Mobile payments are evolving faster than any other part of the commerce ecosystem—and Tap-to-Glass is quickly emerging as one of the most transformative technologies in that evolution. By turning any NFC-enabled Android device into a secure payment terminal, Tap-to-Glass is redefining how merchants accept card-present payments and how ISVs deliver flexible, modern checkout experiences.

This shift isn’t just about convenience. It’s about scalability, cost reduction, and unlocking entirely new ways for merchants to do business.

Here’s what Tap-to-Glass means for the future of mobile payments—and why ISVs should pay close attention.

1. From Hardware-Heavy to Hardware-Free

Traditional payment acceptance has always required:

Terminals
PIN pads
Dongles
Dedicated POS devices
Costly upgrades and maintenance

Tap-to-Glass eliminates all of that. With the technology described in your materials, a merchant’s Android phone or tablet becomes a fully certified payment terminal—no extra hardware required .

This unlocks a future where payment acceptance is:

More accessible
More affordable
Infinitely more portable

It’s a massive shift for SMBs, pop-ups, mobile-first businesses, and distributed teams.

2. A New Era of Flexibility for Merchants

Tap-to-Glass empowers merchants to accept payments anytime, anywhere—without relying on traditional POS equipment.

Industries already benefiting include:

Hospitality & food service (tableside checkout, line busting)
Retail (mobile associates completing purchases on the floor)
Transportation & delivery
Events, pop-ups, and seasonal vendors
Mobile professionals (trainers, contractors, service providers)

This level of mobility sets the stage for next-generation commerce where checkout adapts to the customer—not the other way around.

3. Seamless Integration with Cloud-Based POS Ecosystems

As Tap-to-Glass becomes mainstream, its true power emerges when paired with cloud-based POS systems—like the Delta1st ecosystem.

Woodforest is integrating Tap-to-Glass directly into Delta1st, allowing merchants to use the same application across both mobile and countertop setups. This creates:

A unified user experience
Consistent reporting
Shared transaction workflows
Full support for tips, refunds, and order management—right on the phone

This is the future of POS: fast setup, flexible hardware, and cloud-native payment acceptance.

4. Enterprise-Grade Security on Everyday Devices

Security has long been the barrier to turning consumer devices into payment terminals. But Tap-to-Glass finally solves this.

Certified under PCI CPoC (Contactless Payments on COTS) and PCI SPoC (Software PIN on COTS), Tap-to-Glass ensures:

End-to-end encryption
Zero card data stored on the device
Full compliance with Visa, Mastercard, and major card networks

This opens the door for enterprise adoption—because reliability and compliance are built in from the ground up .

5. Faster Deployment and Lower Total Cost of Ownership

Tap-to-Glass dramatically lowers operational and financial barriers:

No terminal procurement cycles
No hardware shipping or replacement logistics
No repair or lifecycle management
Minimal merchant onboarding friction
Instant rollout across large teams

This reduces costs not only for merchants but also for ISVs managing hardware estates at scale.

Combined with the Woodforest Cloud’s hardware-agnostic architecture, Tap-to-Glass becomes an even more powerful enabler of rapid deployment and frictionless device management .

6. The Future: Scalable, Mobile-First, Cloud-Connected Commerce

Tap-to-Glass isn’t the end of mobile POS innovation—it’s the beginning of a much larger shift toward:

1. Mobile-first checkout everywhere

Frontline teams equipped with phones can take payments instantly, reducing lines and improving customer experiences.

2. Distributed workforces empowered with secure devices

From field technicians to curbside pickup staff, every employee becomes a payment-enabled resource.

3. Cloud-native orchestration powering card-present payments

With the Woodforest Cloud and modern payment orchestration, mobile payments will sync seamlessly with terminals, dashboards, reporting, and risk tools in real time.

4. Multi-rail payment acceptance

As alternative payment methods and digital wallets continue to expand, Tap-to-Glass devices will evolve to support a broader mix of acceptance types.

5. iOS adoption

Android leads today, but Tap-to-Glass for iOS is on the horizon—unlocking a massive wave of additional merchant adoption .

The Bottom Line: Tap-to-Glass Is Reshaping the Future of Payments

Tap-to-Glass represents the next major leap in mobile payments—one where the device merchants already carry becomes their most powerful business tool.

For ISVs, this technology: