PRODUCTS

Tap on Phone represents a first for ING - the first bank to pilot a software-based ‘tap on phone’ solution. The app is ideal for smaller businesses without a traditional checkout counter or for businesses with low transaction volumes which are often on the go

ING’s Tap on Phone is one of the payments sector undoubted hits of 2019. And now it is recognised as an award winning solution. At Retail Banker International’s European Banking Awards in Prague on 14 November, ING collected the award for Best Payments Solution.

ING Tap on Phone solution is an android based app. The app uses built-in NFC technology of the mobile phones for reading cards, instead of using an external hardware.

Considering that the solution does not require any additional dongle (the merchants’ android smart device is enough) it has a great potential especially for the low penetrated market where merchants suffers the high cost of traditional pos terminals.

Tap on Phone empowers business owners to accept payments anytime and anywhere, without having to invest in expensive terminals. Moreover, the portability of mobile POS terminals makes payments cheaper and more flexible for merchants and easier for customers.

Main functionalities include:

1. Simple, easy and fast POS activation process,
2. Generating secure EMV contactless transactions up to CVM limits with any type of cards, and CDCVM payment methods (wallet, wearables ...) without contactless amount limitation.
3. Able to process sale, refund and void transactions,
4. Sending instant receipts to cardholder via e-mail or SMS, if  it is requested
5. Provides product lists creating ability to accept payments easily
6. Possibility to add new POS terminals and link these with other mobile phones which is a useful functionality for sub users,
7. Providing reports for all type of transactions

As the solution does not require an additional dongle the merchants can easily download and activate the app within a couple of minutes and start accepting card based contactless payments.

ING kicked off the project in Turkey by signing pilot contracts with card schemes. Also a vendor agreement took place in order to acquire necessary Android SDK for the solution and has become the first bank worldwide, which announced a cloud based “Tap on Phone” POS solution, which is named as “contactless payment on commercial of the shelf” by PCI.

During the pilot phase, the project initially aiming low value/high frequency segments such as Small FMCG, Street Sellers, Services to Home, Corner Shops, Bazaar Sellers.

After successfully completing the pilot phase, ING Tap on Phone has been planned to expand further in coming period.

For the card holders, it is the most convenient payment method with its seamless shopping experience. They will also experience the convenience of contactless payment which will expand the areas of usage.

According to Mastercard, there are 1.5 million small-medium enterprises and millions of other micro businesses owners such as taxi drivers, florists and electricians who can increase their sales and lower costs by adopting digital payments.

1. SME’s are hesitant to accept card payments due to a couple of reasons like high cost of POS device, worries about the machine breaking down and effort required to learn how to use the terminals.  This solution will eliminate these kind of pain points for both merchants and banks.
2. Contactless payment is becoming a more prefferable way for both cardholders and merchants, because it is easier and quicker. This solution is an excellent fit for pay/pass usecases, using contactless payments.
3. Through the solution, many micro merchants and SMEs being the backbone of economies around Europe, will be included into the financial system since they will be able to accept contactless payments directly via their android smartphones. This will help the reduction in grey economy and eliminate the risk of cash loss due to decreased cash usage in this cash dominant environment.