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 and mobile devices.
Terminal API
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.
You can use standalone terminals as the only way to do point-of-sale payments with us. Or you can use standalone terminals as a fallback: 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.
SDK on mobile
With Adyen, it is possible to accept point-of-sale payments on a mobile device that you own and that is not primarily a payment device, such as a smartphone. This enables Tap to Pay. You can also accept payments on an Adyen-supplied card reader that is paired with your mobile device.
With this solution, you first need to integrate your POS system with our Terminal API. Then you add our POS Mobile SDK to your POS system, and install the app on your mobile device. The payments are routed through the SDK, but use the Terminal API specification.
Most of the topics listed under GET STARTED are relevant with this solution. For specific requirements and instructions, see Tap to Pay and card reader.
Plugins
You may already use a retail, hospitality, or another platform by a company that partners with Adyen. In this case, you can use a plugin to integrate our payments solution and accept in-person payments.
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.