Cashless payments at events - Zermatt Unplugged goes fully digital

Taking place in a small community located at the foot of the Matterhorn, Zermatt Unplugged has become a mainstay in the European music scene. Its 16th edition, which took place in April 2025, was a great success with 130 concerts, 17 stages and 35,000 visitors.

Between jam sessions and shows, payments were also in the spotlight. Attendees enjoyed a smooth payment process at the 100% cashless festival with the help of Dinaco, a specialist in the digitalisation of events, and Worldline. The ongoing partnership was key to ensuring successful payments at the Alpine event.

Rolf Furrer on the unique challenges of payment processing at Zermatt Unplugged in the Alps.

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Zermatt Unplugged is famed for its incredible atmosphere with a combination of music, mountain scenery and even spring snow. However, this context brings its own challenges.

It was critical that payment solutions at the Alpine festival kept working through extreme temperatures and tumultuous weather. Not just that, but the long days and location limited recharging opportunities so battery life needed to be reliable. Worldline’s mobile payment solutions were the perfect match.

Festival vendors benefitted from:

• Quick, uninterrupted connectivity – Worldline terminals work wherever there is 4G or Wi-Fi, including high up in the Alps. Merchants receive money within 48 hours.

• Weather-proof, robust solutions – the terminals are water and impact resistant with a decent battery life, all crucial in an outdoor festival like Zermatt Unplugged. They keep working, ensuring sales can continue, no matter the conditions.

• Faster, easier service – cashless payments reduce queues at festivals, meaning that attendees don’t wait as long. Payment transactions are simple and smooth, with all functions done via the same device. This includes the acceptance of all local and international cashless means of payment, making it easier on the merchant and the final customer.

For merchants working at outdoor festivals and other events, especially in challenging environments like mountainous regions, payments can be hard. Worldline’s portable point-of-sale solutions are there to help.

Festival vendors boost sales with flexible payment options through Worldline's portable terminals, allowing them to accept payments wherever they are.  The solutions are compatible with different payment methods including digital wallets, credit and debit cards, and even TWINT – ensuring customers will not be frustrated by a lack of options or even abandon a payment.

Dinaco and Worldline – smooth cashless festival solutions

Dinaco’s mission was to ensure that the cashless payment system was as smooth and efficient as possible for organisers and guests at the Alpine music festival. To do so, they turned to long-time partner Worldline.

With Worldline’s solutions, Dinaco gave merchants the ability to process various payment methods. And the overwhelmingly positive response from the attendees showed how much festival visitors appreciate cashless options. 

Payfix's Swiss cash register system perfectly complements this cashless payment solution

Dinaco also used its paxfix POS software, specialised in innovative cash register systems and payments solutions in the hospitality and event sectors, at Zermatt Unplugged. These high-quality, user-friendly, tailorable solutions can be seamlessly integrated into the entire payment and operational infrastructure at festivals.

Timon Renfer on the power of partnerships for successful event digitalization.

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Tap on Mobile simplifies payments at events  
This year, in addition to using Worldline physical terminals for Zermatt Unplugged, Dinaco also took advantage of Tap on Mobile. Available as an application, Tap on Mobile creates a secure, PCI-certified point-of-sale solution. The app allows for easy, secure, and private payments whether contactless or credit and debit cards.

No additional hardware required
The app allows for payments on compatible devices. The integration of Dynamic Currency Conversion also enables international visitors to pay in their card currency.  

Built-in privacy and security
Breathe easily even at an altitude of 1,620 metres thanks to built-in security, like a PIN entry for payments above certain limits, and privacy features that help protect business and customer data.  

All-in-one payment process
Beyond accepting payments, with Tap on Mobile you can offer digital receipts by email or QR code and even integrate a tipping function for higher sales as well as increased sustainability at the festival.

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