What is Terminal Semi Integration (TSI)?

Terminal Semi Integration (TSI) links your electronic cash register (ECR) or POS to a payment terminal, so you can accept EMV (chip card) payments while card data stays out of your POS.

  • Applies to: Elavon Terminal Semi Integration (TSI) on supported Ingenico terminals
  • Who it’s for: businesses looking for a card-present solution
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How does TSI work?

  • TSI is the interface between your ECR and the Elavon host.
  • Your POS sends remote commands to the terminal. Only non-sensitive commands pass between the terminal and your ECR/POS.
  • The terminal captures the card and encrypts the data, then routes it directly to the processing host (Elavon). Card data never enters your POS.

What happens during a TSI transaction?

A TSI transaction runs in this order:

  1. ECR: The transaction is initiated.
  2. Terminal: The cardholder data is captured.
  3. Elavon host: The response is sent to the terminal.
  4. Receipt: The receipt prints at the terminal or ECR.
    TSI pros: simplest, quickest integration (as little as 3 weeks), no duplicate entry, no sensitive data passed or housed, lower PCI-DSS burden
    TSI cons: not funnelled through Converge, so eCommerce and card-present setups are disconnected; does not support tokenization

Which terminals support TSI?

TSI is currently supported on the Ingenico smart Tetra line: Desk5000 and Move5000 terminals. The Desk/3500 is also listed for TSI in the US. For the full list by region, see “Which terminals support Elavon Terminal Semi Integration (TSI)?” in the same section.

How do I get the TSI API specification?

To release the TSI API specification, we first need an Elavon signed NDA. Contact Cartis Payments to request this.

Updated November 2, 2026

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