India’s Zoho Corporation has significantly escalated its play in the Indian software space, garnering the most interest with Arattai. Now, it has ventured into the fintech landscape by announcing its foray into the hardware segment. Under the Zoho Payments umbrella, the company is now selling its own range of Point-of-Sale (POS) devices, alongside integrated QR devices and sound boxes.
The new hardware, introduced under Zoho Payments, is engineered to offer businesses a comprehensive solution for seamless in-person transactions. The smart POS device boasts an easy-to-use touchscreen interface and a built-in printer for instant paper or digital receipts. Designed for universal acceptance and connectivity, the terminals support 4G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The devices are equipped to accept all modern payment methods, including EMV chip cards, UPI QR codes, and contactless transactions.
Zoho Payments launches POS devices
Sivaramakrishnan Iswaran, CEO of Zoho Payment Technologies and Global Head of Finance and Operations, says that the launch represents a natural expansion following the 2024 introduction of the software-based Zoho Payments platform. “We were supporting online payments without any devices. As a strategy, we may start in one area but keep on expanding,” Iswaran said, highlighting the firm’s commitment to building a full-stack financial ecosystem.
Crucially, Zoho’s hardware is tightly integrated with its popular suite of finance and operations applications, including Zoho Books, Zoho Invoice, and Zoho Inventory. This deep, native integration is the core differentiator, allowing for real-time transaction tracking, automated reconciliation, and seamless record-keeping. Businesses can now manage billing, payments, and back-office operations from a single unified dashboard, drastically reducing manual errors and saving time. Furthermore, the system is PCI DSS certified, ensuring advanced security and compliance with local RBI guidelines.
Zoho expanding into B2B aggressively
Central to this expansion is Zoho’s aggressive focus on the B2B sector, powered by its *Bharat Connect initiative. Having secured an RBI license as a Payment Aggregator and a Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU) under NBBL, Zoho Payments is relying on the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to standardise B2B invoice presentment and payments.
This allows businesses using Zoho Books to exchange invoices with buyers and sellers effortlessly on the network. The BBPS integration also enables vital services like instant payment confirmations, support for bulk payments, and access to invoice financing via the TReDS platform, providing businesses with critical financial clarity and control in a single flow.
The timing is strategic too, capitalising on the surging digital payments market in India. While the devices are currently imported, Iswaran also hinted at the long-term possibility of supporting domestic manufacturing and R&D for these devices.