What are contactless payments and how can small businesses offer them?

What are contactless payments?

Contactless payments refer to payments made without physically touching a payment terminal or device. Instead of using traditional methods like inserting a card into a chip reader or swiping a card, contactless payments use near-field communication (NFC) technology to facilitate transactions between two devices (e.g., a phone and a point-of-sale terminal) in proximity.

How do contactless payments work?

Contactless payment systems can be grouped into two categories, depending on the equipment required by you and your customers.

On one side, there are contactless credit and debit cards or digital wallets that can securely transmit payment data. Utilising NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, transactions occur when users tap their device near a payment terminal.

Whether a card can be used for touch-free payments depends on the actual card itself. Card companies have worked to transition from needing to swipe or insert a card in a card in a reader to secure EMV chips, but some chip cards don't have the embedded antenna needed for touch-free payments. You can tell if a customer's card can make touch-free payments by looking to see if it has a wireless wave-like symbol on it.

Contactless payments can also be facilitated via QR codes that can be linked to your business, so customers can scan, pay, and go without making contact. So if a customer’s card cannot be used for contactless payments, they can still pay touch-free using their smartphone to scan your payment QR code.

Types of contactless payments

There are many options when it comes to contactless payment methods. Here are some of the most popular ones merchants can offer:

1. QR Codes: A QR code is a type of scannable code, similar to a barcode, that connects customers with your store's account so they can pay you.
2. Contactless credit and debit cards: Contactless cards contain a small, embedded chip that emits a very short-range signal, so when a customer holds the card close to a contactless-enabled terminal, it sends an encrypted, one-time code containing information tied to their current transaction.
3. Digital wallets: When a customer is ready to pay, they simply open the app, select the payment method they want to use, hold the phone up to the terminal, and press a button to confirm.
4. Store apps: Some business owners choose to create an app for their store that includes digital wallet functionality.
5. Wearables: Lots of payment apps also have smartwatch integrations that let shoppers pay just by holding up their wrist.

Benefits of contactless payments for small business

There are many benefits of contactless payments, from added convenience to increased payment security to faster checkout.

Contactless payment security

Tap-to-pay and digital wallet transactions don’t include a customer's account details, like their name, account number, card expiration date, CVV, or PIN, which is why some consider them more secure than traditional credit card payments. What’s more, contactless payments use a wireless, secure connection between a shopper's touch-free payment method and the payment terminal. In the process, a one-time code (also known as a token) shares the encrypted payment information with the terminal — and that token changes each time a customer makes a purchase with their digital wallet.

Contactless payments also require the customer to physically initiate the transaction, making it difficult to send a contactless payment accidentally. In the same way, QR code payments provide added security given they require the user to unlock their phone and/or enter a code to complete a transaction.

Faster checkout with payment terminal

Contactless terminal payments usually require only a single action, like tapping the card or pushing an app button on a smart device. Making a QR code payment takes just two steps: scanning the code and entering the amount to pay. Customers can be on their way faster when they're not swiping a card and signing a receipt or handing over cash and waiting for change.

Increased convenience

No card? No problem. Whether a shopper forgets their wallet at home or decides to make a purchase in a pinch, using contactless payment methods can help facilitate quick and seamless transactions no matter the circumstances.

How to accept contactless payments

One of the first steps to accepting contactless payments is acquiring an NFC-enabled payment terminal to accept touch-free payments from a card or phone. If your current hardware doesn't support contactless payments, you can consider upgrading or replacing it. And when it comes to mobile payment options, consult your payment processor for guidance on integrating them seamlessly.

Once your business is set up, accepting contactless payments may go like this:

1. The customer checks the checkout terminal for the contactless symbol.
2. They tap their card on the checkout terminal, which means they can pay by simply holding their credit card over the terminal; or if they're paying from their digital wallet, by holding their phone over the terminal.
3. Payment is securely processed.

Keep in mind that you don't need any special hardware to accept QR code payments. Once you've created a QR code, just display the code where shoppers check out. Your customer scans the QR code using their payment app, enters the amount to send, and then pays.

Where to offer contactless payments

Contactless payments are critical for in-store shopping, allowing customers to pay at their favourite places like retail shops, restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, vending machines, and more.

Tips to make the touch-free payment process easy for your customers and staff:

1. Think about placement: Put your QR code where it is easy to scan for customers and place payment terminals on the customer's side of the register, so they don't have to reach over and get too close to your cashier. But make sure it isn't blocking counter space that your staff might need for scanning products or bagging goods.
2. Encourage customers to make contactless payments: Because people may choose one store over another based on availability of contactless payments, it's important to let shoppers know they can pay touch-free in your store. Put signs on your front door and around your checkout area telling customers that you accept contactless payments. You can even add messaging to your website, social media pages, and marketing emails so that online shoppers know it's an option when they visit your brick-and-mortar store.
3. Train your staff: As more people adopt contactless payments, you may find some customers are making their very first touch-free payment at your store. They'll be relying on your staff if they need help with things like scanning a QR code or accessing their digital wallet.

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