What is the best portable POS solution for small businesses?
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More and more merchants are moving away from traditional fixed POS systems as portable POS machines gain popularity across Europe.
For small businesses, flexible and convenient payment solutions continue to be crucial for growth. Whether it’s a restaurant, supermarket, gift shop, or any other type of store, choosing the right mobile payment solution can not only make transactions smoother but also enhance the customer experience.
This article introduces three common portable POS options: SoftPOS (mobile POS), printed static QR codes, and POS terminals. It helps merchants find the solution that best fits their needs, and shows how Silkpay can help merchants accept payments easily and conveniently.
Common portable POS solutions for small businesses
Currently, there are three common portable payment solutions on the market:
SoftPOS
For small businesses, turning a regular smartphone into a POS device is the most cost-effective option.
Merchants don’t need to buy extra hardware; they just need to open an account with a payment provider such as Silkpay, and install the SoftPOS app on an NFC-enabled smartphone.
They can then start accepting card payments directly on their phone.
SoftPOS is also the most flexible and lightweight solution, which makes it ideal for small businesses on a low budget or businesses that need to accept payments anytime and anywhere.
2. Silkpay app
Silkpay App offers a wide range of payment methods and also supports remote payments.
Merchants can accept Alipay+, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay Yunshanfu through the Silkpay app.
Over 30 major Asian wallets are supported by Alipay+, such as: KakaoPay, LINE Pay, Naver Pay, Dana, Grab Pay and more.
In addition, merchants can also generate PayByLink payment links directly within the Silkpay app and send them to customers via email, SMS, or various social media platforms. Customers can simply click the link to pay using major payment methods such as Visa, Mastercard, Alipay+ or WeChat Pay.
SoftPOS and Silkpay apps offer merchants an affordable way to turn a smartphone into a practical payment device. By using both the SoftPOS and Silkpay apps, businesses can accept all the payments they need just on a smartphone.
3. Printed static QR codes
Printed static QR code is also a very simple and low-cost payment solution.
Merchants only need to print multiple copies of their Silkpay payment QR code and display them anywhere in the store, so customers can easily scan and complete the payment.
Watch our tutorial to learn how static QR codes work.
This method is easy to operate, requires no complex equipment or technical skills, and is ideal for small shops, retail stalls, or temporary sales points.
In addition, accepting payments via static QR codes allows transactions to be completed quickly with minimal effort from the merchant.
Customers simply scan and confirm the payment in their payment app (Alipay, WeChat Pay or UnionPay). This greatly improves payment efficiency and reduces operating costs.
4. POS machines
POS machines are fully functional and highly reliable, making them ideal for fixed stores and merchants with high daily transaction volumes.
Silkpay’s PAX A920 Pro POS solution supports a wide range of payment methods, including traditional options such as Visa, Mastercard, and CB, digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, as well as over 30 major Asian wallets, including Alipay+ and WeChat Pay.
Depending on the size of the business, transaction needs, and customer preferences, merchants can choose the portable payment solution that best fits their situation.
At the same time, Silkpay can help merchants integrate multiple payment methods to achieve efficient and convenient payment acceptance.
Why merchants need portable payment solutions
For merchants, portable payment solutions are an important tool for enhancing the customer service experience. They not only significantly reduce customer wait times at checkout but also help merchants overcome the limitations of traditional sales environments.
As a result, transactions can be completed easily both inside and outside the store, which expands business coverage.
In the retail sector for example, especially during peak hours, portable payment solutions help ease checkout pressure, reduce in-store congestion, and provide customers with a more comfortable and enjoyable shopping environment, which further improves store efficiency and service image.
Moreover, portable payments offer significant advantages in other industries as well. In the beauty and fashion sectors, sales consultants can complete transactions directly on the showroom floor, which improves conversion rates and enhances the customer experience.
At events, exhibitions, or temporary markets, portable payments enable merchants to accept payments at any time and in any location, helping them capture every sales opportunity.
Portable payment solutions provide businesses across various industries with a more efficient, flexible, and customer-friendly way to handle transactions.
How Silkpay gives merchants the best portable payment solution
Portable POS with all needed payment options
Silkpay’s portable POS solution supports a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, mobile payments, and QR code payments, catering to the diverse payment preferences of customers.
Whether it’s a small retail store, a restaurant, or a mobile stall, merchants can easily handle multiple payment types with a single device.
Silkpay’s PAX A920 Pro POS solution offers all major payment options and also connects to more than 30 major Asian payment methods, such as Alipay+, WeChat Pay, Naver Pay, KakaoPay, Grab Pay, LINE Pay and more.
Silkpay allows merchants to reach millions of Asian customers at a minimum cost.
Flexible options for every budget
Silkpay offers a variety of portable POS solutions to suit the budget needs of different merchants. Whether it’s a small stall, a startup business, or a fixed store, merchants can choose the solution that best fits their financial situation and business scale.
Merchants can apply for their own Silkpay payment code, download the Silkpay app on a smartphone, rent or purchase a POS machine, and avoid unnecessary costs.
Multi-channel sales
Have you ever encountered customers who try or check the product in-store but prefer to buy online?
Silkpay provides merchants with a flexible and efficient remote payment solution.
Whether through a POS terminal, Silkpay app, or the merchant’s backoffice, merchants can easily generate and send payment links to their customers.
This feature greatly expands the merchant’s business reach and helps avoid losing sales.
A backoffice to manage your transactions
Silkpay offers a complete backoffice where merchants can monitor sales in real time, view transactions’ data, manage their shops and make refunds to customers.
With centralized management, it’s easy to track business performance and make better operational decisions.
Conclusion
Portable payment solutions provide merchants with efficient, flexible, and customer-friendly ways to handle transactions. Whether it’s SoftPOS, printed static QR codes, or fully functional POS terminals, businesses can choose the solution that best fits their size, needs, and customer preferences. These tools not only improve transaction efficiency and enhance the customer experience but also expand business opportunities, reduce operational costs, and strengthen customer satisfaction and loyalty. With SilkPay, merchants can easily have a mobile POS and integrate multiple payment methods to create a secure, convenient, and efficient payment experience, supporting overall business growth.
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.