There was a time when technology drove changes in the payments industry. Years ago, people who had always used cash discovered the convenience of the Diner’s Club card and then credit cards and debit cards. In recent years, there has been a shift from tech-driven trends to consumer-driven. People who had a taste of convenience grew hungry for more and looked for the easiest ways to pay and manage their budgets, for example, with mobile wallets and unattended payments at self-service kiosks. But now, a new force is driving an industry trend: Developers. And the trend is Android payment platforms.
The Benefits of Android for Developers
Android benefits aren’t any secret to developers. But they offer particular benefits to developers in the payments space. Historically, these developers have had their progress limited by proprietary systems that required specific expertise and vendor cooperation to build upon. Android is an open system that eliminates those barriers.
Additionally, as an open system, Android makes it easier to integrate a broader range of devices and solutions to expand functionality at the payment terminal. For some merchants, the payment terminal is the only computer in the store – and it’s customer-facing. It makes sense to make the most of it. Developers can integrate an Android payments platform with a range of business applications and tools that run in parallel to traditional payment functions. This enables you to create solutions for particular vertical markets or to create an enterprise solution with unique capabilities. Payment transactions differ in retail, restaurant, healthcare, and nonprofit. With Android, payment terminals can support their individual needs. Developers also have more freedom to create accessible solutions for consumers with vision impairments or disabilities.
Android also gives developers a head start with communications and process flows baked in and a broad range of colors for easily branding UIs. Android includes security features, and it also supports payment security, enabling developers to comply with PCI PTS 5.x and other regulations and standards.
Overall, developers can take secure solutions with a broader range of features to market more quickly with Android, giving you the opportunity to provide more value to merchants and acquirers.
The Benefits of Android Payment Platforms for End Users
With Android, companies also have the advantage of using the most popular operating system in the world, with a user interface familiar to many consumers. It makes creating customer-pleasing interactions easy – and mirroring it from mobile to kiosk and more for seamless experiences. The Android UI is also beneficial for merchants onboarding new employees. Solutions with a familiar UI make training easier and allow employees to confidently work independently sooner.
Android’s flexibility is another advantage for end users. In the quickly changing payments space, merchants know the importance of investing in solutions that can adapt as payments evolve. Payment solutions based on an Android platform allow merchants to add new features, value-added services, and payment methods. An Android platform also gives merchants easier access to services like digital receipts, fraud prevention, customer surveys, and loyalty rewards program integration at the terminal. The payment technology provider can also offer remote key injection, remote monitoring, automatic terminal updates, and access to technical support from the terminal.
Android enables payment technology companies to create an ecosystem that supports a variety of payment models and can accept all current popular payment methods, including alternate payments like buy now, pay later (BNPL), and to accept additional types of payments at the terminal, like cryptocurrency or biometric payments, in the future.
Go Ahead, Take Some Credit
The trend toward Android platforms for payments is gaining momentum due to the benefits it provides end users across consumer-facing markets and industries. But developers are a driving force in Android platform development – and, ultimately, in propelling payments innovation forward.
If your software could integrate with a payments platform and enhance customer experiences at the terminal, take some time to explore how you can capitalize on this trend.
