As a business owner, your first priority has to be safety. By now, you’ve likely managed multiple changes to your model, from modifying your payment collection plan to remotely managing relationships. 

Scaling up quickly can create gaps, especially if you’re trying to offer both traditional payment collection methods and contactless payments. But there are ways to bridge those gaps while keeping your employee and customer safe.

4 Steps To Keep Payment Collection Safe For Your Business

While everyone agrees that contactless payment is the safest option, many businesses still need credit card terminals and card-swipe options. Some customers aren’t computer savvy, or they simply aren’t comfortable with online payment collection. Help make those transactions as safe as possible by creating a plan and making it easy for your employees to execute. 

1. Check your manufacturer specifications.

Ask your terminal manufacturer what cleaning chemicals are safe to use. That will prevent damage to the equipment that could void your warranty. If you have PayGround terminal, the process below should be safe.

2. Organize everything.

Put all cleaning supplies in one place for employees, along with step-by-step directions for the whole process. Your practice or business will need to agree upon a protocol for cleaning between each in-person payment collection. 

Common steps may include directing employees to:

1. Wash hands thoroughly or use hand sanitizer.
2. Put on disposable gloves.
3. Turn off or unplug devices before cleaning if possible.
4. Throw away disposable items after cleaning.
5. Wash or sanitize hands again before returning to work.

If it feels unrealistic to unplug your device between each customer, consider purchasing a keypad protector. They’re designed to protect the terminal from liquids, and many won’t require employees to disconnect your terminal from its power source. 

3. Establish a cleaning process and schedule.

Ideally, you’d clean your terminal after each customer. However, that’s not always practical. At minimum, complete a full cleaning of all hardware at least 3 times a day. 

Common steps may include directing employees to:

1. Remove dust, debris and dirt using canned air.
2. Disinfect the terminal by: 
   • Using wipes created for electronic devices if you can find them. 
   • If you can’t, spraying a disposable cloth with an electronic disinfectant and wiping it down that way.
   • Never spraying liquid or using general-purpose wipes on your terminal as alcohol will damage it.
3. Use a UV light sanitizer.

UV light sanitizers have been shown to kill 99.9% of bacteria, and there are increasingly affordable options coming to market daily. 

4. Encourage contactless payment.

One of the best ways to encourage contactless payment collection is to move your card reader out of your customers’ eyeline. 

1. Hide your card reader behind a desk or partition.
2. Ask each customer if they’d like to use contactless payment before offering the terminal.
3. Offer to walk them through setting up an account, and tell them that they can also pay by e-invoice delivered via email or text.
4. If they request to pay by card, have your employee hold the terminal while they swipe.
5. Only print receipts when requested, and avoid requesting signatures.

If you’re worried about a barrier to entry with contactless payment, you’re not alone. But there is good news: Most of your customers are eager to make the switch. 

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 79% of consumers worldwide are already using contactless payment, and contactless transactions rose 40% in the first few months of 2020. That means now is the time to get in the game.

Ready To Expand Your Payment Collection Plan?

PayGround can help you take the next steps, from working with you to safeguard physical terminals to taking your entire process online. Contact us to get started.