ANZ launches POS device, BladePay
(2 December 2016 – Australia) ANZ Bank has officially launched BladePay, a handheld android-based payment device developed in partnership with technology firm ThumbzUp.
Six point-of-sale vendors, NCR, RedCat, H&L, SureFire, Abacus and Shout for Good, are partnering with the bank to build customised applications for the device. They have all started developing software including features such as ‘order and pay at table’, split bill and tipping options, ability to email and SMS receipts, and staff shift clock-on functions.
ANZ group executive, Australia Fred Ohlsson says: “We are routinely told that managing payments is one of the biggest pain points for business owners, yet when we looked at the market we found an opportunity to create a platform that could dramatically change the way our customers do business. What really sets ANZ BladePay apart is the software our vendor partners are developing, which is tailored to our customers’ needs.”
The launch of the device follows ANZ’s success with being the first Australian bank to offer mobile payment via Apple’s platform.
In announcing the bank's 2016 financial results, CEO Shayne Elliott told shareholders that the bank has been heavily focused on competing in the "digital age".
"[ANZ] took steps to create a better experience for our customers and to compete efficiently in the digital age," Elliott said.
"This included the successful launch of Apple Pay and Android Pay in Australia and Apple Pay in New Zealand. These are market-leading initiatives that have delivered good growth in new-to-bank customers."
Meanwhile, more than 90 percent of Australian merchants report that contactless payments were a priority for the next two years, ahead of mobile phone payments (68 percent), network technologies and settlement, online transaction reporting and management and security/fraud technology.
The device will be available to the hospitality industry in March 2017, with a broader rollout into retail and B2B markets thereafter.
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