Then you add our Mobile SDK to your POS app, and install the app on your mobile device. The payments are routed through the SDK, but use the Terminal API specification.
Another option for Tap to Pay is to connect your POS app to an Adyen Payments app that already includes the Mobile SDK.
Most of the topics listed under GET STARTED are relevant for mobile solutions. For specific requirements and instructions, see the Mobile solutions documentation.
Plugins
You may already use a retail, hospitality, or other platform by a company that partners with Adyen. In this case, you can use a plugin to integrate our payments solution and process in-person payments with Adyen.
By using a plugin, you accept in-person payments on Adyen payment terminals that communicate directly with the partner platform.
We offer plugins for global platforms like Oracle Opera, Oracle Simphony, Oracle Xstore, and Cegid Retail Y2. You can check the full list in our partner directory.