Worldline and Castles Technology Announce Partnership to offer SoftPOS

Worldline and Castles Technology partner to deliver innovative SoftPOS payment solution in North America

VICTORIA BC, 26 March 2025 – Worldline [Euronext: WLN], a global leader in payment services, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Castles Technology to provide cutting-edge in-person payment solutions in North America.

Worldline specializes in delivering top-tier payments technology to Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs), and Banks, in numerous vertical markets across North America. Through industry-leading customer care, local expertise, and seamless integrations, Worldline is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes grow with innovative payment solutions. As part of this commitment, Worldline is excited to collaborate with Castles Technology, a leading player in the terminal provider industry.

Castles Technology offers advanced Android payment technology, which is widely preferred by merchants worldwide for its reliability and efficiency. They have established a reputation for prioritizing security, innovation, and user-centric solutions, which align directly with Worldline’s strategic goals and position them as a highly trusted partner.

“At Castles Technology, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of payment innovation, and our partnership with Worldline represents a major leap forward in redefining how businesses accept payments,” said Joe Mach, North America CEO, Castles Technology. “By combining our state-of-the-art Android payment solutions with Worldline’s deep industry expertise, we are enabling merchants to seamlessly adopt secure, software-based payment acceptance. Together, we are not just meeting market demands—we are shaping the future of payments, providing businesses with the flexibility and security they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

This partnership is to provide the premier solution for ISVs by combining competitive advantages and collaborating on an advanced SoftPOS solution. SoftPOS, a software-based Point of Sale, allows merchants to securely accept payments directly on a phone, tablet, or other Android mobile device, bypassing the need for additional hardware. This solution significantly reduces costs associated with traditional POS hardware and can enhance the merchant experience with increased mobility, faster checkout times, and easy integrations. SoftPOS is an excellent fit for a wide range of industries, including field services, not-for-profits, and event management, as well as for small to medium-sized merchants who prioritize mobility and cost-savings.

Worldline and Castles Technology will be showcasing this technology together at the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) TRANSACT tradeshow in April, and plan to launch their first-to-market SoftPOS solution by the end of 2025.
“Partnering with Castles was an evident decision for our team here at Worldline North America. With aligned commitments to delivering innovative payment solutions, Castles’ extensive portfolio of terminal offerings, and joint goals for SoftPOS market introduction, we are thrilled to keep building on our foundation as partners,” says Claire Gayton, Head of Operations and Partnerships, Worldline North America.

This partnership marks significant advancements in the SoftPOS and in-person payment technology industry, setting a new standard for payment processing solutions. By merging the strengths of both companies, Worldline aims to drive the adoption of secure, efficient, and scalable payment options, ultimately improving how merchants collect and process payments.

ABOUT WORLDLINE
Worldline [Euronext: WLN] helps businesses of all shapes and sizes to accelerate their growth journey – quickly,
simply, and securely. With advanced payments technology, local expertise and solutions customized for hundreds of
markets and industries, Worldline powers the growth of over one million businesses around the world. Worldline
generated a 4.6 billion euros revenue in 2024. In North America, Worldline is the technology partner of choice for
software providers across over 60 industries. worldline.com.

Worldline’s corporate purpose (“raison d’être”) is to design and operate leading digital payment and transactional
solutions that enable sustainable economic growth and reinforce trust and security in our societies. Worldline makes
them environmentally friendly, widely accessible, and supports social transformation.

ABOUT CASTLES TECHNOLOGY
Castles Technology is a global leader in payment acceptance solutions, providing cutting-edge terminals, innovative
solutions, and exceptional services that meet the needs of today’s modern businesses. With over 30 years of
experience, Castles partners with thousands of businesses including processors, merchants, acquirers, ISVs, and
PSPs to deploy millions of POS terminals, connecting consumers and commerce around the world.
Castles Technology, leading Android SmartPOS provider.

PRESS CONTACTS
Worldline
North America:
Meghan Casault
T +1 (778) 533 8331
E [email protected]

Europe:
Virginie Bonnet
T +33 6 18 70 72 12
E [email protected]

Castles Technology
Cristi Stein
T +1 (678) 588 3852
E [email protected]

The RTS Carnival is Coming

Get ready for an event like no other! The Retail Technology Show is back, and this year, it’s shaping up to be the most exciting, interactive, and inspiring yet.

Retailers are eager to discover innovative solutions to stay competitive, and Castles Technology is at the forefront, ready to help reimagine the physical checkout experience.

AI is taking centre stage

In the rapidly evolving retail landscape, continuous innovation is essential. As technology transforms the way consumers shop, retailers are increasingly turning to tech-driven products and services to not only attract new customers but also retain loyal ones.

According to the latest research from the show’s organizers, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the top technology UK retail leaders believe will accelerate growth in 2025. Personalization and in-store analytics are also in the top 5 priorities for attendees.

Blazing the trail for next gen AI-powered sales solutions

At Castles Technology our Android POS solutions and services are leading the charge, offering retailers the ability to track consumer preferences, analyse data  and make real-time personalized recommendations.

We’re proud to be at the forefront of using generative AI to create highly targeted experiences, including cutting-edge customer loyalty apps, that ensure audiences stay engaged. We can help UK and international brands to:

  • foster more meaningful connections with customers
  • drive revenue growth through more personalized, engaging experiences
  • deliver higher ROI through productivity improvements.

Roll up for mobile POS innovation

At this year’s show, we expect merchants to be more focused than ever on POS innovation that cuts costs, boosts convenience, and drives efficiency for ALL USERS.

And with the UK mobile POS terminal market projected to reach USD 5,257.8 million by 2030,  Android POS is destined to be a primary attraction.

At Castles Technology, Android-based innovation is in our DNA. Our mobile POS solutions are designed to help merchants transform their sales operations, providing frictionless, fast, and efficient payment acceptance – in store, on the go or via self-service.

Our devices are among the most secure, flexible, and competitively priced on the market and are backed by a comprehensive portfolio of software and terminal management services. But when it comes to mobile innovation, one device rises above the rest of the market:

Introducing the Android S1F4 PRO

Engineered for merchants who need performance without compromise, the S1F4 PRO blends sleek mobility with powerful functionality. It’s compact, lightweight, and fully loaded – the ideal companion for dynamic retail environments. With exclusive gyrosensor tech, the screen auto-rotates to suit both merchant and customer views, while haptic feedback makes interaction more inclusive and intuitive.

Mobile-first. Feature-rich. Effortlessly adaptive. The S1F4 PRO is more than a device – it’s a new standard in mobile POS.

Join us at RTS and discover:

  • Low-Cost POS Alternatives: Our PCIMPOC SoftPOS software transforms smart devices into fully functioning POS systems, offering a cost-effective solution for merchants looking to reduce hardware investment.
  • Cloud-Based Solutions: Platforms like CasHUB, our marketplace and terminal management system, help enrich services while reducing the maintenance burden, offering a truly modern approach to POS management.
  • Unattended and Mobile Checkouts: Castles’ intelligent and interactive devices streamline transactions and elevate the customer experience, offering frictionless, efficient solutions for mobile and unattended checkouts.
  • How to get the most out your POS investment with our dedicated UK-based service centres, manned by dedicated experts to ensure that physical and omnichannel merchants have the local support they need.

The future of retail lies in seamless integration across all customer touchpoints.

Retailers are looking for POS solutions that can deliver today but are also adaptable for the future, integrating new developments as they evolve. Castles Technology is committed to providing next-generation solutions that are flexible, future-ready, and capable of delivering outstanding customer experiences. 

Visit Castles Technology at RTS on Stand J68

Come learn how we’re helping retailers reimagine their physical checkout experience, and discover how our AI-driven, mobile POS solutions can elevate your business. The RTS carnival is coming, and we’re a star attraction you won’t want to miss!

Spread the love and care for checkouts.

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon it’s time to show your customers and checkouts some special attention.

Despite their economic challenges, Europeans are still prepared to spend hard-earned cash to show loved ones they care on Valentines Day.

For many merchants, this key date brings a much-welcomed sales spike that bridges the gap between the prime holiday spending seasons Christmas and Easter.  In the UK alone, 40 million people celebrate Valentine’s Day, spending around £2.1 billion.

Experiences and wellness growing in popularity

Spending varies between countries and genders with men typically spending more than women on their partners.

Traditional gifts such as flowers, chocolates, fragrance and jewellery are among the most popular gifts. Hospitality also gets a welcome mid quarter boost as does travel as couples indulge in experiences. This year gifts focused on Wellness and health are also expected to be high on shoppers’ romantic gift lists.

Not just for couples

Don’t worry about excluding singles.  Although the focus is often on couples, in some countries like Finland, Valentine’s Day celebrates friendship. It’s a movement that’s catching on across the continent as people look for reasons to gift and treat share with family and friends .

For single shoppers, especially younger consumers, it’s also a great opportunity for self-love/self-indulgence.  According to Mintel 62% of 16-34-year-olds bought something for themselves for Valentine’s Day in 2024, so expect this trend to continue in 2025.   

Your ideal Valentine partner

As with any seasonal spikes, it always pays to ensure your sales points are optimised and primed to run in peak condition.  That means having a POS partner with solutions you can trust like Castles Technology. 

Having access to our world-class Android POS, unattended and SoftPOS technology can help you accept more types of payments, in more locations.  But tech is not the only thing that counts.  There are some ‘softer’ attributes that are equally important when it comes to caring for your checkouts and giving them the TLC they need.

5 ways Castles Technology cares:

  • Support – we have local tech-experts and teams that really care, offering multi-lingual support 24/7.
  • Understanding –  we know what merchants want and have built a portfolio of solutions that help with every aspect of acceptance – helping you to manage your business better during high and low seasons
  • Flexibility –our POS solutions meet a wide variety of needs; software can be easily customised over the air and cloud and APIs make integration and updates easy.
  • Foresight – Our Android devices use 3rd Generation technology to stay ahead of competitors and help your raise the engagement game with the speed, efficiency and experiences your customers desire.
  • Value – We pride ourselves on delivering the best tech and the best price ensuring value-for-money solutions that are kind to your budgets.

Let’s spread the love

Whatever your size or market, our experts are ready to help you make every seasonal opportunity – including Valentine’s Day – a sales success.
Contact: https://www.castlestech.com/contacts/

Seize the Snake and Scale Sales

CNY

Discover how Chinese New Year (CNY) impacts consumer spending and what businesses can do to optimize the shopping experience—especially at checkout.

Chinese New Year is one of the biggest shopping seasons globally, blending cultural traditions with commercial excitement. It’s a time when consumers splurge on food, decorations, luxury goods and travel, creating a surge in sales for businesses worldwide.

29 January marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake.  

The economic impact of CNY traditions is significant, especially in countries with large Chinese communities. For instance, London’s Chinese New Year celebrations contribute an estimated £100 million annually, and France sees around €300 million in consumer spending during this period.

The most popular ways consumers celebrate CNY is by spending on:

  • Red Envelopes: These are filled with money as gifts for children, family members, or employees, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.
  • Clothing: new clothes, especially in red, symbolize good fortune and a fresh start.
  • Food and hospitality: Elaborate family meals are a must, with foods that bring prosperity, happiness, and health.
  • Decorations: Homes and businesses are adorned with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cuttings for good fortune.
  • Travel and tourism: millions travel to reunite with family or to take a well-earned break – creating a massive spike in demand for transport and accommodation.
  • Gifts: especially food, wine, and luxury items wrapped in red or gold paper for good luck.

A year of transformation

The Snake is seen as a symbol of transformation and rebirth defined by wisdom, intuition, and charm but also caution and careful planning.  

For businesses, it calls for a balanced approach – strategic growth, calculated risks, and strong relationships.  It marks a period where they should trust their instincts while being careful with investments, using partner they can trust.

Optimising the CNY opportunity

CNY is not just a time for aligning operational priorities, it’s also a huge opportunity for retailers and businesses to boost their sales and build customer loyalty. By aligning your checkout process with the needs of Chinese shoppers – offering familiar payment methods and creating culturally relevant promotions – you can turn this busy season into a profitable one too.

Here are 5 checkout tips to consider:  

1. Offer Alipay and WeChat Pay – Chinese consumers are used to mobile payments, so make sure your store accepts these popular platforms to attract Chinese tourists or those living overseas.

2. Enable Contactless Payments – Chinese consumers love the convenience of paying with their smartphones, so ensure your checkout system supports contactless payments like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or QR code payments.

3. Offer Multi-Currency Payment Options – Many Chinese shoppers prefer to pay in their home currency, so offering payments in Chinese Yuan (CNY) can make their experience easier.  

4. Launch CNY promotions – Consider offering discounts or special deals on festive items like clothing, decorations, or food and display them prominently in-store and online – and feature promotion prompts on your POS screens.

5. Provide Pre-Ordering Options – make the most of hybrid checkout services and allow customers to pre-order festive items online or in-store, with easy pickup and delivery options.

Ready to Scale Your CNY Sales?

At Castles Technology, we offer all the tools you need to optimize your sales during CNY and beyond. With our advanced Android POS payment solutions, you can offer seamless payment options, enhance the shopping experience, and increase your bottom line—whether it’s through mobile payments, multi-currency support, or efficient checkout systems.

So, get ready for the Year of the Snake, plan strategically, and let’s make this Chinese New Year your best one yet!

Discover our latest solutions here: https://www.castlestech.com/products/

New year, fresh opportunities.

Employees

Join our growing team at Castles Technology

As we step into the new year, we’re not just looking forward to fresh opportunities—we’re actively creating them. Castles Technology has experienced a remarkable 12 months of growth and innovation, and we’re excited to expand our team to help us continue this exciting journey.

A year of growth and progress

Over the past year, our business has flourished, thanks to continuous innovation and a relentless commitment to excellence. Revenue is forecast to grow 17% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 14% growth forecast for the Electronic industry in Taiwan1.

EMEA is now our biggest revenue market.  Demand is being fuelled by a new generation of Android POS devices including our latest S1F4 Pro which was unveiled for the first time at Paris Retail Week. 

We believe in always improving, not only in terms of the products and services we deliver but also in how we operate and the impact we have on the world around us. 

Here’s a snapshot of progress we’ve made on sustainability:

A culture of innovation and excellence

At Castles, we don’t just build cutting-edge payment technologies; we build a dynamic workplace where innovation thrives. With each new year, we aim to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of payments and POS systems. From AI to cloud technology and real-time business intelligence, the opportunities are limitless.

Helping to power sales and make retail operations more efficient and profitable, our payment acceptance solutions are at the heart of customer engagement. Whether it’s with some of the largest household names in retail or the smaller traders who keep economies moving, our devices have a direct impact on retail performance and customer experience.

We’re always looking for fresh talent to share our success

Every day at Castles brings fresh challenges and new opportunities. We are a growing company that’s not only focused on developing high-performance devices and software solutions but also on providing top-tier support to our clients.

At Castles Technology, we believe in hiring individuals who bring their unique talents and perspectives to the table. We’re always on the lookout for passionate, curious individuals who are eager to join us on a transformative journey.

We especially like people that are:

  • Curious and Creative – always willing to learn, ask questions, and explore new ways of doing things. With creativity that helps us keep evolving and growing.
  • Conscientious and Committed – taking pride in their work and dedicated to helping others. Always ready to contribute positively to the team and foster an environment of collaboration and support.

Be part of a diverse and respected global brand

With a presence in 150 countries, Castles Technology is now a globally respected name in the payment solutions industry.

Women make up 52% of our workforce* and, as an employer, we’re dedicated to making sure that everyone can thrive within our team by welcoming and supporting people of all ages, races, colors, beliefs, sexual orientations, genders and circumstances.

Ready to Join Us?

As we continue to expand, we’re currently seeking professionals who are passionate about the future of payments and excited to help shape that future.

If you’re turned on by the possibility of making an impact and working with cutting-edge technology in an environment that fosters growth and innovation, Castles Technology could be the place for you.

Check out our careers page for the latest job openings and start your journey with us today.

In the meantime, here’s to a year of new challenges, fresh opportunities, and great success for our business, teams, partners and customers. Together, let’s shape the future of payments and create a workplace where excellence and innovation are always within reach.

  1. https://simplywall.st/stocks/tw/tech/twse-5258/castles-technology-shares/past ↩︎

What Australian Merchants Really Want:

7 Retail Trends Shaping Payment Needs Down Under

There are almost 140 000 retail businesses in Australia, accounting for over 4% of the country’s GDP and 10% of its employment. It’s a dynamic industry that’s rapidly evolving, driven by digital transformation and changing consumer behaviours.

A market where the personal touch counts

Despite the rise of Australian e-commerce, physical stores remain a key pillar of the Australian retail market. 90% of Australians prefer to shop in-store – 34% of them just because they enjoy it.  

Around 45% of Australian omnichannel and brick-and-mortar retailers plan to open more stores, and by 2030, it’s expected that in-store retail will still account for nearly 80% of the total market.

The emphasis is on building great experiences, which is fuelling major investment in modern and flexible POS systems.

Strong demand for next-gen acceptance

As large stores expand and update their infrastructure, and smaller businesses seek to keep pace using smart devices to enhance their checkouts, the POS market has surged. Experts project a 12.48% CAGR for POS sales through to 2028.

Mobile POS (mPOS) solutions and Android devices are leading the charge, especially in Australia’s hospitality and retail sectors, where employees can take orders and payments directly at the table or on the shop floor.

Cloud-based POS solutions – like Castles Technology SoftPOS  – are also gaining traction, especially for smaller retailers and those running small trading or mobile service businesses who want to utilise smart phones and tablets to take sales.

Across all sectors, there is a race to ramp up contactless and alternative payments at the checkout to support modern customer expectations and boost merchants’ competitive edge.

Seven trends shaping Australian merchants’ POS strategies

As we move toward 2025, it’s clear that Australian retailers are prioritizing advanced payment technologies and seamless POS systems to meet the growing demand for convenience and innovation.  Here are 7 important trends that are shaping their checkout needs:

  1. One in three Australian retailers are focusing on staff training to improve customer experiences.
    Easy-to-use POS systems with intuitive interfaces and integrated commerce management tools help staff focus on service and enhancing customer satisfaction.
  2. 51% of Australian retailers are tapping into big data to optimize inventory, pricing, and personalized shopping.
    Modern POS systems help capture real-time customer data, feeding into analytics platforms that drive smarter business decisions.
  3. 68% of Australian businesses are investing in unified commerce systems to create a seamless, connected customer journey across all channels.
    Cloud platforms like the Castles Technology CasHUB make it easier to integrate and manage new and legacy POS systems, from fixed terminals to mobile and unattended devices.
  4. 22% of retailers are interested in expanding their use of contactless payments.
    While credit cards remain the top payment method, alternatives like BNPL and digital wallets are growing quickly.
  5. Shoppers are becoming more selective due to the country’s rising cost-of-living pressures.
    Loyalty programs are essential for customer retention. Integrating digital or card-based loyalty rewards at the checkout can help strengthen customer relationships.
  6. Nearly 17% of Aussie shoppers are frustrated by long checkout lines.
    Retailers are looking to POS solutions that speed up transactions, with mobile payments and self-checkout options gaining traction to reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction.
  7. Australia’s New Payments Platform (NPP) has set the stage for faster, more flexible transactions.
    NPP is already reshaping retail payments by enabling real-time transactions, reducing friction, and supporting innovation in payment technology. Enabling acceptance in store is the next step to empowering consumers and merchants with real-time benefits.

Keeping Australian merchants ahead of the curve

Investing in technologies that deliver seamless, personalized experiences—whether through AI-driven e-commerce platforms, advanced in-store systems, or new payment methods—is the key to meeting Australia’s shifting consumer expectations.   

At Castles Technology, we’re ready to help retailers leverage our world-class payment solutions. Our Australian operations, led by Country Manager Jay Whitmore, offers local support to help merchants optimise their acceptance estates with all the hardware and software tools they need to boost efficiency, security and sales whether at the checkout, on the road, or in a self-service environment.