As the popularity of using smartphones and zero-contact grows, so do the number of services offering it.
Using contactless QR code payments at points of sale has become quite commonplace over the last year and a half as businesses and consumers seek ways to transact without touching equipment.
Cardknox Development has now announced that its app has become quick response code compatible.
As a result, software developers seeking to add contactless QR code payments to their apps will have the means to do so. The Cardknox API makes it possible for developers to generate unique quick response codes on point-of-sale devices or on customer receipts. When customers use their phones to scan the codes, they are automatically directed to a form through which they can enter their payment data to complete the transaction.
For the initial rollout, Cardknox intends to target retail, travel and hospitality, healthcare, recreation, and amusement sector developers.
“Our API plays on the whole contactless movement, which provides payment convenience for consumers, by enabling developers to add this feature to their application,” explained Cardknox Marketing Supervisor Alex Varone.
Contactless QR code payments have exploded in popularity over the last year and a half.
According to a Mastercard Inc. study, since the start of the pandemic, contact-free transaction methods have become extremely popular. Eight out of every ten surveyed shoppers said that they use contactless payments. Moreover, another 74 percent of the survey respondents said that they intended to keep using the technology when the pandemic ends.
The Cardknox quick response code API supports a range of different potential usages. For instance, restaurants can print a code on a receipt for a customer, and the customer can scan the barcode to complete the payment without the need for a cashier or server to handle the credit card or for the customer to touch the point-of-sale keypad.
Similarly, healthcare providers can use contactless QR code payments for invoicing patients directly using a pre-filled form with account information and service dates. 
The system transacts twice as quickly as standard credit card readers, according to Cardknox. Furthermore, data entered through the forms accessed with the barcodes are hosted on the company’s secure and PCI-compliant payment infrastructure.
