While there are mixed emotions about going back to school, one thing is for sure, it means great business for you. Students are heading back to college, parents are back to school shopping, and your . . .
Since the early 2000s, Amazon has been disrupting and challenging businesses in most consumer product and service industries. The ecommerce giant has single-handedly transformed the way that consumers choose to spend their money, find the . . .
You may have heard people say that you need to understand your customer ‘demographics’. Demographics are facts or characteristics that can be counted or measured about a certain population or group of people. These numbers can help . . .
We’ve talked about the changes in the way c-store customers shop quite a few times. What you may not be aware of is the fact that in the past four years, overall consumer trips to . . .
We know that customers hate surprises. Most companies have hidden fees and confusing rates that end up costing you more. They take advantage and hide charges that are in the small print that you do . . .
As POS payment options grow more complex for merchants, so do initial deployment requirements. New merchant kits might contain anything from wireless terminals and bluetooth printers, to accessories like tablet stands and fingerprint scanners. . . .
You can’t overestimate the impact of the humble dongle in revolutionizing payments for small merchants. These simple, plug-in card readers have ushered in an entirely new market segment for payments. But as our industry moves . . .
Business Owners should pay close attention to the latest trends. If you can predict the emerging trends, you can determine what business decisions you should make for the upcoming year. Summer is starting, and the . . .
You’ve probably heard news about the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), but do you know what it means for you and your merchants? GDPR is a complete game changer for consumer privacy, and by extension . . .
Merchants are intensely concerned about payment security. And rightly so, considering the destructive costs of data breaches. However when you try to explain PCI compliance, you probably notice their eyes glazing over.
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The rate of change in POS technology is a terrific assist for business growth. New payment technologies, innovative hardware and elegant software applications give merchant acquirers opportunities to strengthen relationships and increase retention. Launching a . . .
Knowing the importance of your convenience store’s location is key to the business’ success. Your location will determine how you run your business and allow you to make better decisions. When determining the key factors . . .
Make Speed A Priority, Keep C- Store Customers Happy
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For merchant acquirers, high churn rates are a constant drain on profitability. In the payments industry, churn averages a painful 12% per year, sometimes even higher depending on the vertical. While there’s no magic . . .
Over the past 29 years, we’ve been hard at work providing a wide range of customized solutions to payments providers and other partners in the industry. Because the industry moves quickly and is almost always . . .
The lottery has long been a staple of convenience stores across the nation. It appeals to a wide range of customers, and although it doesn’t offer the highest commissions for stores, it is a great . . .
Digital Payments: New Opportunities for Your Merchants
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The meteoric rise of bitcoin over the past year has led to all sorts of exciting predictions about its takeover as a mainstream currency. But is that hype or fact? We’ve sorted through the stories . . .
Mobility is the future of payments. More and more, consumers expect the convenience of paying when, where and however they want. For the most part, manufacturers have been quick to respond to this need. But . . .
Pragnesh Shah opened his North Carolina Exxon location in October 2017. When he first began operating his gas station, Pragnesh realized that he had a great opportunity to make the most of his c-store space. . . .
Building market share in today’s fast-paced and tech-intensive economy requires a multi-faceted approach for nearly every vertical. However, busy merchants often don’t have time to think outside the box. Our industry is filled with innovative . . .
We’ve written plenty of times before that it’s important to be constantly thinking about your merchants’ experiences when dealing with your company. Whenever making decisions for your business, their needs and wants should be front . . .
Advances in AI are revolutionizing customer service in nearly all verticals, from personal to tech support. But while technology has a vital and useful role in merchant support, it should never replace the personal . . .
Connectivity is the buzzword among POS system providers in 2018. Cloud based technology, improved AI and machine learning, and 24/7 connections enable retailers and their payment providers to communicate in real time regarding both transaction . . .
Next to price, the top factor in a merchant’s POS decision is payment security. Data breaches and fraudulent transactions present deadly risks to both businesses and their customers. Your merchants expect their payment service . . .
In the payments industry, we’ve grown to expect change. Payment service providers face a constant barrage of rules, regulations and revisions from all angles: PCI, CPFB, FCC, you name it. Some of these regulations . . .
Since 2018 has started our government has shutdown twice, new tax laws have taken effect, and a new government budget has finally been approved. With so many new rules being considered regularly, it’s important that . . .
The POS industry is being disrupted at a head-spinning rate. Every season, manufacturers and software providers are rolling out new payment options that don’t just tweak previous methods, but completely eclipse them. And changes . . .
POS systems are a hot target for data thieves. The complexity of payment systems makes it difficult to block all threats. Much like a game of Whack-A-Mole, by the time one weak spot is . . .
After you sign a new merchant, your priority is getting their new POS package to them as quickly as possible. However, you can’t forget what needs to happen once they receive this package. Every POS . . .
Too often, the point of sale can be a liability for small businesses. Consumers are unsurprised to find friction at checkout, from terminal error messages to printer paper jams and more. The consumer experience . . .
The best way for companies to succeed over time in this rapidly changing landscape is to be paying constant attention to what other players are doing. However, keeping in-step with what’s happening in the . . .
Merchant churn: it’s an ugly reality for payment service providers. While it varies by market to market, studies show that at least 12% of merchants change payment providers every year. That’s an awfully expensive . . .
What’s the fastest way to lose a merchant’s business? Equipment downtime. Never mind your competitive rates and good customer service. If broken equipment leaves your merchants dead in the water, they’ll be quick to . . .
Great software. Ideal fraud protection. A great cashier station. All these things are important. But what about the POS accessories? While these items are often considered “afterthoughts”, payment processing providers have an opportunity to win . . .
In the POS industry, change is accelerating, and this means retailers are turning over POS equipment faster than ever. For the most part, older equipment simply can’t keep up with EMV security requirements, new payment . . .
There’s nothing that sends a retailer into panic mode faster than POS equipment failure. Today’s equipment is more reliable than ever, but from spilled coffee to software malfunctions, we all know that failure still . . .
Being a business owner is difficult. Being a business owner without the proper capital is even harder. Whether you want to add a deli, upgrade your coolers, or even just improve your bathrooms you need . . .
At the start of 2018, we’re seeing a major shift in the way consumers view payments. Mobile payments, especially P2P and P2B, have hit the mainstream. New user-friendly apps provide greater speed, flexibility and . . .
As we reported before, SNAP retailer requirements have changed, and these changes will impact your c-store in the immediate future. Per the changes made to the retailer qualifications, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will . . .
The payments industry has seen rapid evolution and disruption over the past two decades. Micro merchants are the newest influencer. This group of mostly single-person businesses was once too small to be served effectively . . .
Most of the time, customers will know exactly what they want as soon as they enter your store. However, every day there are customers purchasing items simply because they see them on the shelf. Customers . . .
Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to take a deep breath, regroup and review your merchant services game. What did you do well? What could you do better? Spend a little time . . .
While merchant support and call centers are sometimes thought of as “just something businesses must do”, these critical parts of your business mean much more. Payment solutions providers should make sure that their call center . . .
The 2018 retail payments scene can be summed up by 3 words: diversity, inclusivity and security. Let’s look at how these trends will translate to your retailers’ bottom line this year.
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Having a great call center solution is important to ensure that your merchants are always able to complete transactions. When emergencies occur, or POS equipment is simply on the fritz, it’s your call center representatives . . .
Is your call center ready to face new threats to data security in 2018? It’s important to understand the risks call centers face, and make a plan to protect your business and your customers.
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Payment service providers and their merchants share the same ultimate goal: to process electronic transactions quickly, easily and profitably. In a new merchant relationship, onboarding is the first hurdle to clear. Consider these 4 . . .
Out all the difficult, time consuming requirements of merchant POS maintenance, device updates rank near the top of the list. Keeping your merchants in compliance is absolutely essential, but it’s often easier said than . . .
So you’ve signed a new merchant. Congratulations! However, remember that getting your merchants started with the right POS system is just the beginning. Providing great service after the sale is the key to keeping . . .
Payment service providers knows that new merchants are a priceless acquisition. Retaining these hard-won merchants is absolutely vital to your success in business. And yet, many PSPs find that managing merchant hardware, deployments and . . .
One of the features that sets CDE apart from other support providers in the POS and payments industry is our call center support efforts. Our call center service is just one of the solutions that . . .
Retailers are inundated with choices in POS systems. Migrate to tablets? Move to mobile? Or stick with a dinosaur system that may be inflexible but is at least familiar? Today’s POS market offers choices . . .
Over the past several years, the POS hardware industry has been entirely disrupted. Instead of conforming to rigid, inflexible POS systems, retailers are demanding control and choices at the point of sale. And manufacturers have . . .
When dealing with a frustrated retailer, troubleshooting can be tough. How many times have you wished you could just reach through the phone and do it yourself? In fact, what if you could access your . . .
Today’s consumers are always on the go and the Quick Serve Restaurant, or QSR, business model is seeing a lot of growth. The restaurants that cater to this style of dining are always looking for . . .
With companies like Amazon taking over convenience in the retail industry, it’s hard for retailers to imagine new ways to compete and stay relevant with customers. Online shopping and mobile devices have changed the way . . .
What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think about PCI compliance? Most likely “security” (or perhaps the word “headache”). But in either case, hardware storage is probably not your top consideration. And . . .
There’s no denying it – tablet POS systems are hot. In fact, this market is so lucrative that, at press time, over 50 manufacturers and software developers have gotten in on the game. That’s . . .
Encourage employees to think outside the box To have innovation, you must endorse innovation. Every employee, from customer service to the person who packs boxes, should be constantly encouraged to approach their role with a . . .
For payment service providers, options for provisioning your merchants have never been better. POS solutions on the market today are overwhelmingly affordable, secure, and user-friendly. But at the same time, the field has become . . .
Owning a business is never a walk in the park and this is especially true when it comes to owning a c-store, or convenience store. Running a convenience store presents many challenges, such as managing . . .
All businesses are required by law to be in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). While most believe that maintaining this compliance is a simple task, many fail to realize that there are . . .
The TLS switch deadline hits June 30, 2018. All applicable merchants must use TLS 1.1 encryption (as a minimum) by June 2018, or they won’t be able to process any card transactions at all. PCI has . . .
In an industry that affects the entire world, it’s no wonder that diversity is a deciding factor in the success of the companies involved with payments. Today, the opportunity for innovation and change are seemingly . . .
As EMV has tightened up on retail fraud, fraudsters are turning their efforts toward ecommerce. It’s estimated that online fraud will cost retailers $71 billion globally over the next five years. Small merchants are . . .
Transaction fraud costs US merchants and banks an estimated $8.5 billion per year. For small businesses, fraud losses are especially painful.
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C-stores are known for their roller hot dogs and heated pizza, but customers are looking for more when it comes to lunchtime. Now is the time to start thinking about broadening your lunch selection in . . .
In the realm of consumer card processing, data security is an ongoing struggle. Defeating data thieves is like playing a game of whack-a-mole. As soon as one attack is shut down, another hits from . . .
African Food District is in a small plaza in Fort Worth, Texas. Unlike the majority of goEBT retailers, African Food District is more like a small grocery store than a traditional convenience store and serves . . .
Is it possible to increase conversion rates during online checkout to 74%? Providers of online checkout buttons say yes. Checkout buttons are revolutionizing conversion rates for ecommerce.
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Be on the alert – there’s a new EBT scam in town, and they’re targeting goEBT customers. Recently, we’ve had several retailers call us and ask if we were sending them updated equipment from another . . .
Integration is the theme is today’s payments world, and nowhere is this more evident than digital wallets. In the realm of tap and pay, consumers are enjoying an expansive mix of payment sources and . . .
As a convenience store owner, it’s important to know who your primary customer is and how to best serve them. If your c-store, like so many others, is in an area where most of the . . .
Fintech has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our lives and is disrupting the way consumers think about their money and how they spend it. It’s no wonder that consumers are also changing the way . . .
Payment services are finding that collaboration is the key to gaining market share in an increasingly crowded and complex playing field. By seeking out innovative partnerships, payment service providers are finding enormous market opportunities. These . . .
P2P payments have come barreling out of nowhere, developing from a niche millennial app into a digital behemoth with an estimated 129 million users in the US alone by the year 2020. Major FIs . . .
As new information on food is released, more and more people are changing their eating habits and adapting to a vegan lifestyle. Vegans have very strict dietary restrictions making them unable to have any animal . . .
Mobile P2P payments encompass much more than simply splitting the cost of a pizza. With an annual transaction volume of more than $50 billion, P2P is becoming a major influencer in all parts of . . .
33 percent of consumers frequently eat breakfast away from home. This gives c-stores a huge opportunity to make profits in the morning by stocking and preparing their store with the items that early rising customers . . .
The future is here to stay! Most of us have seen high-tech iris scanners and the like used in James Bond films and in popular sci-fi TV shows. But the use of biometrics, the . . .
Do you often find yourself stressed out over your store’s inventory or reporting? Are you ready to start using your c-store’s data to improve your business, but not sure where to start? C-storePro can help . . .
With all of the consumer emphasis on the Millennial Generation, some people have forgotten about Generation Z and the bold way that these young people are impacting payment and business trends in the U.S. . . .
When owners are contemplating which items to stock in a c-store they often forget the everyday products that people use. These hygiene and household related items are important to carry because customers typically need them . . .
In recent years the hotel and restaurant industry has been rocked by an increased number of hackers who have stolen secure data. Hotels have reported more than a dozen data breaches in the past several . . .
There was once a time when the words artificial intelligence, or AI, were only used in talks of “futuristic” inventions that one could have only imagined. Now, AI is a very real type of technology . . .
As the payment industry continues to evolve, it’s important that businesses are making technology accessible to all consumers, including those who are disabled. As merchants seek options that allow disabled consumers to pay at their . . .
Throughout the year gas prices rise and fall affecting your customers shopping and fueling habits. It is important to know how to keep your customers happy no matter what the price is at the pump . . .
In recent years, consumers have been enjoying the fruits of innovation when it comes to new payment solutions like Venmo and Google Pay. And thanks largely to FinTech and cloud technology, more businesses are also beginning to streamline payment methods, especially B2B payments.
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Tech trends constantly make just about every aspect of our daily lives faster, from speedier Internet access to the ability to make remote bank deposits. The ability for the businesses to process payments faster is . . .
In recent years, most Americans can’t help but take note of the many retail stores and chains closing their doors. Every month we hear of store closings and bankruptcies such as Macy’s, Kmart, Payless Shoe . . .
Over the years, the use of prepaid cards across the world has continued to become more prevalent. Today’s consumers use this payment method for a number of reasons, from a lack of nearby banks to . . .
E15 may be one of the best options for additional fuel profits for c-store owners. E15 is one of the newest gas alternatives that appeals to both environmentally conscious customers and c-store owners looking to . . .
Technology is evolving at an exponential rate and the way that consumers view cash is changing with it. As new methods of payment become available, consumers are adapting the way they shop and spend their . . .
As more electric vehicles (EV) emerge, many are wondering if there is a future for gasoline powered automobiles. Looking at the overall progress of alternatively fueled cars can help us understand what is happening now . . .
Bitcoin has frequently been the topic of discussion in the financial and payments industry. Although the anonymous virtual currency has long been associated with the black market and fraud, the reputation for bitcoin has changed . . .
InterContinental Hotels Group
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Now that Summer has arrived, shoppers are reaching for cold and satisfying treats to help deal with the rising temperatures. With gas prices at all-time lows, customers are able to spend more money on the . . .
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