How To Choose A Card Swiping Machine For Your Business

Cards (debit and credit) have and still are one of the most popular modes of payment. That is why every business needs a card swiping machine, be it a restaurant, hotel, salon, grocery, or retail store.

There are so many types of card swiping machines, and all of them vary depending on the design, features, and intended purpose. Similarly, there are so many card swipe machine providers, and their prices may vary accordingly.

With all these options, choosing an online POS terminal might seem like an easy thing to do. Well, it is, but only if you know for sure what you are looking for before you get to the market. Anything short will lead you to make the wrong decision and harm your business.

In this article, you’ll learn more about card swiping machines and how to choose the right one for your business.

1. What Do You Want?

Before you embark on the journey searching for a card swiping machine, you need to figure out what you want first.

At the end of the day, what do you intend to achieve? What services do you wish to implement? Is it HDFC debit card EMI eligibility, or is it something else totally different?

There are so many things you might want to achieve, depending on the size and nature of your business. Ideally, you should choose an online POS terminal that can help you:

  • Enhance customer experiences
  • Boost your sales
  • Minimize losses
  • Maximize productivity
  • Enhance efficiency
  • Save more time etc

2. How Do You Want It?

Once you determine what you want, the next you need to do is decide how you want it. In this case, we are referring to the features or the characteristics of the card swiping machine. Your ideal choice will vary depending on the decisions you make in the above step.

Below are a few examples of features you might want to look for when choosing a card swiping machine for your business.

  • Multiple Payment Options

Opt for a card swiping machine that can support all types of cards to enhance user experience and accommodate all customers. These include RuPay, American Express, Mastercard, and Visa. That way, you can provide multiple payment options and services like the HDFC debit card EMI eligibility.

  • End-to-end data encryption, PCI and EMV compliance to prevent data breaches and ensure secure transactions
  • High connectivity for faster, easy, and free-flowing services to customers
  • Wireless machine for portability, flexibility, and convenience
  • Customer care support to resolve issues when they arise
  • Sales tracking
  • Accounting software

3. From Whom or Where Will You Get Your Card Swiping Machine?

After you determine what you want and how you want it, you will now need to decide where or from whom to buy your machine.

There are so many card swipe machine providers in the market, and they all claim to have the best offers. The truth is not all of them will work in your favour. Some will deliver; others will not. Your goal is to identify the one that will benefit you the most. That should be easy because you already know what you are searching to get.

Take your time. Do your research. Find out as much information as you can about different card swipe machine providers. Compare and contrast their offers. Narrow down your options until you find the one that best suits your needs.

4. How Much Will You Pay for the Card Machine? Plan Your Finances

Paying for your card machine might be the last thing you do, but the thought should certainly not be the last one on your mind. Start planning your finances as early as possible to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

The cost of your card price machine will depend on the choices you make apropos features, services to implement, and the card machine provider. Other factors to consider include:

Hardware cost: The cost of buying the actual machine and the peripherals such as printers, scanners, etc

Processing cost: Charges per transaction depending on card type, monthly fees, business card fees, PCI compliance fees, etc

Conclusion

Different people have different formulas for choosing the right online POS terminal for their businesses. But all that comes down to the answers you have to these four questions:

  • What do I want?
  • How do I want it?
  • Where do I get it?
  • How much am I willing to part with for it?