takepayments blog.

Let’s not beat around the bush, getting paid is the aim of the game for any business owner. You’re probably already familiar with the idea of till systems and card machines, but there are a couple of others on the payments market and making sure you’re clued up on what they are and how you use them will keep you one step ahead of the rest.  Most might assume offering payment by card is sufficient, but the reality is if you’re not accepting payments the way your customer wants to provide it, you might lose them, and that’s especially true of younger generations of consumers. 

For small or fledgeling businesses, it’s not uncommon to start off accepting in-store, face-to-face payments only. But, to widen your audience, maximise your profits and reach your potential you’ll probably want to expand your offering into the online arena at some point too. It might seem like a complex thing to wrap your head around,  maybe you wouldn’t consider yourself a tech boffin, or perhaps you even feel out of your depth, but don’t worry, we’ll hold your hand through the process. 

Paying by card has changed the way we purchase services and goods and today, most customers pay for at least half of their purchases on plastic. But where did it all begin?  Credit and debit cards are so commonplace now it’s hard to imagine a world without them, but these little pieces of plastic didn’t always rule the market - let’s take a look back at the evolution of the humble card.

Times are changing, technology is rapidly evolving, and consumers continue to adapt the way they pay for goods and services and adopt the latest ways to pay.  For merchants, keeping up with the latest technology is key to keeping customers happy - because remember, convenience is king. If they can’t pay the way they want to, it could result in you losing a sale and that’s the last thing you want to do. 

The customer is king, that we all know, but how do you turn a first-time buyer into a repeat customer? With grade-A customer experience (CX).  CX is so much more than just ensuring your staff are welcoming and helpful, it’s the impression you leave on a customer based on their interactions with every area of your business - from adverts to customer service, the sale itself and beyond.