Retail Point of Sale Terminal Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product (Mobile, Fixed), By Component (Software, Hardware, Services), By Application (Department Stores, Supermarkets, Warehouses, Convenience Stores, Discount Stores, Specialty Stores, Others), By Region, and By Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 28.87 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	12.91%
Fastest Growing Segment	Fixed
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 59.82 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Retail Point of Sale Terminal Market will grow from USD 28.87 Billion in 2025 to USD 59.82 Billion by 2031 at a 12.91% CAGR. A Retail Point of Sale terminal constitutes the specialized hardware and software interface utilized by merchants to execute sales transactions, monitor inventory levels, and aggregate customer data within physical store environments. The expansion of this market is fundamentally supported by the global acceleration toward non-cash payment methods which necessitates infrastructure capable of processing digital transactions. Furthermore, the operational imperative for retailers to obtain granular visibility into stock movements and sales performance drives the persistent demand for these systems to replace manual cash registers.

However, the market encounters a substantial impediment regarding data security vulnerabilities as the digitization of payments increases the risk of financial fraud. This challenge compels vendors to enforce strict security protocols, often imposing compliance costs that may delay investment from smaller enterprises. Illustrating the high transaction volume requiring such secure infrastructure, according to UK Finance, in 2024, United Kingdom issued debit and credit cards were utilized to process 31.4 billion transactions, marking a 4% increase from the prior year.

Key Market Drivers

The accelerated adoption of cashless and contactless payment technologies serves as a primary catalyst for the Global Retail Point of Sale Terminal Market. As consumers increasingly prioritize speed and hygiene, merchants are compelled to upgrade legacy hardware with Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled devices to support digital wallets and tap-to-pay cards. This transition is not merely a consumer preference but an operational imperative for retailers aiming to reduce queue times and secure high-frequency transactions. Illustrating this shift in payment behavior, according to Mastercard Incorporated, October 2025, in the 'Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results', contactless penetration reached 77% of all in-person switch purchase transactions globally, marking a significant increase from the prior year. Such high adoption rates are driving a widespread refresh cycle of terminal infrastructure to ensure compatibility with these secure, non-cash payment methods.

Concurrently, the migration toward cloud-based and SaaS-driven POS platforms is reshaping the market by facilitating unified omnichannel strategies. Retailers are moving away from isolated on-premise servers to integrated solutions that synchronize inventory and sales data across physical stores and online channels in real-time. This technological evolution supports the deployment of mobile POS solutions, allowing staff to process transactions anywhere on the sales floor and enhancing the overall customer experience. Demonstrating the demand for these unified ecosystems, according to Shopify Inc., November 2025, in the 'Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results', Gross Merchandise Volume on the platform surged by 30% year-over-year to $92 billion. Furthermore, the sheer scale of retail activity underscores the necessity for such robust processing capabilities; according to the National Retail Federation, in November 2025, holiday retail sales were projected to surpass $1 trillion for the first time, creating immense pressure for reliable and scalable terminal networks.

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Key Market Challenges

The market faces a significant hurdle regarding data security vulnerabilities and the rising risk of financial fraud associated with digital payment interfaces. As retailers transition from manual cash registers to networked Point of Sale terminals, they expose their operations to sophisticated cyber threats. This vulnerability necessitates the implementation of rigorous security protocols and compliance measures, which substantially elevates the total cost of ownership for these systems. Consequently, smaller enterprises with limited capital are often deterred from upgrading their infrastructure, viewing the required security investments as a prohibitive financial burden rather than an operational asset.

This rigorous threat environment directly hampers market momentum by instilling hesitation among potential buyers who fear liability for data breaches. The intense focus on risk mitigation compels vendors to engineer complex, high-cost defenses that further alienate budget-conscious merchants. Illustrating the scale of this issue, according to the National Retail Federation, in 2025, 55% of retailers reported an increase in digital and ecommerce fraud activities conducted by organized groups over the preceding year. This upward trend in fraudulent activity necessitates cautious procurement strategies, thereby lengthening sales cycles and delaying the widespread adoption of modern terminal solutions.

Key Market Trends

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) directly into terminal interfaces represents a critical evolution in the market, moving systems beyond simple transaction processing toward predictive operational management. Retailers are increasingly deploying these intelligent terminals to combat inventory shrinkage and enhance security through real-time anomaly detection, which identifies irregular transaction patterns indicative of internal theft or procedural errors at the point of sale. This shift is driven by the necessity to protect margins in a high-volume environment while simultaneously automating complex decision-making processes regarding stock levels and fraud prevention. Underscoring this strategic priority, according to Zebra Technologies Corporation, November 2025, in the '18th Annual Global Shopper Study', 87% of retail leaders cited the importance of Generative AI and automation solutions in their loss prevention efforts.

Simultaneously, the expansion of self-service kiosks and automated checkout terminals is fundamentally altering the physical store layout to address persistent labor shortages and consumer demands for autonomy. Merchants are aggressively installing unattended payment hardware to maximize throughput and reallocate staff to high-value service roles, thereby reducing long-term operational costs associated with manned registers. This trend is particularly evident in the rapid deployment of connected digital platforms that support these autonomous workflows across diverse retail footprints, allowing for seamless operation without constant employee intervention. Illustrating this robust growth in infrastructure deployment, according to NCR Voyix Corporation, May 2025, in the 'First Quarter 2025 Financial Results', the number of platform sites utilizing their digital commerce solutions increased by 27% year-over-year to more than 77,000 locations.

Segmental Insights

The Fixed segment is recognized as the fastest-growing category in the Global Retail Point of Sale Terminal Market, primarily driven by the surging adoption of self-service kiosks and the modernization of checkout lanes in high-volume retail sectors. Supermarkets and department stores prioritize these systems for their superior durability, security, and capacity to handle intense transaction loads without latency. Furthermore, the shift toward cloud-enabled fixed terminals allows businesses to integrate essential peripherals and inventory management tools while maintaining the operational stability that wireless alternatives often lack. This sustained demand for resilient, high-performance infrastructure ensures the fixed segment continues to lead market expansion.

Regional Insights

North America leads the global retail Point of Sale terminal market, driven by the widespread adoption of advanced payment infrastructure and strict adherence to data security standards. The massive transition to chip-based card technology has compelled retailers to upgrade hardware to ensure compliance with mandates from the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council. Additionally, the high concentration of established hardware manufacturers within the United States supports continuous product development and integration across the retail sector, further solidifying the region's strong market position.

Recent Developments

• In January 2025, Verifone announced the launch of its new "Verifone Victa" hardware portfolio and "Verifone Tap" SoftPOS solution to revolutionize commerce experiences. The Victa product line features a variety of devices, including mobile and multilane terminals, which are PCI 7-capable and equipped with powerful processors to ensure enhanced security and performance. The Verifone Tap solution enables merchants to accept contactless payments directly on commercial smart devices using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This development aims to help businesses scale their operations by providing flexible payment options and improving the customer checkout experience across retail and hospitality environments.
• In December 2024, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions debuted the "Toshiba Commerce Marketplace," a digital platform designed to connect retailers with a network of validated technology partners. This initiative enables merchants to access a wide range of scalable solutions, including applications for customer engagement, operations optimization, and data analytics, which can be seamlessly integrated with Toshiba's existing systems. The President and CEO of Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions stated that the marketplace empowers retailers to modernize their technology stacks and adapt to dynamic market conditions by facilitating easier access to innovative third-party tools and services.
• In April 2024, Ingenico entered into a strategic partnership with Enroll & Pay, a provider of card-linked loyalty solutions, to integrate loyalty capabilities directly into its payment ecosystem. This collaboration allows merchants using Ingenico’s AXIUM payment terminals to offer seamless enrollment and reward redemption to customers at the point of sale. By combining payment processing with data-driven loyalty programs, the partnership aims to enhance customer engagement and drive revenue for retailers. The Android Growth Leader for Ingenico noted that the joint solution provides clients with essential tools to cultivate stronger relationships with their shoppers through customizable loyalty options.
• In January 2024, Elo Touch Solutions unveiled "Elo Pay" and the "Elo Pay 7-inch Integrated Payment POS Terminal" to offer a comprehensive payment and computing solution for retailers. The new 7-inch terminal combines a secure payment device with a fully functional enterprise-grade computer running on the Android operating system, capable of powering an entire point-of-sale system. The launch also included a suite of merchant services such as terminal management and remote key injection. The CEO of Elo highlighted that the unified system is designed to deliver fast, secure, and scalable transaction processing for businesses of all sizes.

Key Market Players

• NCR Corporation
• Ingenico Group
• Verifone Systems Inc.
• Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• PAX Technology Inc.
• Clover Network, Inc.
• Square, Inc.
• Toast, Inc.
• Lightspeed POS Inc.
• Revel Systems Inc.

By Product	By Component	By Application	By Region
Mobile Fixed	Software Hardware Services	Department Stores Supermarkets Warehouses Convenience Stores Discount Stores Specialty Stores Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Retail Point of Sale Terminal Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Retail Point of Sale Terminal Market, By Product:

• Mobile
• Fixed

• Retail Point of Sale Terminal Market, By Component:

• Software
• Hardware
• Services

• Retail Point of Sale Terminal Market, By Application:

• Department Stores
• Supermarkets
• Warehouses
• Convenience Stores
• Discount Stores
• Specialty Stores
• Others

• Retail Point of Sale Terminal Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE