Customers may love browsing your products and testing things out, but your business demands that a good number of those potential customers actually reach a point of sale. Point of sale, or POS, is the moment of transaction where money and goods or services are exchanged. For many retailers this takes place at a cash register in a shop with a card terminal and a phone line. But more and more retailers are escaping the confines of a physical location and making their market mobile.
Customers and retailers alike are very familiar with the traditional POS setup. These terminals typically include a computer, a card reader, a place for entering pin information, a signature line, and a phone line. While the technology may vary slightly from place to place, the basic necessities are the same.
However, with the growing popularity of mobile business a new form of POS is emerging. This form of POS is wireless and portable for businesses on the go. And thanks to the popularity of smart phones, the equipment is conveniently sized too.
Many smartphones now have an app that allows merchants to accept credit card payments on their phones. Like the traditional form of POS, these applications provide instant verification information, giving the merchant peace of mind that the customer payment information is good. Unlike the traditional form of POS, these applications can go anywhere a smartphone goes, providing the merchant a newfound freedom and mobility for his business.
Newer POS systems greatly simplify the sales process for a merchant. They reduce the need for bulky equipment, eliminate the dependence upon a wired phone line, and provide convenience in size and location. As more people turn to smart phones and other similar devices to meet their mobile communication needs, businesses will find a greater convenience and ease in mobile sales.
Have questions on how you can go mobile with your business? Maybe its time to speak with your merchant account and find out what’s the right system for you.