These days businesses of all shapes and sizes need to adapt to embrace the move to a cashless society. This means that all businesses, whether they use fixed premises, online, or mobile, need to offer the full range of payment options to customers. To help you choose the perfect card reader solution for your business, we have compiled a list of what to look for when selecting the best card reader for your business.
Types of Card Readers
The first thing is to make sure that the supplier can provide you with the best card reader to match your business’s needs. The type of card reader that is best for a business varies depending on the nature of how they trade. For instance, a mobile hairdresser will need a completely different solution from a retail outlet with a fixed cash desk. The first thing to look for is to ensure that the company you choose can supply the right type of card reader. All good card reader suppliers should offer the following options:
Countertop
This is perfect for retail outlets with static cash desks.
Portable
These work on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections to enable short-range mobility. These are perfect for businesses like restaurants where customers frequently pay at the table
Mobile
For businesses that “go to the customer”, the best option is a mobile reader that uses a sim card to connect to mobile networks. One thing to watch here is that some card reader suppliers will restrict you to one mobile network. To ensure full coverage, look for a supplier like PaymentPlus, which uses a sim card that works across all major networks.
Customer Support
The last thing a business needs is for its payment system to be down and no sign of any help on the horizon! These days customers are likely to move on to other options once they discover that your payment system is down. To prevent losing valuable custom, look for a supplier that has a strong commitment to providing quality customer care and after-sales support. Preferably they should also offer a 7-day support helpdesk.
Great customer support is also critical if you experience any problems during setup. In most cases, the setup process is very simple, but if it goes wrong, it is good to know that the proper support and backup are just a phone call away.
Transparent Pricing
Nobody likes receiving unwelcome surprises. Protect your business from unwanted expenses by ensuring you choose a company that is completely transparent about its pricing policy.
Analytics and Reporting Tools
A major benefit of card readers is the wealth of information that is available at your fingertips. However, not all card reader suppliers offer the same level of analytics. This data can be crucial for seeing how your business is performing. Fast access to business data can make a big difference in understanding what parts of your business are prospering and what can be improved.
Warranty
Always make sure that the card reader supplier covers your reader with a full warranty that guarantees a quick replacement should the worst happen. This can avoid costly downtime as you argue the toss with the supplier but also save the cost of having to splash out on a new card machine.
Conclusion
The first step in choosing the right card terminal is to choose the right supplier. Ideally, they should offer all the above facilities and services and back them up with great customer support. At PaymentPlus, we tick all the right boxes. We offer a full range of card readers, transparent pricing, and fantastic customer service. Why not call us today and find out how our card readers can help your business prosper.
