Contactless Payments Via NFC

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyday life has changed dramatically. Going to the grocery store is no longer a relaxing Sunday activity; it can now be a legitimate risk to your health. While many of us are faithfully wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, and frequently using hand sanitizer, there are some people who aren’t following the generally accepted COVID-19 safety guidelines. The grocery store check-out process used to be a breeze, but now, there’s a major concern that touching the card pin pad will result in the disease spreading. 

The good news is that there’s a technology already out there that can solve this problem, and it’s available on almost every piece of hardware sold for the past few decades. While Europe and Asia have been utilizing this technology for years, America has been slow to adopt it. However, the pandemic has propelled NFC into the spotlight and it’s finally ready for widespread adoption. You’ve probably heard the term ‘NFC’ before, but what exactly is it? Well, it’s a short-range wireless communication network that utilizes magnetic fields to transmit data safely, securely, and quickly. It has lots of uses, but the most relevant one to our current situation is its ability to initiate sales transactions by simply tapping your mobile device on a merchant’s payment receiver. This payment method, commonly known as tap-to-pay, is available on almost every smartphone, and it’s just as secure as a chip or stripe card transaction. 

When you use your smartphone to complete a tap-to-pay transaction, your mobile wallet app will communicate directly with your bank and deduct the sale amount from your account. Another piece of welcome news is that nearly every smartphone has some version of a mobile wallet. On iPhones, there’s ApplePay, which has been gaining popularity in the past few months ever since they introduced the Apple Card, a metal credit card that links directly to your virtual wallet app. Android smartphones utilize Google Pay and Android Pay, and for Samsung models, there’s Samsung Pay. Every mobile wallet app does essentially the same thing, so no matter the type of phone you have, you’ve already got all the tools necessary to participate in contactless payment transactions. 

If you own a business and you’re interested in offering contactless payment options to your customers, FlashBanc is here to help! We offer a wide range of contactless payment devices that will suit everyone’s individual business needs. If you would like a typical cash register device, the Clover Station is what you’re looking for. This device has a customer-facing display, a cash drawer, and a thermal printer for receipts. If you would prefer something smaller and more portable, the Clover Flex or Clover Mini would both be fantastic options. The Flex is an advanced handheld device well-equipped to handle all of your business’ payment processing needs. On the other hand, the Mini is a sleek countertop touchscreen tablet that enables you to process payments and print receipts quickly and easily. 

Every Clover payment device offers contactless payments which is becoming an increasingly important feature during this worldwide pandemic. Additionally, these devices work alongside a powerful mobile and desktop application that allows you to view your sales, generate reports, and issue refunds as needed.  

If you’re interested in adding contactless payment options to your business, please contact the FlashBanc Team and one of our associates will be happy to provide you with more information and recommendations specific to your business needs. 

The future of the payment industry is contactless, and there’s never been a better time than now to take the leap. The NFC technology is highly secure, adaptable to any business need, and most importantly, a safer, more hygienic payment option during the COVID-19 pandemic.