We recently wrote about the various kinds of EMV equipment. Many merchants find themselves looking for a solution that’s secure and can be brought with them to accept payments on the go. We’ve written up a short re-cap of what you can expect from mobile swipers, countertop terminals, and a new breed of “Smart Terminals.” We hope to answer the question that plagues many merchants:
Should I use a credit card machine or mobile swiper?
This is a question that is not foreign to the merchant. Perhaps this is a dilemma you have had to deal with yourself. Both of these options for payment processing have their benefits as well as downsides. Weighing the pros and cons can be a helpful practice for determining which option would best suit your needs and provide you with an efficient solution to your payment processing. As such, let’s take a look at both the advantages and disadvantages of these two options and perhaps even provide you with a third way to address the payment processing requirements of your business.
Mobile Card Swiper
Let’s first take a look at the mobile card swiper option. One of the most obvious advantages of the mobile card swiper is its mobility. This payment processing solution allows you to take payments wherever your phone goes. This is, of course, a great resource for businesses that have a need for location independence such as contractors, construction companies and plumbers. It also has the benefit of eliminating the need for checks for on-the-go transactions. With the decreasing number of people who actually carry checkbooks, this has its apparent advantages.
On the other hand, however, there are some downsides to utilizing a mobile card swiper. One particular disadvantage is that there are a lot of mobile card swipers that are still not EMV, fortunately our mobile swiper solution is EMV. Another disadvantage is that it could prove to be a bigger expense to merchants due to the fact that it would require you to pay for cell phones and plans for your employees. Also, there is a limited amount of custom software that is actually compatible with mobile card swipers.
Credit Card Machine
Now, let’s take a look at credit card machines. One of the biggest advantages that credit card machines have over mobile card swipers is that they are generally a lower priced device, considering all the additional equipment needed to use them. In addition to this, credit card machines are compatible with nearly any form of payment including NFC, EMV and Magstripe. They also have the convenience of a built-in printer, tend to be more reliable and can be integrated into existing systems.
However, with all their advantages, countertop credit card machines have the disadvantage of not being mobile which makes them an instant deal breaker for many types of businesses that require the on-the-go capabilities of a mobile card swiper.
Is There a Third Option?
As you consider both of these options before you, you may be thinking that neither of these solutions meet all of your needs. In fact, it may leave you hoping for a third option. Well, you are in luck. Many merchants are turning to the Smart Terminal as a solution to their payment processing needs. With the Smart Terminal, you are provided with all of the benefits of mobility found in the mobile card swiper as well as having a built-in printer. In addition to this, the Smart Terminal accepts all kinds of cards (NFC, EMV and Magstripe) and can be connected to various applications and services.
If you are looking for an option to your payment processing that provides you with the best of both the credit card machine and the mobile card swiper, look no further than the Tidal Smart Terminal. This tool provides you with mobility and flexibility and truly is the best of both worlds.
