19.02.26
|Reading time:
5 min
Contactless payments in Switzerland: What are the key requirements for a modern POS system?
Contactless payment is now an integral part of everyday operations in the Swiss hospitality industry.Guests in restaurants, bars, and cafés now expect fast and frictionless payment options. NFC cards, mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, and especially TWINT have long become standard. For hospitality businesses, the question is no longer whether to offer contactless payment, but how efficiently and reliably the entire payment process performs in daily operations.
Why contactless payment is critical for the Swiss hospitality industry
Guest payment behavior has changed significantly. Cash is losing relevance, while card payments and mobile payment increasingly define everyday transactions. A smooth checkout process has a direct impact on service quality, guest satisfaction, and revenue.
Key advantages:
- Faster payment transactions
- Shorter waiting times for guests
- Reduced workload for service staff
- Fewer operational errors, for example when splitting bills
Understanding the difference between POS system and payment terminal
In hospitality operations, POS system and payment terminal are often used interchangeably. In reality, they serve different purposes and only operate efficiently in interaction.
The role of the POS system
The POS system is the central control instrument of your business. It captures orders, generates invoices, and analyzes revenue.
Typical functions:
- Recording products and prices
- Creating and splitting items and invoices
- Managing revenue and payment methods
- Reports and analytics for business management
The role of the payment terminal
The payment terminal is the device guests use to pay. It processes card payments, mobile wallets, and TWINT.
Typical functions:
- NFC card payments
- Support for Apple Pay and Google Pay
- TWINT and PostFinance Card
- Payment confirmation for guest and business
Why integrated payment makes the difference
Problems arise when the POS system and payment terminal are not connected. In this case, amounts must be entered manually. This takes time and increases the error rate, especially during peak hours.
With integrated payment, the invoice amount is automatically transferred from the POS system to the payment terminal.
Key benefits:
- No manual amount entry
- Faster transaction processing
- Accurate allocation of payment and revenue
- Fewer service-related queries
Essential payment methods and features in Switzerland
A POS system for the Swiss hospitality industry should reliably support all relevant payment methods. Guests want to decide spontaneously how they pay.
This includes:
- NFC credit and debit cards
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- TWINT
- PostFinance Card
- Digital receipts
The broader the support, the better your business is positioned for diverse guest groups.
With an integrated tip function, you can prompt guests directly at the terminal to choose how much tip they would like to leave. The function is flexible and adjustable. This not only boosts guest motivation but also motivates the team.
Splitting bills and flexible payment options
In restaurants and bars, splitting bills is part of daily operations. Groups want to pay separately or combine different payment methods.
Modern POS systems enable:
- Easy bill splitting
- Direct transfer of partial amounts to the payment terminal
- Combination of card, TWINT, and mobile wallets
- Accurate settlement without post-processing
This functionality saves time, reduces errors, and significantly improves the guest experience.
Fast payouts and full transparency
A central success factor is the payout of revenue. Delayed credits can put pressure on liquidity and make planning more difficult.
Modern payment solutions offer:
- Payouts as early as the next business day
- Central overview of all incoming payments
- Clear separation by payment methods
Transparent payment flows improve planning reliability and strengthen financial management.
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Nice to know:
Paying without a terminal using Tap to Pay.
In addition to traditional payment terminals, there are innovative alternatives for card acceptance. One of them is Tap to Pay.
With Tap to Pay, payments can be accepted directly on an iPhone, without a separate terminal. Guests hold their credit card, debit card, or smartphone with Apple Pay or Google Pay to the iPhone of the service staff, and the payment is processed securely.
This form of mobile payment is particularly suitable for terraces, events, or flexible service concepts with high mobility in service.
Greater insight through analytics and reporting
A powerful POS system delivers not only payments, but also valuable data for your business.
Particularly relevant:
- Revenue by day, week, and month
- Product and revenue analyses
- Peak times and traffic patterns
- Share of individual payment methods
These reporting functions enable well-founded decisions in both operational and strategic daily business.
How hospitality businesses identify a suitable system
A POS system for contactless payment in Switzerland is suitable if it:
- Clearly integrates POS system and payment terminal
- Supports all relevant Swiss payment methods
- Easily enables split payments
- Is intuitive to use
- Provides transparent reporting and fast payouts
A financial services dashboard with insight into payments and payouts creates additional transparency. Modern solutions also offer flexible financing options without involving an external bank, for example via Lightspeed Capital.
Conclusion: making contactless payments work efficiently
Contactless payment in Switzerland is now standard in the hospitality industry. What matters most is the interaction between POS system, payment terminal, and integrated payment.
Solutions such as those from Vendomat combine POS system, payment terminal, and payment into a seamless system that meets the requirements of modern hospitality businesses in German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland.
Raoul Corciulo
CEO
Sales & Customer Success