Alipay P1
Designed by Zhang Mingwei / Chen Zhiyuan in 2022
P1 is a true all-in-one aggregator, since it features two hardware modules with full POS operation and the capacity to facilitate ‘face & code’ scanning payments. It replaces bulky traditional equipment with just ‘one’ compact body, making the checkout process more streamlined and the counter aesthetically pleasing. This revolutionary product form will open up endless possibilities for future business.
Changes to commercial trends and the emergence of new brands means a large number of existing traditional POS devices are no longer able to adapt to the demanding needs of modern brand operations. Some businesses are turning to tablet devices, but due to the functional limitations, they cannot fully replace professional cash registers.
Therefore, we created a new product category called 'Light POS. Its first product Alipay P1 will fill this technological gap in the market. Thorough research and development from the ground up led to new hardware architecture, design, and structure to meet the expectations of those businesses.
We tried many different design directions before we selected the best approach - P1 is based on an innovative ‘split or combined’ modality in its hardware architecture.
We set the most appropriate details according to the result of user tests. The most intuitive feedback from our customers is that it "looks great and is easy to use"
Incorporating a great deal of research into business scenarios and thinking about user experience, it defined an industry-first product - a new category which lay between traditional POS and Tablet, categorised by a distinctive design and targeted hardware and software features.
P1 is based on an innovative ‘split or combined’ modality in its hardware architecture. It features two modes: 'all-in-one'; and 'split', making it suitable for both high, low, and extra wide tables, along with other complex scenarios. Two power supply modes, wired + Pogopin, are adopted. Its flexible ‘all-in-one’ and ‘split’ modes give it 100% adaptability to all kinds of complex scenarios.
The design of P1 is based on the concept of there being ‘zero distance’ between the merchant and customer. This is achieved through the use of a minimalist structure (represented by a single cantilevered stand on both sides), and when this is combined with the relatively small screen size, it becomes visually appealing and agile.
The pedestal support structure on the base reduces the footprint of P1 compared to traditional devices, allowing it to fit freely in a crowded checkout area. The geometric interlocking structure creates a minimalist visual identity but also a strong sense of technology. The brand color of P1 is presented through the blue base pedal. This is an appropriate combination of its functional components, which is visually striking but not overwhelming. The colour can also be personalised to the customer's aesthetic needs, allowing it to further match the tone of the new expanding brand. Together, this gives it a highly impactful appearance.
The spindle on the back of the screen is marked with a scale so a user can ‘quickly set the best scanning angle’, with its numbers corresponding to different checkout heights. In this way, even inexperienced users can quickly adjust to the correct settings, making the payment experience smoother and more accurate.
The Alipay P1 is set to become the benchmark product in the new ‘light POS’ category, with its cutting-edge industrial design, while being both highly efficient and practical. It reflects Alipay's design philosophy of "making technology more convenient and efficient through superior industrial design". As the benchmark product, it can drive businesses to upgrade or replace their existing devices, leading the way to a new trend for commercial payments. Its impactful and innovative appearance further enhances the branding and technological perception of upcoming new traders .
