Soft POS and Tap to Mobile in Morocco: Turn Your Phone into a Payment Terminal
What Is Soft POS?
Soft POS (Software Point of Sale), also called Tap to Mobile or Tap to Phone, is a revolution in payment acceptance: it turns any NFC-equipped Android smartphone into a payment terminal without any additional hardware.
In practice, the merchant installs a certified app on their phone. The customer taps their contactless card, phone, or smartwatch, and the payment is processed — exactly like a traditional POS terminal, but without the device.
In Morocco, this technology represents a major advance for financial inclusion and electronic payment acceptance. With over 25 million smartphones in circulation and over 40% of transactions already contactless, Soft POS has the potential to equip hundreds of thousands of merchants who don't have a POS terminal today.
How Does Soft POS Work?
Technical Flow
- The merchant opens the Soft POS app on their smartphone
- Enters the amount
- The customer taps their contactless card (or phone/watch) on the merchant's smartphone
- NFC reads the data securely (tokenized)
- The app sends the authorization request to the payment network (CMI in Morocco) via internet
- The issuing bank approves or declines
- Both parties receive confirmation (notification, SMS, or digital receipt)
- Settlement is made to the merchant's account (typically D+1)
NFC Technology
NFC (Near Field Communication) is the same protocol used by contactless cards and traditional POS terminals. The smartphone reads card data via its built-in NFC antenna, exactly as a physical terminal would.
The key difference: in Soft POS, it's the software (the app) that handles processing, not dedicated hardware. Hence the name "Software POS."
Accepted Payment Modes
Soft POS accepts all contactless modes:
- NFC bank cards — Visa, Mastercard with payWave/PayPass
- Mobile payment — Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
- Smartwatches — NFC-enabled wearables
- Maroc Pay — via QR code (complementary to NFC)
Important limitation: Soft POS cannot read chip cards (insertion) or magnetic stripe cards. Only contactless is supported.
Soft POS vs Traditional POS vs mPOS
| Criteria | Soft POS | mPOS | Traditional POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware needed | Smartphone only | Bluetooth reader + smartphone | Dedicated device |
| Hardware cost | 0 MAD | 500-1,500 MAD | 2,000-5,000 MAD |
| Monthly subscription | 50-100 MAD | 50-150 MAD | 150-300 MAD |
| Contactless NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chip card | No | Yes | Yes |
| Magnetic stripe | No | Yes | Yes |
| Receipt printing | No (digital) | No (digital) | Yes |
| Mobility | Maximum | High | Fixed/Portable |
| Installation | Immediate (app) | 24-48h | 1-3 weeks |
| Maroc Pay (QR) | Yes (via app) | Yes | Depends on model |
| Ideal for | Delivery, mobile | SMEs, artisans | Large businesses |
Requirements for Soft POS
Hardware
- Android smartphone version 8.0 (Oreo) or higher
- NFC chip enabled (most mid/high-end smartphones)
- Stable internet connection (4G or Wi-Fi)
- iPhones not supported — Apple restricts merchant NFC access
Software
- Certified app — provided by a licensed payment institution
- CMI certification — the app must be approved by the interbank center
- Visa/Mastercard certification — Tap to Phone program compliance
Administrative
- Acceptance contract — signed with a licensed payment institution
- Trade register — for merchants
- National ID (CIN)
- Bank account (RIB) — for transaction settlement
Use Cases in Morocco
Delivery Drivers
E-commerce and food delivery drivers use Soft POS to collect payment on delivery. It's a cash alternative that secures revenue.
Artisans and Freelancers
Plumbers, electricians, photographers, coaches — professionals who visit clients can accept card payment without carrying equipment.
Markets and Souks
Vendors at weekly markets and souks can accept contactless with just their phone — impossible with a traditional POS.
Events and Festivals
Food stands, ticketing, merchandise — Soft POS is ideal for temporary events where installing a traditional POS would be disproportionate.
Small Neighborhood Merchants
The grocer, baker, corner cafe — merchants who don't justify investing in a traditional POS but lose sales because they can't accept cards.
Agent Networks
Payment agents in the Chari network use Soft POS for payment operations alongside cash-in/cash-out.
Soft POS Security
Tokenization
Card data is never stored on the phone. A unique token is generated per transaction. Even if the phone is compromised, card data is inaccessible.
End-to-End Encryption
All communication between the phone, payment network, and bank is encrypted through a secure channel.
PCI Certification
Soft POS complies with PCI-SPoC or PCI-CPoC standards, depending on PIN acceptance capability.
Software Isolation
The Soft POS app runs in an isolated environment (sandbox), separate from other applications, preventing malware from intercepting data.
No On-Device Storage
No sensitive card data (PAN, CVV, expiry) is ever stored on the merchant's smartphone. Data is transmitted directly to the payment processor.
Regulation in Morocco
Regulatory Framework
Soft POS deployment in Morocco is governed by:
- Bank Al-Maghrib — oversees payment systems and licenses payment institutions
- CMI — certifies Soft POS solutions before commercial deployment
- Visa and Mastercard — certify technical compliance (Tap to Phone program)
- PCI standards — mandatory compliance for data security
Providers in Morocco
| Provider | Solution | Network | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChariBaaS | Soft POS + Maroc Pay | 50,000+ Chari POS | Agent network integration |
| NAPS | Soft POS solution | Via partner banks | M2M Group subsidiary |
| Banks | Via tech partners | Existing clients | Progressive deployment |
How to Get Started
- Choose a provider — compare fees, payment methods, settlement times
- Sign the contract — provide trade register, CIN, bank details
- Download the app — install the certified app on your Android NFC phone
- Configure and train — 5-10 minute setup and training
- Start accepting payments — first test transaction, then go live
How ChariBaaS Can Help
ChariBaaS offers the most complete Soft POS solution in Morocco:
- Certified Soft POS app — Visa, Mastercard, CMI approved
- NFC + Maroc Pay — accept contactless cards AND QR codes
- 0 MAD hardware — your smartphone is enough
- Chari network of 50,000+ POS — massive deployment for agent networks
- Unified dashboard — track online and in-store transactions in one interface
- D+1 settlement — receive funds the next day
- Complete POS acceptance — Soft POS, mPOS, and traditional POS in one offering
Discover our POS acceptance solutions or contact us for a demo.
Turn your smartphone into a payment terminal. Contact our team to get started with ChariBaaS Soft POS.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Soft POS?
- Soft POS (Software Point of Sale) is a technology that turns an NFC-equipped Android smartphone into a payment terminal. The customer simply taps their contactless card or phone on the merchant's smartphone to pay. No additional hardware is needed.
- Is my phone compatible with Soft POS?
- To use Soft POS, your phone must be Android version 8.0 or higher with NFC enabled. Most recent mid-range and high-end smartphones are compatible. iPhones are currently not supported for merchant Soft POS due to Apple's NFC access restrictions.
- Is Soft POS secure?
- Yes. Soft POS uses tokenization and end-to-end encryption. No card data is stored on the phone. The technology is certified by Visa and Mastercard (Tap to Phone program) and must be approved by CMI in Morocco. It complies with PCI standards for software solutions.
- Is Soft POS available in Morocco?
- Yes. Several providers offer Soft POS in Morocco, including ChariBaaS. The solution is approved by Bank Al-Maghrib and certified by CMI. It's particularly suited for delivery drivers, artisans, small merchants, and mobile professionals.