Smart-Terminals

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Payment Providers Are Competing to Become the Merchant's Operating System

insights  ·  12 min read

Payment Providers Are Competing to Become the Merchant's Operating System

Merchant acquiring was built around a narrow promise. Accept the payment reliably, settle the funds accurately and charge a competitive price. That promise remains essential but it is no longer sufficient. Payment providers are moving deeper into the merchant's operation through smart terminals, commerce software, wallets, working capital and loyalty, and AI is turning those services into a connected decision system. The contest is shifting from who processes the transaction to who helps the merchant run and grow the business.

5 Sep 2026 payments merchant-acquiring
The Smart Terminal Is Becoming the Distribution Channel for Merchant Services

insights  ·  10 min read

The Smart Terminal Is Becoming the Distribution Channel for Merchant Services

The payment terminal used to have one job. It accepted a payment securely and reliably. Smart terminals now sit at the intersection of orders, customers, staff, inventory, settlement and financing, giving payment providers a powerful route into the daily operation of the merchant. Yet the device itself is not the advantage. It appears when the terminal becomes a trusted distribution channel for services that improve a merchant decision and when the outcome of that decision returns to a shared intelligence layer.

5 Sep 2026 payments smart-terminals