PayPal Here and Microsoft Surface have joined forces to create a new point-of-sale (POS) solution for businesses, retailers and sole proprietors to get paid by customers.

According to the two companies, many businesses have realized that they can better interact with customers and get paid more easily through the use of tablets. Microsoft notes that while in the past the process required businesses to have two devices, now everything should be simpler and smoother.

"Laptops remain important to small business retailers to handle inventory, supply, customer relationship information and accounting. At the same time, they have quickly realized that tablets can enable new engagement models with their customers - personalized interactions and commerce untethered from a cash register. So up until now, they were forced to buy two devices - an iPad for transacting and a laptop for operations. Today that changes," Microsoft announced" on its Surface blog.

"Surface Pro 3's lightweight, mobile design, with touch and ink capability, is perfect for point-of-sale (POS), and because Surface Pro 3 packs the full power of a PC, it can also handle intensive tasks needed to run the business. But that is not enough to complete the solution."

The complete solution includes the PayPal Here card reader and Windows 8.1 app, which will hit the U.S. later this year. This way, the Surface tablet and the PayPal Here card reader will make up an all-in-one transaction and inventory system, without requiring an additional device. The PayPal Here card reader has already been available for various devices so far, but now it comes with added support for Surface tablets, as well as Windows Phone Lumia smartphones.

"For several years, PayPal Here has been used by retail storefronts, sole proprietors, offices, and businesses who want to accept payments more simply with an easy to set up, scalable mobile payment solution that grows with their business. Small business owners can already accept debit and credit card and PayPal payments via a variety of devices, and functionality has now expanded to include compatible Windows Lumia smartphones and Microsoft Surface tablets. With the new app, small businesses can easily track sales, manage inventory, and accept all forms of payments, all from a single Windows device," Microsoft further explains.

Moreover, Microsoft also revealed that new accessories for the Surface tablet can turn the device into a POS. As previously mentioned, the PayPal Here app will become available later this year. Meanwhile, a PayPal Here SDK is already available for some developers. ISVs interested in this PayPal SDK can contact PayPal Here. In the meantime, check out the video below to learn more about this new initiative.