Why 2021 is the right time to invest in a card machine

2020 was a year like no other in recent history, we don’t need to tell you that.

With so many elements of life up in the air, one thing held firm throughout and that was spending habits - British consumers, on the whole, made a remarkable shift towards cashless.

For bigger businesses, this makes little to no difference (they generally adopt the latest payment methods first), but for small businesses who’ve opted to stick with cash-only payments until now, this consumer shift demands a change in the way they look at payments.

The rise of card payments

Even before the ghastly C-word hit our shores in 2020 the way Brits were parting with their hard-earned pounds was changing - cash usage was declining rapidly in favour of card, contactless, and digital payments (like Apple Pay).

Enter COVID and this steady movement gained serious traction:

• Card payments increased by a staggering 75%. 
• Cash withdrawals fell by over a third.
• Consumers from all demographic groups made the shift - even those previously reticent from older age groups.
• Experts predict this change is a ‘sticky habit’, i.e. it will outlive the pandemic.

Why? The reason COVID has had such a dramatic impact relates to hygiene. There’s widespread concern over the safety of cash, with fears over the lurking germs and bacteria inherent on notes and coins.

In fact, for this reason, 83% of consumers believe contactless is the ‘cleanest’ way to pay, as it eliminates the need for shared touch points altogether.

Contactless takes the crown

We’re all au fait with the importance of personal hygiene right now, who could forget when you couldn’t get hold of hand sanitiser for love nor money?

Contactless payments offer consumers a way to pay without ever touching another person or even a machine - unsurprisingly then it was the payment method of choice at the end of 2020 and continues to reign into 2021.

The demand for contact-free payments rose so quickly the government upped the spending limit from £30 to £45 at the beginning of April, and shoppers adopted the higher threshold at an alarming rate. It was raised again in October 2021 to £100 following its popularity. 

Fun fact: Barclaycard reported that from April 1st, 2020, 90% of all face-to-face transactions were contactless.

The future of payments

While safety initially led the charge towards payments on plastic in 2020, shoppers have now come to appreciate the convenience it offers and become accustomed to this new way of transacting. 

There are no two ways about it, the COVID pandemic has decisively changed the way Brits think about payments both now and in the future, meaning for small businesses in 2021 investing in a card machine is no longer an option but a must in order to stay competitive.

For those not yet armed with a card machine, the good news is getting set up is quick, easy, and could cost less than you think. 

Card machines

Here at takepayments we offer four market-leading card machines; countertop, portable, mobile, and the touchscreen multipay. All four are set up to accept chip & pin as well as all-important contactless payments, including Apple and Google Pay.

We’ll give you the low down on each and explain how you can get your hands on the right machine for your small business today.

Countertop

Our countertop card machine does exactly what it says on the tin - sits on your point of sale and accepts card payments. 

Its compact design means it won’t clutter your workspace, and it’s plugged into your phone line or broadband via an ample two-meter cable - ideal for as long as social distancing remains a priority. 

Key features: Compact design, easy setup, prints receipts.

Portable

The portable card machine is powered by Bluetooth and boasts a 50-meter range, so you can use it to take payments from anywhere on your premises. 

Its wireless design means you needn’t worry about tripping over cables, and at the end of the day simply pop it on its charging base ready for tomorrow. 

Key features: Small, lightweight, long-lasting battery, prints receipts, 50-meter range, simple setup. 

Mobile

Our mobile card machine lets you take payments on the go, in fact, from anywhere in the UK thanks to its inbuilt SIM card. 

Like the portable machine, it’ll come with a charging base to leave at home, but you’ll also get a USB cable to plug into your car, just in case you need a boost on the road. 

Key features: Light and durable, long-lasting charge, prints receipts, quick setup. 

A920 touchscreen

Our A920 touchscreen card machine is super sleek, it has a glass touchscreen surface which makes wiping it down between uses a doddle (not to mention looks great).

Within multipay you can add up to six users and allocate tips by user too, perfect for the likes of hairdressers, beauticians, and those in the hospitality sector where allocating gratuities can be a faff.

There’s also the option to make multipay mobile for businesses who take the show on the road - it’s powered by 4G, Bluetooth, or WiFi.

Key features: Touchscreen, glass surface, add up to six users, online reporting, receipt printing, mobile option.

Which one is right for me?

Here at takepayments we’ve been supporting small businesses for over 25 years, and we totally understand it can be hard to know what’s right for you and your business.

That’s why we do things a little bit differently - one of our dedicated and experienced experts will pay you a visit and discuss the ins and outs of your business, get to understand what you need, and help you decide which card machine is the best fit.

We’ll create a payments package tailored specifically to your business, so you’ll never pay more than you should, plus:

• We don’t charge sign up fees
• Our pricing is super transparent
• We’ll set you up with a merchant account free of charge
• We offer short 12-month contracts
• We provide round the clock support, and
• Our specialist joining team will hold your hand every step of the way. 

Ready to get the ball rolling and start 2021 as you mean to go on? Reach out today.

Bryony Pearce

Copywriter