Point of Sale

Full Title or Meme

Point of Sale POS devices have been connecting to payment networks for generations, but now are moving to be linked to more of Identifier networks that are being rolled out in 2024.

Context

The device used by Verifiers are often deployed as a Point of Sale system but this is not the only place where they might be deployed.

Associations

• The International Forecourt Standards Forum is a UK-based European organisation which designs standards for connecting devices on a service station forecourt, such as dispensers, Tank Level Gauges, Price Signs, Car Washes and Outdoor Payment Terminals. In recent years additional standards have been added for Electronic Funds Transfer. Formed in 1992 by a group of oil, pump and computer companies (including AGIP, BP, Petrofina, Mobil and Texaco), the principle of IFSF is to create standards so that devices from different manufacturers can interoperate without having to redevelop interfaces:[1]

... there was great concern within the retail oil industry regarding the different protocols or interfaces used by equipment manufacturers [...] Proprietary protocols effectively locked customers to individual suppliers – who could often not meet the changing computer system needs of the Oil Company.

Other Sources

• Convenience stores technology

  When asked about the technology trends they’re monitoring, c-store retailers consistently pointed to AI, mobile-app integration, self-checkout systems, and the potential for leveraging loyalty programs and consumer analytics.

Solutions

A combination of Conexxus and IFSF to create a Data Dictionary API.

Holder-Verifier Standards

• [https://www.conexxus.org/our-work-standards-overview Conexxus Standards Overview.

https://www.conexxus.org/our-work-standards-overview

• Digital Bazaar Retail including Age Verification, Digital Offers, and loyalty cards.

Open Retailing

• POS vocabularies written out as yaml schema.

Artificial Intelligence

But just where does the convenience channel stand on the AI journey? According to a poll fielded during the session, roughly half of the attendees are currently exploring AI implementation. Approximately one quarter are running AI pilots, and another quarter are already using AI in production. According to the poll, only 2% have no plans to adopt AI into their organization. Of those already using AI, customer support and marketing are the top two uses. Other uses are operations, data analysis, data lakes, security and troubleshooting.<ref>Melissa Kress, Three Takeaways From the 2024 Conexxus Annual Conference Convenience Store News (2024-05-15) https://csnews.com/three-takeaways-2024-conexxus-annual-conference