Online and offline operation means that the terminal or system can temporarily accept the transaction without an internet connection, and then settle it when the internet is restored.

POS (traditional physical terminal)

• Online operation: default. The terminal immediately communicates with the card companies/banks' systems.
• Offline operation: available for certain types (with a so-called floor limit), especially where the internet is weak (e.g. events, restaurants). In this case, the transaction is temporarily approved, and then finalized when there is a connection again. 👉 Risk: if there is not enough funds on the card, the merchant may reject the amount.

Typically not supported by other payment acceptance solutions.

Who is it recommended for?

🔹 Who is recommended to support offline operation?

1. High-traffic stores, hypermarkets, shopping malls

• Due to their continuous sales, they cannot allow payment to stop when the internet goes down.
• Offline operation ensures that there is no disruption in the checkout line.

2. Catering establishments (restaurants, bars, cafes)

• In the case of continuous guest traffic, it is essential to be able to serve the guest even in the event of a payment problem.

3. Transportation and travel service providers (taxi, bus, train, boat)

• It is often possible that the vehicle loses the network signal while moving.
• Offline mode guarantees that the transaction is recorded and then settled later.

4. Events, festivals, outdoor vendors, pop-up shops

• The network connection is uncertain at temporary locations.
• Without offline mode, sales would be disrupted.

5. Tourism service providers (tour guides, tour operators, smaller travel agencies)

• They often work in locations where there is no stable internet.

🔹 For whom is online operation sufficient or essential?

• of course, Webshops and e-commerce merchants - because all payments are connected to an internet connection, there is no offline option here.
• Smaller shops and service providers, where internet outages rarely occur and the risk of missed transactions is low.
• Qvik (instant payment, QR code) - because it always requires a real-time transaction, there is no offline operation.