PayPal Here SDK Helps You Sell Online and Off

Credit: PayPal

PayPal has taken another step into the world of offline payments. This time, it aims to streamline payments and transactions from online, offline and mobile sales using a simple point-of-sale (POS) payment solution.

This week, the e-commerce giant launched its new PayPal Here Software Development Kit (SDK), a payment system that lets small businesses integrate online, offline and mobile sales within their POS. This will allow brick-and-mortar retailers to integrate e-commerce and mobile commerce sales with their in-store sales, while also helping online merchants sell their products offline.

PayPal Here vs. PayPal Here SDK

PayPal Here and PayPal Here SDK may sound pretty similar, but they are two different services that PayPal is using for offline payments. PayPal Here is a mobile payments solution, while PayPal Here SDK uses an application programming interface (API) to implement a POS payments solution.

In 2012, PayPal introduced PayPal Here, a mobile credit card processing service that uses a triangle-shaped credit card reader that attaches to mobile devices, enabling merchants to accept payments anywhere they go. Unlike PayPal Here, the PayPal Here SDK doesn't require a dongle to complete transactions.

Instead, the PayPal Here SDK is simply software that works with a merchant's POS system. The software integrates with many of the existing hardware in the market — including popular third-party credit readers, such as MagTek — thus eliminating the need to purchase and install new systems. The PayPal Here SDK also works with the PayPal Here mobile credit card reader.

PayPal Here SDK features

PayPal Here SDK integrates with merchants' front- and back-end systems.

In addition to processing payments, the software acts a lot like that of mobile POS systems. It lets businesses link and manage their customer relationship management (CRM) software, track inventory, create invoices and other features that help merchants deliver a personalized customer experience.

The PayPal Here SDK also uses a partner-based approach to distribute the software. At launch, it is currently partnered with GoDaddy's Get Paid bookkeeping software, to make it easier for merchants to keep track of their finances. The PayPal Here SDK has also partnered with e-commerce solution Ecwid, which is designed to make it easy for merchants to set up online storefronts, integrate online and offline sales data, and manage inventory across different sales channels.

To start using PayPal Here SDK, email DL-PayPal-Here-SDK@ebay.com. The software is currently available for free.