Parking payment devices have come a long way, especially in the last few years as unattended and contactless payment trends have skyrocketed. For many years, parking lots, garages, and single-space meters were known to accept predominantly cash. However, we are starting to see a majority shift toward electronic payment acceptance.

The introduction of payment methods other than cash cleared the way for reduced queue times and a more efficient payment process for customers. As new payment hardware and software options continue to make their way to the parking industry, it is important to be aware of what differentiates a mediocre system from a great one.

In order to do so, ask yourself these four questions when deciding which payment technology to implement into your parking services process:

Is it easy to use for your customers?

 Your number one goal should be to find a payment solution that is both aesthetically pleasing in its design, yet functional and easy-to-use. You should think of your payment process like an experience, with the goal of making it easy for your customers every step of the way. They should never have to question what step they need to take next or how to operate the parking payment machine.

Try asking yourself the following:

• When the customer first approaches the machine, is it easy to understand where to start?
• Is it clear where to insert bills, coins, credit cards, etc.?
• Does the machine let the customer know what to do next?

Does it compete with current trends and preferred payments?

As mentioned, we have seen a major shift in payment preferences with a majority of people leaning toward credit and debit cards, as well as mobile wallets. Additionally, amid ongoing concerns around COVID-19, age-old industries are rethinking their daily operations. Parking is no exception. According to NFCW.com, 49 countries in the last year have announced contactless payment transaction limit increases, with an average of increase of 131%.

Does the device offer Smart solutions?

As technology evolves and advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) continue to make an appearance, we are likely to see more and more unattended payment solutions within the parking industry. Since we are seeing less in-person exchanges within the parking industry, it is important that your payment technology provides a human-like encounter and answers customer questions along the way. AI is already a part of the fabric of parking and as it becomes more common, there will be even more potential for what it can achieve for parking services.

Is the equipment rugged enough?

 When choosing payment hardware for the outdoors, it is important to look for devices with specific Ingress Protections (or IP Rating) which are designed to withstand the demands of severe weather conditions. Do you need a device that can operate in extreme heat or cold? Do you need a device that can operate while wet? Do you need a device that will still operate while interacting with dust particles? At what level do you need these protections?  Search for a device that has a weatherized exterior that allows it to survive harsh natural elements.

You should also consider what Impact Protection or IK Rating you want your device to have. An IK Rating is a rating that determines how much an enclosure protects your device from external impacts such as pressure or being dropped. An IK Rating will tell you the force of impact your device can withstand if an accident occurs.  A device with a weatherized, rugged exterior is key for parking environments.

ID TECH Parking Solutions

Payment solutions for parking have specific requirements in order to keep your technology safe and working efficiently. Weather resistance, constraints involving electrical power, and infrequent maintenance are factors to consider when using these solutions in the outdoor environment. ID TECH understands these demands and provides optimal solutions for your unattended payment situations.

The ID TECH VP6800 is a PIN-on-Glass parking solution that is versatile and able to be customized based on merchant needs.  The VP6800 can be purchased with outdoor rugged features that can withstand harsh weather conditions such as high triple-digit temperatures or low single-digit temperatures. Certified with the latest payment technologies, the VP6800 can support the most popular payment methods such as EMV contact and contactless, MagStripe, and all major mobile wallets. It also features an optional camera that scans 2D QR codes and functions as a security device.

To learn more about the VP6800, click here.

About ID TECH

ID TECH has established a solid reputation in the industry as a leading payment peripheral provider with magnetic stripe, EMV contact, and EMV contactless expertise. We are also an OEM payment solution provider with the capability and willingness to customize solutions to fit our customers’ needs. With a strong foundation and continued success rooted in card readers, ID TECH is currently expanding its reach in the ever-evolving payments industry.

To learn more about ID TECH, please visit our about page.

 

These days, it seems that people will do anything to save a bit of time. Businesses and banks have been responding accordingly, offering new ways to pay that are both more secure and more time-friendly. One of the ways businesses have created a payment shortcut is by introducing self-service kiosks to their checkout lines.

You might have seen them during your last coffee run to McDonald’s or your last lunch break at Panera Bread. Rather than waiting in line for everyone to order one burger with everything, one burger with no pickles and one burger with ketchup only and then count out 72 cents after they’ve finished placing an order, you can pop your order into the freestanding kiosk, swipe your card and wait for the order to show up at your table a few minutes later.

They allow you to avoid wait times, but they also let you skip the small talk with the cashier. What’s more, because of the EMV technology they’re equipped with, they’re incredibly secure. They use the same chip reading hardware that you’ve seen in most businesses today.

Self-service kiosks seem like a great addition to the fast-food industry and convenience stores such as Walmart and Target, but do they really save as much time as they promise to? As a retail business owner, are they worth the investment? Here, we’ll help you answer those questions.

What do the numbers & real-world experience say about self-service kiosks popularity and checkout time speed?

There are a number of statistics that suggest self-service kiosks can improve checkout times and make customers happier. Since we all know numbers and quantifying impact is important, let’s check out a few interesting stats and reports:

• Consumers prefer self-service. According to a survey reported on in this Retail Customer Experience post, 66% of surveyed shoppers had a preference for self-service and self-checkout.
• Self-service is a winner for Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs). According to a survey Mobile Payments Today reported on, 60% of customers would visit a QSR or fast-casual restaurant more frequently if self-service kiosks were available.
• Self-service can boost spending. According to this pymnts.com article, customers spend 30% more when using self-service kiosks
• Self-service kiosks can boost speed. According to this Retail Customer Experience report, serving customers faster, improving customer satisfaction, and streamlining business processes are some of the ROI (return on investment) drivers of self-service kiosks.

If self-service kiosks promise speed, won’t everyone flock to them?

It’s clear: self-service kiosks can improve customer experience and speed of checkout. However, there are some potential tradeoffs to consider to see if they are right for your business.

It seems people prefer self-service, so won’t that mean everyone is going to get in line to use the kiosk? This could, in effect, make it slower than actually getting in line with a cashier.

While you might think this is the case, there are still plenty of customers who won’t make the switch to cashier-less paying. There are still those who prefer handing cash to someone who will then count out their change and tell them to have a good day.

For those who feel more comfortable dipping their card in a machine without a human present, the self-service kiosk will be a welcome part of their busy days. There might be a couple of people in line, but if they know what they want and they have their credit card ready, the line won’t last long.

Dipping does, on average, take a few seconds longer than swiping cards used to take. This is because the card needs to communicate with the acquiring bank in order for the transaction to be authenticated. This won’t take as long as counting exact change or signing receipts though.

Consider who will use the self-service kiosk

If your customers are tech-savvy, they may breeze through self-service kiosks. If they aren’t comfortable with technology, you’ll need to offer other options. If your customers can’t operate the kiosk effectively, it will lead to wasted time and frustration. This defeats the purpose.

There are two things you can do to avoid mistakes here:

1. Know your customers. Don’t force tech on them that they will not understand.
2. Make sure you use self-service kiosks with intuitive and easy to use software and hardware. Solutions like the VP6800 can go a long way here.

Self-service requires some maintenance

Technology has worked wonders in the way of creating simpler ways to complete tasks. Machines aren’t always perfect, though, and there will be times when they stop working or when they need some updates.

Computers have hardware and software that needs to be kept up-to-date in order to function properly and continue to run smoothly. If there is heavy traffic at a self-service kiosk and it hasn’t received the requisite amount of maintenance, there might be issues in terms of screen glitches, trouble printing receipts or problems with the hardware itself.

Naturally, this would require a human employee to step in and fix the problem. It might set you back a few minutes if the machine doesn’t read your card or doesn’t accept your crumpled bills. Keep in mind, however, that technological glitches are often not a regular occurrence and the machines won’t be out of service every time you try to use them.

Knowing when self-service makes sense

Have you traveled recently? Self-service kiosks aren’t only at gas stations and fast-food restaurants now. Airports have been installing them in terminals to save time when it comes to printing boarding passes and getting passengers checked into their flights.

They’ve been a great help for frequent fliers who don’t want to wait in lines behind families who are traveling with three children for the first time. It’s an easy way to get to security lines faster and avoid cutting it close to making a flight you might have been running late for.

If you’re the type of passenger who travels light for short flights and you don’t have checked back, depending on the airline, an attendant might still have to come to your kiosk to check the size of your carry on bag. So you saved time printing your own boarding pass, but you had to wait for the attendant to check the bag size of several other people ahead of you. There’s still a waiting element.

The takeaway here is: you have to understand the context of your business. Don’t force people into self-service if it will create bottlenecks and frustration. Use self-service kiosks where it makes things more convenient for your customers. Often this means a combination of self-service, “traditional” point of sale checkouts, and retail associates armed with mobile technology.

Self-Service kiosks are helpful if you know what you want

In terms of ordering food at your favorite chain, you probably know what you want when you run in to grab dinner. That makes for an easy experience at the kiosk and really makes it a time-saving experience for you.

Not everything you use self-service kiosks for might have the same outcome. Have you tried using a cashier- or attendant-free machine before and realized you don’t know how to use part of it or the machine asks you a question about your payment method that you don’t know the answer to?

A couple of years ago, USPS introduced self-service kiosks to their lobbies to help customers save time during the holidays, when lines to ship packages or mail bulk Christmas cards could be out the door. They couldn’t do everything the full-service counter could, but you could purchase stamps, weigh and ship packages and mail letters without waiting in line.

Something they couldn’t do? Answer your question about a returned letter or take your passport photo. Those things you’d have to wait in line and talk to an employee for, but in terms of straightforward mailing services, they certainly cut out long wait times.

Self-Service kiosks are modern express check out

You’ve probably been in line at any number of retail shops when you’ve had three things in your hand and you were stuck behind shoppers with carts full of merchandise.

If you had places to be or other errands to run with ice cream melting in the back seat, chances are high your foot was tapping in impatience. Self-service kiosks have done a great deal to help those shoppers who need speedy service. They can scan their own items, throw them all in a bag, dip their card and be on their way. They can even send their receipts to their emails instead of waiting for a printout.

Want to add self-service to your business?

When properly implemented, self-service can be a boon to your retail business.

At ID TECH, we have the most modern technology for unattended payments. Your customers can pay in cash, with credit or through a contactless tap. Check out our line of unattended payment solutions, or reach out to our team of point-of-sale experts if you have questions about how you can use them at your business.

Each month, bills come around. There’s no avoiding them, and there’s no stopping them. Although many companies are opening their payment methods up to online payment options, there are still customers who prefer to pay with cash or check, or simply don’t want their credit card information online.

Pay and go kiosks are the solution to this. Not only are they easy to use, but they are also convenient for customers. The kiosks can be used internally and externally, so if the business is closed and a customer still needs to pay a bill, they can use the outdoor kiosk or go to kiosks located in a convenience store or mall — two options that are typically open past normal business hours. They are a great alternative to paying online or in-person and also work well to promote smart financial decision making. In this piece, we’ll dive into pay and go kiosks, their pros and cons, and what they can do for your business. 

Pay and go kiosks: What they are and who would use them

If you’ve been to a train station, a gas station, a fast-food venue or a bank, you’ve no doubt seen and used the kiosks to buy tickets, pay for fuel or food, or deposited a check. They are easy-to-use machines. Now consider those kiosks from a business owner’s point of view, and how easy they would be for your customers to use. They are simple, secure, and another option to make them happy.

The pay and go kiosk was created with the intent of making payment options easier for those needing to pay bills such as utilities, phone, loan repayments, credit cards or even insurance.

You might ask why a kiosk service is even necessary if people have the option of paying online now. The reality is that there are about 8.4 million unbanked households and about 24.2 million underbanked households in the US. This means that those people do not have sufficient access to the necessary financial services to pay their bills.

You can make life a lot easier for those needing extra assistance and more options. Equipping your business with pay and go kiosk will open your business up to a whole customer base that either does not have bank accounts or are unable to take out loans or apply for credit cards but still need to pay bills.

How pay and go kiosks work and how they’ll help your business

Quality customer service is a major tenet of running a successful business. It entails listening to the needs of your customers and implementing solutions to meet those needs. When your customers are happy, your business will profit. Pay and go kiosks provide you with an opportunity to make your customers happy by providing a convenient and accessible payment method.

The way the pay and go kiosks work is pretty straightforward. The kiosk interface allows users to choose what they’re paying and how they would like to pay. Much like an ATM, the pay and go kiosk has a check and bill scanner, a place to insert cash, a card reader, a QR code scanner, a printer and a dispenser.

So why put them in your business? Chances are, some of your current customers are part of the unbanked or underbanked population. By adding a pay and go kiosk to your store, you’re telling your customers that you understand their needs. It will keep them frequenting your business, and add some positivity around how you conduct customer service.

Similarly, if you are the owner and distributor of kiosks and you place them in businesses that those using pay and go kiosks use most, you’re giving them the chance to become more familiar with your brand. You also get to offer them services they need where they already are, such as convenience stores, groceries or malls.

Since kiosks typically accept debit and cash, you are giving your customers financial freedom they might not have elsewhere.

How do pay and go kiosks fit into the future of payments?

Paying bills can be a stressful feeling, especially when they are all due around the same time. Pay and go kiosks are accessible 24 hours, allowing customers to pay bills when and where they want.

Offering them convenience is just one more way to offer them financial freedom and peace of mind.

People can now pay bills online, in person or at a kiosk. One more option opens up another line of communication and another way to help make payments convenient. This might lead to payments being made ahead of time, fewer missed payments and less frustration on the customer’s end.

Not only that, but it’s a hassle-free option. Customers paying bills through a kiosk don’t need to go through the stress of talking with employees or cashiers. This is a big help when it comes to getting things done quicker or with less pressure. Kiosks located in many businesses in a certain location will also reduce line times in branch offices.

How you can implement pay and go kiosks

If you’re a current business owner or soon-to-be business owner, adding a kiosk to your storefront can make a big difference. It’s a great way to gain foot traffic and to add another level of commitment to quality service.

Besides foot traffic, you can use the kiosk to make some extra income as well by adding the option to purchase a prepaid phone card, for example, directly from the kiosk.

A benefit of having them in your business is that you don’t need to hire someone to work them. Working similarly to ATMs, the interface is easy for customers to use and understand. It prompts them with instructions and steps throughout the payment process.

Not having the overhead of having to hire an employee with the implementation of a payment kiosk is a great financial plus for your business. It will generate income without employment expenses.

Things to know if you are considering a pay and go kiosk

Now just because pay and go kiosks don’t require an employee to make transactions for the customer, doesn’t mean that third party interaction is completely off the table. Kiosks are made up of hardware and software that work as well as they can until they don’t. Troubleshooting might be necessary; they might be out of order some days due to a mechanical error and the software might malfunction.

This can lead to disgruntled customers who might take it out on you even though you are not the kiosk owner. This will require the kiosk owner to step in and fix the problem. The kiosk could be out for a couple of hours or it could be a couple of days, and when people grow accustomed to the convenience, they’ll go to the business owner to complain about it when it’s not there.

Besides the possibility of technical difficulties, there is the benefit that for the owners of kiosks, they are simply cheaper than owning a branch office. Branch offices are expensive to run and maintain, let alone filling with employees. To save money, there is the possibility of running fewer branches and being able to install multiple kiosks. This also means customers don’t have to worry about making it to your office during working hours and risk missing payments or being late to pay bills.

Want to learn more? Contact ID TECH!

If you’re interested in using pay and go kiosks, ID TECH has a range of options to choose from that are equipped with all the latest payment technology including: EMV card dipping, tap and go, or cash. Reach out if you’re still questioning whether or not your business would benefit from pay and go kiosks. Our dedicated and experienced team can help you make the decision that is best for your business.