LONDON — March 25, 2026
Executive Summary
payabl., a European financial technology provider, has announced the launch of Tap to Pay, a SoftPOS solution that enables businesses to accept contactless card payments directly through NFC-enabled Android smartphones, eliminating the need for dedicated card terminal hardware. The solution is designed to support micro and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) by enabling them to accept in-person payments using devices they already use in daily operations.
The solution allows merchants to begin accepting payments immediately after downloading and activating the application, supporting a wide range of transaction types including sales, refunds, reversals, and tips, along with PIN entry and e-receipts. Integrated with payabl.one, the platform provides a unified interface for managing both online and in-person transactions. The launch comes amid increasing adoption of contactless payments across the UK and Europe, with data indicating strong consumer preference for contactless methods.
Announcement Overview
payabl. has officially introduced its Tap to Pay solution, a mobile-based payment acceptance tool that allows merchants to process contactless card transactions directly via NFC-enabled Android devices. The product is positioned as a hardware-free payment acceptance solution, enabling businesses to transform their smartphones into fully functional and secure payment terminals.
The offering is specifically designed to meet the needs of micro businesses and SMEs, particularly those operating in mobile, temporary, or non-fixed environments such as events, pop-up retail locations, delivery services, and field-based operations. By removing the requirement for traditional card terminals, the solution aims to streamline payment acceptance processes and reduce operational dependencies on physical hardware.
Merchants can activate the solution by downloading the application and completing the setup process, after which they can begin accepting in-person payments immediately. The system supports a comprehensive range of payment functionalities and integrates with payabl.one, enabling centralized transaction management.
Key Announcement Details
- Announcement Type: Product launch of a SoftPOS payment solution
- Announcement Date: March 25, 2026
- Product Name: Tap to Pay by payabl.
- Launching Company: payabl.
- Company Classification: European financial technology provider
- Solution Category: SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale)
- Core Capability: Accept contactless card payments directly from smartphones
- Hardware Dependency: No dedicated card terminal hardware required
- Device Requirement: NFC-enabled Android smartphones
- Device Transformation: Smartphones converted into fully secure payment terminals
- Primary Function: In-person contactless payment acceptance
- Usage Environments: In-store and mobile/on-the-move environments
- Supported Business Types: Micro businesses and SMEs
- Merchant Enablement: Immediate ability to accept payments using existing devices
- Operational Flexibility: Accept payments anywhere and anytime
- Deployment Scenarios: Events, temporary retail locations, delivery services, drivers
- Activation Process: Download Tap to Pay app and activate
- Time to Go Live: Immediate post-activation payment acceptance
- Procurement Requirement: No need to purchase hardware
- Logistics Dependency: No waiting time for hardware delivery
- Transaction Types Supported: Sales, refunds, reversals, tips
- Customer Interaction Features: PIN entry functionality
- Customer Documentation: E-receipts supported
- Security Positioning: Fully secure payment processing via mobile devices
- Payment Method Supported: Contactless card payments
- Technology Standard: NFC (Near Field Communication)
- Platform Integration: Integrated with payabl.one
- Platform Functionality: Unified management of online and in-person payments
- Transaction Visibility: Single view of transactions
- Financial Visibility: Payout tracking and settlement status visibility
- Operational Benefit: Simplified reconciliation
- Performance Capability: Easier performance tracking
- Executive Statement (CEO): Payments should adapt to merchant operations
- CEO Name: Ugne Buraciene
- CEO Role: Group CEO, payabl.
- CEO Highlighted Benefit: Simple in-person payment acceptance via existing devices
- CEO Highlighted Integration: Unified visibility via payabl.one
- CEO Highlighted Outcome: Improved control over money flow
- Executive Statement (CPO): Flexibility for micro and small businesses emphasized
- CPO Name: Breno Oliveira
- CPO Role: Chief Product Officer, payabl.
- CPO Highlighted Use Cases: Markets, pop-ups, delivery services, drivers
- CPO Highlighted Benefit: Eliminates need for additional hardware
- CPO Highlighted Outcome: Faster setup and fewer operational barriers
- Early Adopter Company: Nafais
- Early Adopter Business Type: Retail fragrance store
- Implementation Timeline (Nafais): Setup completed within a few days
- Operational Outcome (Nafais): Card payments enabled from day one of opening
- Adopter Quote Speaker: Nikos Panagiotou
- Adopter Role: Director at Nafais
- Adopter Experience: Setup described as simple and smooth
- Adopter Operational Impact: Reduced focus on payment concerns
- Digital Transaction Share (Nafais): 65% of transactions processed digitally
- Checkout Impact: Faster checkout experience
- Customer Experience Impact: Smoother in-store experience
- Market Trend Context: Contactless payments continuing to accelerate
- UK Regulatory Change: £100 contactless spending cap removed
- Regulatory Impact: Banks and card providers can set their own limits
- UK Consumer Behavior Metric: 94.6% of in-store card payments under £100 are contactless
- European Consumer Preference (Contactless Cards): 41% prefer contactless debit or credit cards
- European Consumer Preference (Mobile Wallets): 21% prefer Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Source of European Data: payabl.’s State of the European Checkout report
- Consumer Trend Insight: Growing demand for fast and flexible payment options
- Strategic Positioning: Enables payment acceptance beyond fixed locations
- Business Model Alignment: Supports mobile-first and flexible merchant operations
- Infrastructure Benefit: Removes operational dependency on traditional POS systems
- Scalability Aspect: Enables broader merchant adoption without hardware constraints
- Current Availability: Live on Android devices
- Future Roadmap: iOS support expected later in 2026
- Company Offering Scope: Payments and business accounts
- Payment Capabilities: Online and in-person payment acceptance
- Account Capabilities: Multi-currency business accounts
- Card Capabilities: Virtual and physical card issuance
- Payment Method Coverage: Access to 300+ local and alternative payment methods
- Technology Approach: Combination of in-house development and strategic partnerships
- Solution Characteristics: Secure, compliant, scalable financial solutions
- Business Objective: Help businesses optimise operations
- Expansion Objective: Support international expansion
- Company Office Locations: London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Limassol, Vilnius
- Official Website: payabl.com
Product Functionality and Merchant Enablement
The Tap to Pay solution is structured as a SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale) system that enables merchants to use existing NFC-enabled Android devices as payment acceptance terminals. This eliminates the need for additional hardware such as card readers or traditional POS systems.
Once the application is downloaded and activated, merchants can immediately begin processing contactless card payments. The solution supports secure transaction processing, aligning with payment industry standards, and includes features such as:
- PIN entry functionality for secure authentication
- Digital receipt generation (e-receipts)
- Full transaction lifecycle coverage, including:
- Sales
- Refunds
- Reversals
- Tips
The system is designed to operate across various business environments, including fixed retail locations and mobile operations, allowing merchants to accept payments wherever their customers are located.
The removal of hardware requirements reduces both setup time and operational complexity, enabling businesses to deploy payment acceptance capabilities without delays associated with purchasing or configuring physical devices.
Integration with payabl.one Platform
A central component of the Tap to Pay solution is its integration with payabl.one, the company’s unified payments platform. This integration enables merchants to manage both online and in-person transactions within a single interface.
Through this integration, businesses gain access to:
- Unified transaction visibility
- Consolidated payout tracking
- Settlement status monitoring
- Simplified reconciliation processes
- Performance tracking across channels
By providing a single view of financial activity, the platform supports operational efficiency and enables merchants to monitor their payment flows more effectively.
Merchant Adoption and Early Implementation
Early adoption of the Tap to Pay solution has been demonstrated by Nafais, a retail fragrance store. The business implemented the solution within a short timeframe ahead of its opening.
According to the company, the deployment was completed within a few days, allowing the business to begin accepting card payments immediately upon launch without disruption to operations.
Nikos Panagiotou, Director at Nafais, stated:
“The Tap to pay solution was set up within just a couple of days. The process was simple and smooth. Now we can focus more on helping customers rather than worrying about payments.”
Following implementation, 65% of Nafais’ transactions are processed digitally, supporting faster checkout experiences and contributing to operational efficiency within the store.
Leadership Commentary on the Launch
Ugne Buraciene, Group CEO at payabl., commented on the launch:
“Payments should adapt to the way merchants operate, not the other way around. Tap to pay gives businesses a simple way to accept in-person payments using the devices they already rely on every day, whether that’s in-store or out on the move. Combined with payabl.one, merchants can see and manage both online and in-store transactions in one place, giving them clearer visibility and control over their money flow.”
Breno Oliveira, Chief Product Officer at payabl., added:
“Micro and small businesses need the flexibility to accept payments wherever their customers are, whether that’s markets, pop-up events, or on the move, especially for delivery services and drivers. Tap to pay by payabl. removes the need for additional hardware and turns the mobile phones merchants already carry into secure payment terminals. For businesses that operate beyond a fixed location, it means faster setup and fewer operational barriers.”
Contactless Payments Growth Across the UK and Europe
The launch of Tap to Pay aligns with ongoing changes in consumer payment behavior across the UK and Europe, where contactless transactions continue to increase.
Recent developments include the removal of the £100 contactless spending cap in the UK, allowing banks and card providers to set their own transaction limits. This change is expected to further accelerate the adoption of contactless payment methods.
Data indicates that:
- 94.6% of all in-store card payments under £100 in the UK are conducted using contactless technology
Across Europe, consumer preferences are also shifting toward contactless and digital payment methods. According to payabl.’s State of the European Checkout report:
- 41% of European consumers prefer paying in person using contactless debit or credit cards
- 21% prefer mobile wallets, including Apple Pay and Google Pay
These trends highlight increasing demand for fast, flexible, and mobile-friendly payment solutions, particularly among consumers seeking convenience in both physical and digital retail environments.
Operational Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios
The Tap to Pay solution is designed to support a wide range of business scenarios, particularly those requiring mobility and flexibility in payment acceptance.
Key deployment scenarios include:
- Retail stores requiring flexible checkout options
- Pop-up shops and temporary retail installations
- Event-based merchants and vendors
- Delivery services and logistics operators
- Field-based service providers
- Market vendors and mobile sellers
By enabling payment acceptance through smartphones, the solution allows businesses to operate without reliance on fixed payment infrastructure, supporting more adaptable business models.
Technology Infrastructure and Security Considerations
The Tap to Pay solution utilizes NFC (Near Field Communication) technology embedded within Android devices to facilitate secure contactless transactions. The system is designed to function as a software-based payment terminal, replacing traditional hardware-based POS systems.
Security features include:
- PIN entry support for cardholder verification
- Secure transaction processing protocols
- Compliance with payment industry standards
The architecture enables merchants to conduct transactions using widely available consumer devices while maintaining required levels of security and reliability.
Future Availability and Platform Expansion
The Tap to Pay solution is currently available on Android devices, with support for iOS devices expected later in 2026. This planned expansion is intended to broaden device compatibility and increase accessibility for a wider range of merchants.
The phased rollout reflects the company’s approach to extending its payment acceptance capabilities across multiple operating systems.
About payabl.
payabl. is a financial technology provider offering payments and business account solutions for businesses of all sizes. The company enables organizations to:
- Accept online and in-person payments
- Manage multi-currency business accounts
- Issue virtual and physical payment cards
- Access over 300 local and alternative payment methods
The company combines in-house technology development with strategic partnerships to deliver solutions designed to support secure, compliant, and scalable financial operations.
payabl. operates across multiple European locations, including:
- London
- Amsterdam
- Frankfurt
- Limassol
- Vilnius
Its platform is designed to support businesses seeking to optimize payment processes and expand their operations across international markets.
For more information, visit: payabl.com.
Media Contact
For additional information, payabl.com.
Source Attribution
Source: Company announcement