We compute a set of identities defining the Mal'cev product of pseudovarieties of finite semigroups or finite ordered semigroups. We also characterize the pointlike subsets of a finite semigroup by means of a relational morphism into a profinite semigroup. Finally, we apply our results to the proof of the decidability of the Mal'cev products of a decidable pseudovariety with the pseudovarieties of nilpotent and of J-trivial semigroups.