Payment processing has come a long way over the course of the last 20 years or so. As it continues to evolve, one trend is clear – the popularity of contactless payments. This trend has been a steady one and has been accelerated with the rise of COVID-19. For restaurant owners specifically, contactless payment options not only offer a certain level of customer satisfaction but can also help streamline operations.
What is a Contactless Payment?
As a consumer, a contactless payment process might be interpreted as tap-and-pay or tap-and-go. This allows the customer to pay with an NFC chip embedded in a debit or credit card. Another method of contactless payment that has become more widely used is a mobile wallet. Androids and iPhones now have wallets that house payment information, making it easy to pay without contact.
To accept contactless payments as a business, one simply must have the proper equipment to make the contactless transaction.
Are Contactless Payments Secure?
Contactless payments are a secure method of payment. In fact, most would be surprised to know that it’s actually more secure than the traditional swipe method. Credit and debit cards are more vulnerable as all critical data is stored on the black magnetic strip. This can be easily accessed by a criminal wanting to steal information.
EVM cards use a unique one-time token exchanged between the card’s chip and the payment terminal. This token doesn’t contain any sensitive data, so there are no risks to the user if it’s compromised. This is the same kind of technology that contactless payments use that makes it more secure.
Why Are Contactless Payments Perfect For Small Businesses?
Thankfully, for merchants, access to contactless payment solutions and the proper equipment has improved. Many EMV payment terminals can accept NFC payments, which means less money for the merchant spent on upgrading equipment.
Quick response (QR) codes are also a growing alternative to NFC payments. For instance, a restaurant would provide a unique code to customers to scan with a smartphone to pay for their bills. The code can be printed on a receipt or viewed on a payment terminal. The customer completes their transaction via a secure mobile payment webpage. Voila!
We hope we’ve provided you with valuable information when considering whether contactless payment solutions is right for your small business or not. It may seem like a daunting task, but with proper knowledge and understanding, you’ll be able to secure the perfect system to fit your business needs to streamline operations further. If you have questions about what POS system would be best for your unique needs, feel free to give us a call at 210-926-5677 or schedule an onsite visit HERE. To stay up-to-date on the latest POS systems available and industry news, please follow us on Facebook.
