Among the various changes and consumer trends that have gained prominence over the last two years, the use of the contactless technology in payments was certainly one of the most significant, not only for consumers, but above all for businesses.
A faster, safer and more hygienic payments by contactless card or mobile device (smartphone, smartwatch, etc.) with contactless technology and the Bank of Portugal and the governmental entities have indicated that these contactless payment methods were used instead of cashThis has turned out to be extremely important for the turnover of Portuguese retailers.
This is confirmed by the data compiled in one of the latest reports REDUNIQ Insights which tells us that, between 1 December and 2 January, contactless payments already accounted for 52% of the total transactions made on REDUNIQ's payment network, a figure that contrasts with the 36.1% and 8.5% recorded in the same period of 2020 and 2019, respectively. These figures prove, according to this document, "the gradual consolidation of contactless payments, as well as the growing adherence of the Portuguese to new ways of paying based on the use of their smartphone or mobile phone". wearables".
REDUNIQ has contributed greatly to retailers being able to meet this new payment trend, and has done so with the development of Contactless TPA state-of-the-art technology is helping them get on the innovation track.
A fine example of this is Android automatic payment terminal – REDUNIQ Smart which, in addition to accept contactless payments by card, chip, MB Way, Apple Pay and Google PayIn addition, it incorporates a set of management apps that help businesses and allow them to be totally mobile and digital.
By functioning as Contactless TPA and management centre connected to the digital world, this new TPA Android solution REDUNIQ offers businesses extra flexibility when it comes to managing their resources, since, for example, with the ZS Mobile app a shopkeeper can register orders on the terminal, invoice (AT certification) or draw up quotes and orders even without an Internet connection, while with the WinRest or ZSRest, a catering business can now display menus, register and confirm customer orders and integrate its invoicing software into a single physical POS.
Despite widespread use of contactlessHowever, many retailers still have some doubts about this type of payment. So, if you already offer or are thinking of offering your customers a contactless payment terminalThat's all you need to know:
Contactless payments are secure
A contactless technology offers greater security for the cardholder and the retailerIt also provides greater protection against fraud attempts, since the customer can make payments without the card leaving their hand and without having to enter their personal code in public, while the retailer always has the guarantee that the transaction will take place immediately. So,
- When a customer wants to pay with a contactless card at your establishment, they must first enter the amount of the transaction in the TPA before the customer confirms the amount. Once the amount has been confirmed, the customer brings the card closer to the contactless POS, typically at a distance of less than 4 centimetres, for the transaction to be carried out.
- you don't have to worry about double transactions, as the terminal doesn't carry out any new transactions until the current one has been completed.
- In addition, card issuers have defined a number of control elements to guarantee the security of these cards: a maximum amount per contactless transaction and a limit on payments against contactless transactions.
One swipe of a contactless card is all it takes for your business to receive payment
If your customer doesn't know how to use a contactless card, let them know that to make a transaction with this type of card all they have to do is hold it up to the cardholder. automatic payment terminal (TPA), without having to enter the PIN. This means that all the customer has to do is bring the Contactless POS card at their disposal closer (usually less than 4 centimetres away) for the payment to take place.
As we mentioned, the contactless payment terminals do not only allow payment by contactless cards (debit cards, credit cards and prepaid cards with contactless technology). If you have a Contactless TPAThis can also be accept contactless payments via smartphone, smart watches or wristbands - the so-called wearables.
Insert contactless symbol
If you accept contactless payments in your business, inform your customers of this by placing a sign with the following symbol:
In contactless transactions, there are limits to PINless payments
If your business accepts contactless paymentsFor security reasons, contactless cards have limits on the number of payments customers can make without entering their PIN:
- Each contactless payment cannot exceed the maximum amount allowed (usually 50 euros). This maximum amount is set by the organisation that issued the card.
- There is a limit to the amount of consecutive payments the customer can make without entering the PIN, which is set by the organisation that issued the card and should be a maximum of 150 euros or 5 consecutive contactless transactions.
Also note that if the customer reaches the limit of consecutive transactions without entering the PIN (usually 150 euros or 5 transactions), inform them that they will only be able to make a new transaction of this type after carrying out a transaction, at a POS or ATM, in which they enter the PIN of the card in question.
Contactless cards can be used in POS terminals without contactless technology
If the terminal you have in your business doesn't accept contactless payments, know that cards with the contactless technology can also be used to make payments without using this technology, including at POS terminals that are not equipped to process contactless payments. To do this, your customer will have to insert the card into the POS and, to validate the transaction, enter the card's PIN.
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