India Poised to Lead in SoftPOS Adoption

According to new research from Worldline India, India’s SoftPOS (software point-of-sale) market is on track to outpace global averages, driven by government support, integration with UPI, and a strong fintech ecosystem.

The study highlights the following key insights:
    •    SoftPOS gaining momentum: With SoftPOS, merchants can turn their NFC-enabled smartphones into secure contactless payment terminals—doing away with traditional POS hardware. The rapid proliferation of affordable smartphones and existing digital payment infrastructure gives India a considerable advantage.
    •    Surging UPI volumes: UPI transaction volumes continue to climb, recently surpassing ₹24.77 trillion in March 2025. SoftPOS adoption amplifies this trend, enabling merchants and consumers to tap, pay, and transact with minimal friction.
    •    MSMEs driving uptake: Micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises—especially in Tier II and III cities—are expected to account for over 60% of SoftPOS usage, drawn by its low cost, ease of deployment, and compatibility with ordinary smartphones.
    •    Sector-wide impact: From retail “endless aisles” and mobile checkout to food stalls, transit fare collection, and in-home healthcare payments, a wide variety of sectors are leveraging SoftPOS to enable seamless transactions on the go.
    •    Global projection: According to estimates, global SoftPOS installations are expected to top 34.5 million merchant deployments by 2027. In the Asia–Pacific region, more than 50% of total card transactions could be tap‑based by 2025.
    •    Security and standards: The evolution of security frameworks—such as the MPoC (Mobile Payments on Commercial off-the-shelf devices) standard—supports PIN entry directly on phone screens (“PIN on glass”), enabling higher-value transactions without traditional PIN pads, while ensuring robust security.

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