This partnership will enable AZUL merchants to accept contactless payments via a new mobile app 

Phos, the fintech behind the leading software-only Point of Sale system (SoftPoS), has partnered with AZUL, to launch ‘Tap’, its SoftPoS enabled mobile app in the Dominican Republic and the insular Caribbean.

The partnership with  AZUL (the commercial arm of Servicios Digitales Popular part of Grupo Popular,  its parent company ) means phos’ innovative SoftPoS technology will be available to merchants in the Dominican Republic for the first time.

This will enable AZUL customers to turn any NFC-enabled Android device, such as a smartphone or tablet, into a contactless payments terminal - all without the need for merchants to invest in costly physical terminals or other additional hardware.

The new ‘Tap’ payment platform uses NFC (Near Field Communication) technology for both Visa and Mastercard cards. It is available for devices with an Android operating system, through a mobile application that records the transactions processed by a customer business. 

Benefits for merchants include versatility in terms of mobility, allowing businesses to set up additional payment stations in their commercial locations, as well as enhanced security when processing payments, as the customer keeps custody of their card at all times.

The merchant or individual receiving payments through the ‘Tap’ mobile application can send the payment receipt to their customers via email or by displaying a QR code, which the customer can scan on site. 

Mr. Eugene A. Rault Grullón, General Manager of Servicios Digitales Popular, assured that: “With this new application, AZUL continues its promise to evolve the payments market in the region, implementing methodologies available internationally and thus benefitting all commercial sectors and the end customer.

"AZUL will leverage this new service to expand its reach to the retail community, focusing especially on small and micro businesses that still only accept cash, helping them to digitise with a solution that can be installed and implemented quickly, without the need for an additional device," said the executive.”

Brad Hyett, CEO of Phos, added: "We’re proud to be helping AZUL implement this technology for the first time in the Dominican Republic. It means that AZUL customers can quickly transform their businesses, facilitating contactless payments using existing hardware to improve the shopping experience".

This new collaboration with AZUL is the latest in a string of partnerships for phos globally, including collaborations with Dutch neo bank bunq, conversational commerce platform CM.com and JCC Payment Systems in Cyprus.

The London-headquartered business recently secured €2 million (approximately £1.7 million) in equity funding in August of last year. The new capital is enabling the fintech to expand its operations into new markets and make new hires in its development team.