Over the last five years, there’s been a definite shift towards contactless payments. Whether we’re doing the big shop, ordering at a bar, or simply commuting to work, contactless payments are everywhere we go, and the pressure is mounting on the consumer to change their spending habits to reduce their use of cash.
However, in the last 18 months the speed of this transition has accelerated. This is entirely due to the pandemic. Since last March, we have all become more aware of the spread of bacteria by touching surfaces, and handling coins and notes has become increasingly undesirable as a result. We are all encouraged to use contactless payments where possible to stop the spread of viruses.
We all know this, business owners and consumers alike. Despite this, there are still some businesses that are resistant to this contactless “revolution.” Whilst this may have been understandable in 2016, five years later the digital landscape has changed almost beyond recognition, and some businesses (particularly smaller businesses) have been unable to keep up.
If you are one of these businesses, we can help make your transition to cashless as painless as possible. If you have already made the switch but are still experiencing issues with your software provider, Booked it might just be the solution to your problem. Booked it can provide your business with industry-leading RFID cashless payment solutions, which come in multiple forms; whether you want to use card, an app, or even our game-changing cashless wristband, we have everything you need to become an entirely cashless venue.
Using the app or the wristband, customers can top up in advance. Essentially, they load the chosen spending device with credit, which they will then spend at your venue. This has been proven to increase customer spending per head, by up to 30% in some cases. It also has the added bonus of significantly improving cashflow at your venue, and freeing up space for your staff to move freely.
Furthermore, for organisers who don’t want to go completely cashless, customers also have the option to use card or apple/google pay when they run out of credit. This can be run completely offline, making it easier for you to integrate cashless technology into your venue.
Another benefit to cashless payments is the wealth of data and real-time analytics using it can supply your business with. Simply by switching to cashless, you can analyse transactions from a single dashboard. This means that you can see which bars, vendors and staff members are performing better than others. You can oversee stock control live to resolve potential problems before they arise. Also, you can send push notifications to staff to incentivise more serves per hour.
Last but not least, cashless payments through Booked it can be fully integrated with our loyalty scheme. Using the loyalty scheme, customers connect their card on the app and earn points with every transaction. Your customer is rewarded every time they make a card payment. You can use these points to offer real-time incentives, to increase spend per head, and even to increase the amount of time customers stay in your venue.
Whether you own a bar, a soft play centre, or something in between, cashless payments are the future, and you’re right to be serious about them. Card, app, or wristband; each of these payment methods offers your business the opportunity to embrace technology, increase customer satisfaction, and increase spending at your business.
Words by Rebecca Clayton