Clean Swipe
Streamlining your pickup’s mobile office with credit card readers
By Tim Walton
Being able to process credit cards at the point-of-sale can be a great addition to your mobile office capabilities.
Whether it’s a driveway resurface, landscaping install or gravel delivery, a card reader can help streamline transactions, reduce paper work, minimize collection problems and provide convenience for your customers.
The advent of smartphones with readily available internet access provides a very mobile connection that can be used in conjunction with a credit card reader accessory.
Business owners can use these devices to simply and quickly take payments and print, or email, a receipt – customer’s choice.
On the setup side, look at credit card reader service programs closely. Fees and services vary widely from one provider to the next.
You may get a free credit card reader that links to your smartphone and a free app operates the device – but there is a fee for each transaction. Other service providers may offer a flat monthly fee or combine the service with your corporate cellphone billing.
On the hardware/software side, look for a card reader that allows for the customer’s signature, which can be a requirement for some types of credit card transactions.
Some companies offer all-in-one mobile office solutions with machines that work as the display, signature pad, modem and printer, keeping your cab of your pickup less cluttered.
Escort’s SmartOffice, ExaDigm’s XD2100, Verifone’s PAYware Mobile and Intuit’s GoPayment are good swipe-and-pay systems to use in your pickup’s mobile office. (See our full story in the June 2012 issue of ProPickup.)
