In the retail world, the future of payment options is very much in flux. Cloud-based platforms, mobile commerce and NFC technology are all starting to gain a foothold in the retail industry, but it can be difficult for a merchant to know which bucket to put their eggs.

A recent article from Point of Sale News recaps an Infogroup Targeting Solutions survey that found 77 percent of Canadian small business merchants plan on using mobile checkout strategies in the next few years. More than half of them say a system could be in place by 2018. That would triple the number of retailers using mobile POS solutions now.

"This is essentially the compact car of the payment processing industry," Parry Rosenberg, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at MONEXgroup, told the news source. "This system can increase revenue streams and perform other essential business tasks — all the while being completely mobile within the store. It's small and economical — leaving your storefront with more room to display goods and products for sale"

The benefits of a mobile cash register system are easy to see and more businesses are starting to get on board. Walk through any mall and there is a good chance that several stores you could enter are using smartphones or tablet POS systems.

While this study focuses on Canadian small businesses, there is a similar feeling for merchants across the world. By partnering with a payment solution provider that understands the latest technology, any organization can start taking steps into the future.