In our new series, Small Business Huddle, the Sphere team shares insights and tips that help small to medium sized businesses stay ahead of the game.
In times like these, small businesses must quickly and efficiently adapt the ways they sell their goods and services. In a broad effort to protect the public, we have seen so many industries affected by government, city and other civic agencies’ restrictions due to the COVID-19. Here are ways small businesses can adapt and accept payments electronically using the Sphere solutions you have available today when cash isn’t an option. These include:
- Virtual Terminal – secure, web-based application that lets you enter in credit card and ACH details manually.
- Hosted payment pages – through a simple integration, this solution directs a customer to a secure payments page to enter their credit card information, which is securely hosted within a Sphere environment. The credit card information never touches your systems.
- Mobile payment acceptance – these solutions let you take payments via your mobile phone.
Anytime, anywhere, Sphere provides secure and compliant payment acceptance.
Many organizations and businesses are already adjusting to these major and sudden shifts in consumer behavior. Here are some great examples:
- Restaurants: From Dining Rooms to Delivery and Curbside Pick-up
Restaurants are having to mobilize their businesses quickly, closing dining rooms and pivoting to delivery and curb side pickup options. Today’s smart terminals offer many features and operate on wireless networks. These terminals can help businesses become more mobile, for example Poynt 5, VitalSelect, and CardFlight.
- Cashless Consumers: Mostly Cashless to Nearly Zero Cash
It’s no secret that cash has historically carried an elevated level of germs and with the world on high alert, consumers have turned to avoiding cash more than ever in favor of electronic, credit card payment methods. Through Sphere Merchant Services, businesses can implement contactless options via terminals that accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and NFC capabilities. In addition, Sphere’s Virtual Terminal and gateway solutions enable businesses to accept card not present payments over the phone.
- Charity Events and Church Services: Collection Plates to “Donate Now” Buttons
Church services and charitable events across the US have largely been suspended in favor of social distancing. While religious organizations have mostly pivoted to online gatherings, they may struggle to collect donations from a congregation that is used to passing around a collection plate in person.
Through a web-based gateway, churches and other charitable organizations can begin to collect donations online while donor events are largely suspended for the time being.
Sphere’s partner, Qgiv, offers easy to set up and use online donation and fundraising solutions.
- Small Businesses: Store Fronts to Websites and Virtual Services
All non-essential businesses have been closing their doors to in-person foot traffic. Small businesses without a web presence will need to adopt online or mobile payment channels quickly. We are seeing a trend in offering services performed traditionally in-person shift to online technologies. For example, tutoring sessions, yoga classes and music lessons can be offered virtually. In these examples, the provider needs a payment method that can work in this new environment where there is not a card present.
This environment is requiring business to adapt quickly and our team wants to help you pursue business continuity no matter the circumstance. We are offering complementary consultations on all payment solutions. Call today. US Merchants 855.426.6842, Option 2; Canadian Merchants 855.330.7057, Option 2