RTS 2026: Eliminating Friction and Enhancing Transparency at the Point of Sale

At the Retail Technology Show, the discussion surrounding point-of-sale innovation highlighted the critical importance of reducing micro-frictions during the transaction process. Chad Roberts-York, CTO at PAX Technology, joined the conversation to showcase how the company is addressing long-standing hurdles in the customer checkout journey. While merchants have rapidly adopted digital and contactless payments, secondary processes—such as receipt delivery and payment transparency—have frequently lagged behind, introducing unnecessary delays and friction for the shopper right at the final step of their purchase.

To simplify this experience, PAX Technology has introduced advanced card emulation and Near Field Communication (NFC) tag capabilities into its new A920 Pro terminal. This technical feature allows the terminal to securely broadcast a digital receipt directly back to a consumer’s smartphone at the exact moment they tap to pay. Traditionally, obtaining a digital receipt required the customer to manually enter an email address or a phone number onto a keypad, a repetitive process that slows down queues and compromises privacy. By automating this exchange through a single tap, the terminal completely eliminates this operational friction.

In addition to streamlining data delivery, the technology tackles a common consumer pain point regarding payment transparency. Feedback from the market indicated that during contactless transactions, it was not always easy for shoppers to read the transaction amount because the merchant might be holding or tilting the device away from their line of sight. To resolve this, PAX Technology integrated a second screen onto the device dedicated specifically to displaying the purchase amount clearly to the customer.

This dual-screen architecture serves a dual purpose for modern businesses. While the primary function guarantees transparency and builds shopper trust, it also unlocks a valuable new touchpoint for real-time engagement. While the transaction is being processed, the merchant can utilize the outward-facing screen to display custom branding, promotional messaging, or targeted marketing campaigns directly during the payment experience. By blending hardware-driven efficiency with clear consumer transparency, PAX Technology is helping retailers transform the checkout from a rigid administrative step into a seamless, brand-aligned interaction.

Key Highlights from Chad Roberts-York:

• Automated Receipt Broadcasting: Roberts-York details how the A920 Pro utilizes card emulation and NFC tags to transmit receipts directly to a phone during a payment tap.

• Eliminating Input Friction: How tap-to-receive technology removes the time-consuming and manual hurdle of entering phone numbers or email addresses at the checkout.

• Dual-Screen Transparency: The addition of a secondary consumer-facing screen to ensure the transaction amount is completely visible, addressing negative feedback about angled terminals.

• Point-of-Sale Marketing: How the customer-facing display acts as an active marketing canvas, allowing merchants to show tailored branding and promotions during the transaction.

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