After a two-year hiatus filled with cancellations and virtual shows, ID TECH is happy to see in-person tradeshows have made a roaring comeback in 2022. With new team members, new products, and a new dedication to innovation, ID TECH has evolved since the start of the pandemic, and we were eager to show our customers and partners how far we’ve come.    

As a worldwide leading tradeshow association for the payment industry, the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) has a reach of over 30 countries and 500 payment-related companies. ID TECH has been a member of ETA for years and, with its considerable influence on the payment industry, we knew it was a show at which we wanted to have a strong presence.

A New ID TECH

In the months leading up to ETA, ID TECH worked hard to prepare a tradeshow booth that would show our partners and customers all the updates we had made since the beginning of the pandemic.  

We created a brand new booth and updated our branding to complement our product launch of the brand new NEO 3 platform of products.  

NEO 3 

Starting in the fall of 2022, ID TECH is releasing our NEO 3 platform of products. The NEO 3 products are a series of versatile, ruggedly designed products that can be seamlessly integrated into multiple industries and environments.  

“NEO 3 is a state-of-the-art payment platform,” explains George Jiang, Chief Technology Officer. “Many hardware manufacturers didn’t invest in their products over the past few years. But ID TECH has been working on providing value to our partners and customers through this innovative product line. Plus, they look cool!”  

Our sleekly designed NEO 3 products were displayed at ETA along with fully customized, operational demo units to show our products integrated in multiple unattended payments environments, and all ETA attendees were the first to get a sneak peek.  

ID TECH at ETA

Like previous exhibit years, ETA was large, loud, and a little overwhelming, which all contributed to the excitement the ID TECH team felt while attending the show. 

Our newer and older staff members bonded over drinking, eating, and experiencing ETA from beginning to end. Other exhibitors attracted attendees to the booths with gourmet coffee setups and novelties like customized air-brushed clothing. ETA itself offered a broad selection of food, snacks, and drinks for everyone. The ETA staff was amazingly accommodating and made sure to include some “play” along with other typical tradeshow activities such as seminars and networking events.  

“My favorite part of ETA was having face-to-face, real-time interactions with partners and customers,” says Ginger Wu, Senior Product Manager. “Experiencing and seeing their reactions and instant feedback to ID TECH’s newest solutions and services was priceless.” 

Overall, ETA was the perfect event for our company to allow attendees to interact with ID TECH’s newest payment technologies and meet some of the people who created them. 

The Future

ID TECH plans to continue growing our presence at ETA and other tradeshows. The feedback we got from staff and attendees was extremely positive and a big encouragement towards our forward momentum.   

As we evolve our company, products, and brand to match the changing landscapes of different customer needs and emerging technologies, we’re happy to see that the events we attend and the customers we meet are receptive to “The New ID TECH” that is forming.  

“ETA was my first tradeshow with ID TECH and I couldn’t have picked a better one to start with,” says Ryan Maulit, Marketing Manager. “Everything we experienced was so positive. It made me really proud to be a part of ID TECH.” 

Thank you to everyone we met at ETA, partners and customers alike, and thank you to our amazing staff members who came together and made ETA a momentous experience for ID TECH as a company. 

For more information about the other events ID TECH will be attending, click here.  

For more information on ID TECH’s NEO 3 platform of products, please visit our NEO 3 webpage.   

About ID TECH

ID TECH is a global leader in payment peripherals, with sales, manufacturing, and R&D facilities worldwide. The company has become a well-established payment solutions provider with extensive experience in data capturing and encryption products and services. Designing dependable, feature-rich products has made ID TECH a leading supplier of MagStripe readers/writers, mobile payment readers, contactless readers, smart card readers, barcode readers, POS keyboards, signature capture devices, PCI-compliant PIN pads, and other specialty products for OEMs, VARs, resellers, distributors, and key end-users. ID TECH provides both standard and custom solutions to support customer requirements.   

For more information, visit www.idtechproducts.com. 

 

Digital loyalty programs are becoming an increasingly popular way for businesses to connect with their customers and gain market share. But as the use of mobile payment platforms increase, how do organizations utilize mobile payment hardware to successfully manage and track transactions, while creating an enjoyable purchasing experience?

As a global leader in payment technology, ID TECH is examining loyalty solutions in various industries to see what companies are doing to enhance customer retention and stay ahead of their competition. In our most recent blogs, we examined loyalty trends in the transit and vending industries. Now, join us as we explore the top loyalty trends in the mobile industry:

Loyalty Apps

Loyalty programs are a great tactic that companies can use to show customer appreciation and drive retention. Because we live in a technology-driven world, a majority of consumers have their own smartphone that they take wherever they go. As such, many companies are integrating their loyalty programs into applications. This allows consumers to keep better track of their rewards and influences them to make frequent purchases in order to earn rewards points.

Points and Rewards

Reward points can be earned via mobile app or through an in-store purchase. Customers that are a part of the loyalty program are able to cash in their points for special discount offers or free items. There are multiple ways customers can wrack up points:

• Social sharing to promote sweepstakes
• Checking in on social media and/or their loyalty app
• Participating in special offers, such as ‘Buy 2, Get 1 Free’ etc.
• Participating in gamification incorporations, such as ‘Spin the Wheel’

Mobile Coupons

Because everything is transitioning to mobile, companies are taking things such as coupons and making them available on technology as well. Now, customers don’t have to worry about going out, buying the local paper and cutting up coupons. They can simply subscribe to the store loyalty program and receive mobile coupons via email, text, or mobile app.

In-Store Sign-Ups

Although a majority of people are switching to mobile loyalty solutions, there is still some difficulty when it comes to getting previous generation to participate. To combat this, many companies have employees dedicated to helping them sign up while they’re in the store. They walk them through the process and get them set up.

The ID TECH Solution

ID TECH is a leader in providing innovative loyalty payment solutions to organizations across the globe. Through our new tap-and-go technology, it is easier than ever for your customers to redeem rewards, access concerts and sporting events, and so much more. In this age of online retail, retailers are competing to gain market share with new customers; boost your brand awareness, customer loyalty, and market share with ID TECH’s digital loyalty solutions.

One of our latest loyalty solutions, the VP3300, allows you to incorporate triple-tracks MagSTripe, smart card, and contactless technologies. This all-in-one reader enables the acceptance of NFC/ contactless payments including Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Interac, MasterCard MCL, and more. Learn more about the VP3300 and download the datasheet here.

About ID TECH

ID TECH is a leading payment peripheral provider with expertise in magnetic stripe, EMV contact, EMV contactless, and OEM customization solutions.  We have a strong foundation and continued success rooted in card readers and are always expanding our product offering to provide innovative solutions for the ever-evolving payments industry.  Payment security is an integral part of our product offering, and ID TECH as a company prides itself at being at the forefront of payment security in our design, development, manufacturing, and sales processes.

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

 

In our latest blog series, we explored payment trends within the mobile and vending industries, and learned what companies are doing to keep up with the latest technology and stay ahead of their competition. Now, join us as we examine popular loyalty solutions currently on the market, as we focus this week on the transit industry!

Ridership on public transit is on the decline throughout the country. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), this is because many customers feel it is no longer as cost-effective as it once was and is less efficient than driving their personal vehicle. However, transit companies are now utilizing loyalty solutions to increase ridership and keep customers coming back. Here are the top loyalty solutions in the transit industry right now:

Loyalty Points and Rewards

In a recent study from KPMG, they found that 74 percent of customers will go out of their way to shop where they can earn loyalty points. As such, transit authorities and integrators are implementing loyalty programs that awards points to customers for number of trips taken, travelling during off-peak times, and for referrals to the program. As customers start to rack up their loyalty points, they can cash them in for rewards such as free drinks, gift certificates and even free rides. This incentivizes customers to keep riding with the same company, so they can earn points faster and use them to their benefit.

Geo-specific Discounts

According to an article by Forbes, the most successful loyalty programs share a number of things in common. First, the program must be easy to understand, and the steps for enrolling, earning, and redeeming awards must be simple to follow. Next, the program should offer discounts that are both personalized to the customer and geo-specific, which means customers are able to receive offers based on where they are and the time of day. Geolocation also allows companies to inform participants when there might be delays in traveling or cancelations.

Gamification to Increase Interaction

Gamification is a great way to increase customer interaction. It allows transit companies to connect with customers and encourage engagement. In the transit industry, the most important goals are to increase ridership, keep costs low, and retain customers. All of this can be done through the implementation of a gamification app aimed to introduce an element of fun where it didn’t previously exist.

A great example of this is when Amsterdam Public Transport installed monster stickers on the windows of every tram in the city. Riders were encouraged to record their journey and get the stickers to look as if they were eating pedestrians outside of the window. If a rider ‘ate’ 10 people during their trip, they received a prize from the transit operator.

The ID TECH Solution

ID TECH is committed to bringing innovative technology to your digital loyalty program. With the latest tap-and-go technology, it is easier than ever for your customers to redeem rewards and stay connected to your brand. In this age of ecommerce, businesses are competing to gain market share with new customers. Boost your brand awareness, customer loyalty, and market share with ID TECH’s digital loyalty solutions.

Our latest loyalty solution, the PiP, allows you to redeem rewards, centralize your loyalty program, access sporting events and concerts, and much more. PiP provides convenience across all industries by supporting Apple Pay VAS & Google Pay Smart Tap, as well as MIFARE. Please visit our website for more information on the PiP, and the datasheet can be downloaded here.

About ID TECH

ID TECH is a leading payment peripheral provider with expertise in magnetic stripe, EMV contact, EMV contactless, and OEM customization solutions. We have a strong foundation and continued success rooted in card readers and are always expanding our product offering to provide innovative solutions for the ever-evolving payments industry.  Payment security is an integral part of our product offering, and ID TECH as a company prides itself at being at the forefront of payment security in our design, development, manufacturing, and sales processes.

 

As part of our latest blog series, we’re taking a look at loyalty solutions in various industries to see what companies are doing to enhance customer retention and user experience. It’s no surprise that large retailers and brands have long used loyalty programs to entice and reward their top customers. In recent years, retail companies are also beginning to adopt loyalty solutions for vending machines as the preferences of their customers evolve. Here are some popular loyalty solutions in the vending industry right now:

Vending Machine Apps

Unlike brick-and-mortar merchants or eCommerce retailers, unattended vending machines do not have the luxury of leveraging a sales staff to get customers to sign up for loyalty cards at checkout or online. As a result, many vending loyalty programs have been integrated into mobile apps to ensure that a tailored customer experience is still created. This provides a perk for customers, who can keep better track of their rewards and see them when they are most relevant. Loyalty program applications enable machine operators to reward their frequent customers, increase sales through additional purchases, and win new accounts.

Points for Using Mobile Wallet

Many vending companies are implementing a loyalty initiative where customers can receive points for using their mobile wallet. The idea is that consumers get points or credit for using their mobile wallet at various vending machines. Once a customer racks up enough points, they get a free vending machine product.

Prepaid Card Incentives

Offering a discount to customers with prepaid cards – such as employee ID cards or gym membership tags – can be an effective incentive to push patrons toward choosing their prepaid card as their preferred payment method. The motivation to purchase from the vending machine, as opposed to going to a nearby physical store,  also needs to be acknowledged with the price differences in addition to convenience. Many vending machines are starting to offer different prices for various payment methods, and then advertising the multiple prices for one item to highlight the discount.

Reward Customers with Membership

Another great way to extend relationships with customers through a loyalty program is the idea of introducing membership levels. The machine can recognize  frequent customers and reward them based on their membership type. From there, the customer can receive special discounts or free credit.

The ID TECH Solution

ID TECH’s commitment to providing innovative and quality solutions for your digital loyalty program comes through in our vending line of products. Our newest one is the VP6800, which uses NFC technology to support contactless payments as well as loyalty and rewards features. It is a sleek, single piece solution certified with the latest contactless brand specifications and mobile wallet technologies. By supporting all the major card brands, along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, every transaction is covered no matter what you tap!

In addition to contactless reading, the VP6800 also supports EMV chip as well as MagStripe card reading. With a wide temperature range, the rugged VP6800  is ideal for all environments. 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.