Square, SumUp, Shopify: Data Streaming for Real-Time Point-of-Sale (POS)

Point-of-Sale (POS) systems are no longer just cash registers. They are becoming real-time, connected platforms that handle payments, manage inventory, personalize customer experiences, and feed business intelligence. Small and medium-sized merchants can now access capabilities once reserved for enterprise retailers. Mobile payment platforms like Square, SumUp, and Shopify make it easy to sell anywhere and integrate sales channels seamlessly. At the same time, data streaming technologies such as Apache Kafka and Apache Flink are transforming retail operations. They enable instant insights and automated actions across every store, website, and supply chain partner.