For software providers entering the Swiss payments market, the key challenge is not a lack of infrastructure, but quite the opposite. It is a highly structured, secure and established ecosystem that requires careful integration.

At the heart of this ecosystem lies ep2, the standard that defines payment terminals, providers and point-of-sale software throughout Switzerland. ep2 has become a cornerstone of payment acceptance because it ensures consistency where it matters most. It specifies how transactions are processed, is aligned with the requirements of international card schemes, and supports key security mechanisms such as the processing of EMV chip cards, PCI DSS standards and strong encryption. Certification requirements for terminal manufacturers, as well as strict adherence to common specifications, further strengthen this foundation, reduce implementation errors and ensure a reliable starting point for all parties involved.

For merchants, this means a stable, secure and trustworthy payment infrastructure. Payments behave consistently across different terminal types and providers, and both regulatory and scheme-specific requirements are implemented consistently.

For software providers and integrators, however, gaining access to this ecosystem often involves a considerable initial investment. Integrating point-of-sale systems with payment terminals usually requires the use of established protocols such as OPI (Open Payment Initiative Protocol), coordination between various stakeholders, and structured testing and validation processes. For independent software providers – that is, companies that develop solutions capable of integrating with external systems – this can significantly prolong the time to market. The challenge therefore lies not with ep2 itself, but in making access to this mature and secure environment easier.

Nexi Switzerland is addressing this issue and introducing a new integration approach that simplifies the connection of software to payment terminals without compromising the strengths of the existing system. The Nexi OPI Proxy represents one of the first steps towards making integrations in the Swiss payments sector simpler, faster and more developer-friendly. This approach introduces an additional layer between the point-of-sale software and the Nexi terminals. Instead of interacting directly with the underlying protocol, integrators connect via a service that handles this communication and abstracts away much of the technical complexity.

This enables software providers to integrate via a clearer and more accessible interface without having to manage every detail of terminal communication themselves. At the same time, the underlying ep2 framework continues to ensure that transactions are processed securely, consistently and in accordance with the requirements of the Swiss market.

A cloud-based version of this interface is also in the pipeline and will follow a similar API structure. The aim is to provide greater flexibility in the deployment and maintenance of integrations, whilst ensuring compatibility with the existing payment environment.

For software providers, particularly those entering Switzerland from other markets, this approach reduces the effort required to connect to the local payment infrastructure. The Swiss market remains distinct in its requirements, for example regarding terminal behaviour, receipt issuance, reconciliation processes and compliance requirements. Simplified accessibility lowers the barrier to entry, whilst the quality and reliability of payment processing remain consistently high.

Merchants benefit from this development through greater flexibility and faster access to integrated solutions. If software providers can be integrated more efficiently, new applications with payment functionality can be rolled out more quickly, and adjustments to terminal configurations become less complex. This is particularly important in an environment where payment systems are constantly evolving, and new types of terminals or configurations are being introduced.

The simplification of integration is also supported by clearer and more structured documentation. Through docs.nexi.swiss, Nexi is establishing a central source of information that clearly explains both the technical and operational aspects of payment acceptance in Switzerland. This helps integrators to connect their systems, whilst at the same time providing merchants with support in the day-to-day processing of payments.

It is important to note that this approach does not replace ep2. The standard remains an essential component of the Swiss payment ecosystem and continues to ensure security, interoperability and reliability. The focus is rather on improving interaction for software providers and making the integration process more accessible, without compromising existing benefits.

The Swiss payments market has long been renowned for its stability and security. Thanks to a simplified integration approach, it is now becoming more accessible without losing the characteristics that make it so strong.

Richard Hug, Head of Product, Nexi Switzerland