Currys has teamed up with Stripe to deploy next-gen payment terminals across almost 300 UK&I stores, as it sets the foundations to adopt emerging technologies to power faster and more flexible checkout experiences.

The new upgrade to its payment systems is the latest move as part of the retailer’s store transformation programme. This has already seen Currys complete an estate-wide roll out of ESLs with SOLUM and Vestcom, invest in VoCoVo headsets to improve colleague safety and deploy Quorso’s AI to supercharge store operations with its Action AI programme.

Future-proofing payment capabilities

The partnership with Strip will future-proof Currys‘ payment capabilities, allowing it to adapt to new checkout experiences – from seamless mobile transactions to AI-powered shopping experiences – as innovation evolves.

“Stripe’s platform gives us the flexibility to adopt innovations as they emerge,” said Andy Gamble, Chief Information & Transformation Officer at Currys.

“We’re already using AI to help customers find the right tech – now with Stripe’s infrastructure, and partnerships with the likes of OpenAI, we can layer in new payment capabilities that work seamlessly with AI-assisted shopping and whatever else comes next,” he said.

Conor McNamara, EMEA Chief Revenue Officer at Stripe, added that the partnership showcased how “having the right infrastructure allows innovative retailers to create delightful new customer experiences.”

Powering micro-donations with Pennies

As well as readying Currys for future evolutions in payments, the retailer has also brokered a three-way partnership with Stripe and micro-donation charity, Pennies.

This will enable donation prompts on Stripe payment terminals, allowing customers to round up purchases to give to good causes.

“With Currys becoming the first retailer to enable Pennies micro-donations on Stripe terminals, this continues to help generosity become part of everyday shopping… unlock[ing] even more opportunities for people to give,” said Alison Hutchinson CBE, Pennies‘ CEO.

“Every penny truly adds up – almost 5 hours of micro-donations made by Currys customers could help the Digital Poverty Alliance pay for a laptop for a family, improving access to essential education, finance and healthcare resources,” she continued.

Currys said donations from its customers were already supporting Pennies charitable work. In the UK, support for the Digital Poverty Alliance has delivered nearly 3,000 laptops to families in need, helping bridge the digital divide. Meanwhile in Ireland, contributions continue to fund My Canine Companion, a charity provider of service dogs for children and young adults with autism.