Digital payments are evolving faster than ever—and instead of competing, QR, SoftPOS, and POS are increasingly complementing each other. Each solves a different problem—and together they form the backbone of modern digital acceptance.
While traditional POS is already everywhere, the real growth gap lies in SoftPOS and QR—scaling fast across developing and mid-tier markets.
> What Each Technology Solves
QR Payments
Financial inclusion & zero-cost acceptance
- Works for everyone—from street vendors to governments
- No Visa/Mastercard rails—A2A or wallet payments
- Static/dynamic QR codes for instant settlement
SoftPOS
Instant onboarding, hardware-free card acceptance
- Merchant's phone acts as terminal
- Customer taps via NFC
- Powered by Visa/Mastercard with tokenization
Traditional POS
Enterprise-grade security for high-volume transactions
- Hardware terminals for retail, hotels, petrol chains
- Supports chip, tap, swipe + peripherals
- PCI PTS security with higher cost
* Technology Deep Dive
QR Payments = Near-Zero Cost Acceptance
Works for everyone—from street vendors to governments.
No Visa/Mastercard rails—A2A or wallet payments.
Static/dynamic QR codes → approve in app → instant settlement.
Global Adoption:
IN UPI • CN WeChat/Alipay • TH PromptPay • ID QRIS • BR PIX
SoftPOS = Card Acceptance Without Hardware
Merchant's phone acts as terminal; customer taps via NFC.
Powered by Visa/Mastercard with tokenization & PIN-on-glass.
Ideal for micro & SME merchants, delivery, field services.
Growth Markets:
PL TR FR GB KZ ZA
POS = Enterprise Workhorse
Hardware terminals for retail, hotels, petrol chains.
Supports chip, tap, swipe + peripherals (PIN pad, printer, scanner).
PCI PTS security—but higher cost & deployment effort.
Still global standard for large merchants.
# Indicative Comparison
| Aspect | QR | SoftPOS | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | 0-0.5% | ≈0.7-1.2% | ≈1-2.5% |
| Rails | A2A/Wallet | Visa/MC | Visa/MC |
| Receipts | Digital | Digital | Printed |
| Setup Time | Instant | Minutes | Days |
^ Why QR & SoftPOS Grow Faster
Software-defined acceptance - low TCO, instant merchant onboarding, ideal for long-tail inclusion.
Why POS Stays Relevant
Enterprise-grade stability & reliability for high-volume checkouts.
@ The True Revolution
Banks deploying all three create the backbone of a digital economy—omnichannel, resilient & inclusive. Each plays a vital role in the modern payments ecosystem.
The real winners are banks and acquirers who combine QR + SoftPOS + POS into one cohesive acceptance layer.
Power this seamless integration with Ciontek CS30
A versatile, all-in-one payment hardware designed to unify multiple acceptance methods into a streamlined, reliable layer. Engineered for banks and acquirers aiming to elevate efficiency and user experience.
The Ciontek CS30 seamlessly supports QR codes and SoftPOS, especially suitable for emerging scenarios, making payment services more accessible and affordable.
Learn More About CS30Ready to Explore?
DM me if you'd like to explore how to bring Ciontek products together in your payments ecosystem.