The latest Datos Insights report dropped a quiet bombshell:
Pan Oston + 4POS now control 52% of all new self‑checkout deployments in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
That’s more than Diebold Nixdorf. More than Itab, and far more than NCR Voyix, the global SCO leader. On the surface, it looks like a regional hardware story.
In reality, it signals a deeper shift in how retailers think about control, customization, and the future of checkout ecosystems, and it stands in sharp contrast to the model perfected by Walmart.
Europe’s SCO Market Is Exploding. Germany alone has grown from 7,240 SCOs in 2021 to 38,650 in 2025. That’s a fivefold increase. Discounters, grocers, and convenience operators are all in.
But here’s the twist:
DACH retailers don’t want a platform. They want hardware that bends to their software, not the other way around.
DACH retailers don’t want a platform. They want hardware that bends to their software, not the other way around.
That’s why Pan Oston and 4POS are winning. Their formula is simple:
The retailer-controls the software, they use custom hardware form factors, use modular components, and don’t commit to any vendor lock in.
They’re not selling a checkout ecosystem.
They’re selling the freedom to build your own.
Meanwhile, Walmart Is Winning With the Opposite Strategy.
Walmart’s in‑house POS stack is the polar opposite of the DACH model. It works because the U.S. market structure is fundamentally different.
Walmart’s approach is fully proprietary POS + SCO Software. Then they customize hardware built around internal requirements. They continue with deep integration with LP, AI, payments, and inventory.
This has allowed them to Standardize the footprint across 4,700+ stores. This gives them end‑to‑end control of data, UX, and shrink logic
Walmart doesn’t buy a platform. Walmart is the platform.
This vertical integration gives Walmart faster iteration, lower long‑term cost per transaction, a unified data layer, and a strategic moat no vendor can replicate.
It’s the right model for a retailer of Walmart’s scale.
It seems there are two winning models, driven by two very different realities.
DACH Retail Reality
- Fragmented retail landscape
- Legacy POS stacks everywhere
- Strong preference for independence
- High demand for custom form factors
- Low tolerance for vendor lock‑in
→ Hardware‑first integrators thrive.
U.S. Retail Reality
- Consolidated market
- Large chains with internal engineering muscle
- Higher tolerance for vendor ecosystems
- Scale rewards standardization
– In‑house POS becomes a competitive advantage.
It’s clear that both models win , but only in the environments they were built for.
The Strategic Takeaway for Retail Leaders
The global SCO market is no longer a one‑size‑fits‑all race.
It’s splitting into two clear paths:
1. Retailer‑controlled software + flexible hardware (4POS, Pan Oston, Itab)
Ideal for retailers who want to own their UX and avoid lock‑in.
2. Fully integrated, proprietary ecosystems
(Walmart, Amazon, some U.S. grocers)
Ideal for retailers with the scale and engineering depth to build their own stack.
The real question for the next decade isn’t “Which SCO vendor is best?”
It’s “Which governance model gives you the most control, speed, and resilience?”
Because checkout is no longer a device.
It’s an operating system for the entire store.
Mavrik Concepts 