What is a semi-integrated payment terminal?

There are three ways to connect a card terminal to a POS. Standalone means no connection at all: the cashier types the amount into the terminal by hand, which invites typos and leaves the POS with no proof the card was charged. Fully integrated means card data passes through the POS software itself. Semi-integrated sits in between: the POS sends the amount, the terminal handles the card, and only the result (approved or declined, the amount, the card type, any tip) comes back.

Semi-integration is now the usual choice for small businesses because it keeps card numbers out of the POS. The terminal reads the chip or tap, talks to the processor and prints or displays the card receipt. The POS never sees the full card number, which greatly reduces the security and compliance work on the merchant's side compared with a fully integrated set-up.

Semi-integrated terminals connect in one of two ways. A local connection sends the amount over the shop's network to the terminal's IP address and port. A cloud connection sends it through the processor's cloud to a terminal identified by a device ID, with no IP set-up at the till. Cloud is simpler to set up; local can be faster and depends less on the internet.

SeroPOS works with Global Pay Cloud (no cable or IP, bound by the terminal's device reference) and can run on the Global Payments T650P itself with Terminal Plus. It also works with Moneris Go Cloud and Gravity Payments, and an existing direct network connection to a Global Payments terminal (IP, Port and ECR ID) still works. Each till can have its own terminal through Card Terminal for This Till. To quote a processing rate, send us a statement.