CaixaBank & ONCE partner to enhance bank’s touch POS terminals for blind people

By Delisha Fernandes

Spain’s CaixaBank has implemented a new functionality that enables blind people to make purchases with increased security at establishments with touch POS terminals.

This functionality, launched in collaboration with ONCE, will be updated automatically on all latest generation Android POS terminals (tactile devices, without buttons) provided by CaixaBank to establishments.

This new functionality allows for the activation of the “Accessible Mode” on the POS terminal by tapping twice on the button located at the bottom left corner of the payment screen. Once activated, a voiceover informs of the amount to be paid and gives instructions on how to pay by card. If the transaction requires a PIN, a special screen will appear, where a voiceover gives instructions on how to introduce the code.

With this new functionality, CaixaBank and Comercia Global Payments reinforce their Android POS product, which enables and improves efficacy in the management of payments to professionals and self-employed workers, businesses and companies.

After successfully implementing the “Accessible Mode” in trial businesses, this new functionality is already available for newly activated POS terminals. An update will be rolled out starting in December and ending in the first quarter of 2024 for terminals that had already been activated.

This POS model has multiple functionalities built into the terminal that allow businesses to receive payments in the customers’ currency, easily split a bill by using the calculator integrated in the payment process or to collaborate with social action programmes by rounding up payments for charity purposes, among other options.

This launch is added to the “Braille Pack”, a service implemented by CaixaBank through its subsidiary specialising in payment methods, CaixaBank Payments & Consumer, and in collaboration with ONCE. The “Braille Pack”, initiated last year, is designed so that people with visual impairments can use any type of card issued with Braille reading/writing code.