Worldpay Virtual Terminal Introduces Innovative New Features
New features enhance security and ensure payment efficiency.
Worldpay Virtual Terminal, part of our complete payment solution profile, gives merchants the ability to process card payments anywhere, anytime – requiring only an internet connection.
Whether customers are shopping in-store or online, Worldpay Virtual Terminal enables merchants to reach them where they are – giving them a broad range of payment options.
We’re constantly innovating to help merchants focus on what really matters: their business. Here are the latest features we’ve launched for Worldpay Virtual Terminal:
Hosted Payment Pages
These pages allow merchants to integrate a payments platform directly into their e-commerce business. The checkout workflow is hosted entirely by Worldpay via secure payment pages. Once payment is complete, customers are instantly redirected to the merchant’s site.
E-Invoice
Merchants now have the ability to create electronic invoices from within Worldpay Virtual Terminal. A secure link is sent directly from the merchant to the customer’s email, allowing customers to pay with credit or debit right from their browser with no additional fees for the merchant.
ACH Payments
Customers can now pay directly from their bank accounts. ACH payments can be used for automated or recurring payments through the AutoBill feature, eliminating the need for merchants to re-enter a customer’s information with each recurring payment.
Our solution uses integrated e-commerce technology, real-time reporting and 24/7 expert merchant support to transform any computer into a virtual payment terminal.
Learn more about what Worldpay Virtual Terminal can do for you at http://www.worldpay.com/us/products/payment-processing/virtual-terminal.
3 Ways Restaurants Can Tackle PCI Compliance
Every restaurant that accepts credit cards has to reach Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance.
This compliance – composed of a series of requirements – helps with cardholder data security and protects against malware, lessening the chance of security breaches.
From managing employee access to the logistics of filling out forms, compliance can be a source of confusion for restaurant owners – but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some ways restaurant owners can tackle even the trickiest parts of PCI DSS compliance, and ensure they stay focused on serving up excellent food.
1. Use unique employee IDs: A common pain point for reaching PCI DSS compliance is employees’ access to data – especially when several machines and staff members are running payment cards. Restaurants should make sure their POS system allows employees to use unique identifications to access information. It’s also necessary to encrypt data. Restaurants that use an older POS system may want to contact their processor to ensure all data is encrypted.
2. Work with processors: Most processors offer PCI programs, helping their customers and supporting the merchant through the process. Some processors will charge a PCI DSS compliance assistance fee – if they do, restaurants should take advantage of it. Processors can help business owners complete the annual self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ). Although maintaining PCI DSS compliance is not legally required, many major processors will charge a non-compliance fee, which is easily avoidable if businesses meet compliance standards.
3. Mark your calendars: It’s important to protect customers’ data and monitor compliance year-round, so restaurants should take extra precaution to complete their annual SAQ to guarantee they’re still on track. There are nine different versions of an SAQ, so the type will depend on how your company handles data. It can vary between a simple questionnaire or a longer, more technical one. Allot the appropriate amount of time you will need to complete it.
Tackling PCI DSS compliance doesn’t have to be a daunting or expensive task. Some of the most intimidating areas of compliance can be dealt with by simply having a conversation with a processor. Remembering to meet SAQ deadlines allows restaurants to worry less about payment breaches and more on providing their customers with exceptional service.
Learn about how to help protect your business and customers against data theft with our PCI compliance solution.
Tips for SMBs looking to Make the Most of Tax-Free Weekends
As summer comes to a close, the back-to-school shopping frenzy is in full swing – and some states are helping families save a few bucks on school expenses.
Toward the end of each summer, participating states hold a Tax-Free Weekend. And this year, 16 states are eliminating or reducing taxes on items like clothing, school supplies and computers.
These weekends provide a valuable opportunity for small businesses to bring in more shoppers. Here are some ways SMBs can make the most of a Tax-Free Weekend:
Get a head start on marketing: By the time advertisements are posted, it might be too late for customers who’ve already done their back-to-school shopping – or decided to spend the Tax-Free Weekend with a competitor. Businesses can make themselves the go-to place for summer deals by promoting sales sooner rather than later.
Stand out from the pack: Tax-Free Weekends are busy, so each business should have a unique way to stand out. From offering coupons to coming up with a creative campaign, businesses can use a variety of strategies to persuade shoppers to choose their shop over the competition. For example, contests are an easy way to promote tax free items and get customers to help spread the word. Businesses can craft social media posts promoting tax-free items, then offer a prize or an additional discount to customers who share the post with their followers.
Display tax-free products: Whether it’s on a storefront display or the website, businesses should showcase the specific products customers can save on. Since offerings vary from state to state, physically highlighting tax-free items may be enough to bring people into their shop.
Tax-Free Weekends provide many opportunities for communities to save, so don’t miss the chance to take advantage of your state’s Tax-Free Weekend. Search below to see if, and in what ways, your state is participating.
Alabama*: July 21-23. Clothing, computers, school supplies, books
Arkansas: August 5-6. Clothing and footwear, clothing accessories, school and art supplies
Connecticut: August 20-26. Clothing and footwear
Florida: August 4-6. Clothing and footwear, wallets, handbags, backpacks, computers, school supplies
Iowa: August 4-5. Clothing and footwear
Louisiana: August 4-5. Personal property <$2500 (3 percent tax)
Maryland: August 13-19. Clothing and footwear
Missouri*: August 4-6. Clothing, school supplies, graphing calculators, computers and computer software
Mississippi: July 28-29. Clothing and footwear
New Mexico: August 4-6. Clothing and footwear, school supplies, computers and computer peripherals, backpacks
Ohio: August 4-6. Clothing, school supplies, instructional materials
Oklahoma: August 5-7. Clothing and footwear
South Carolina: August 4-6. Clothing and footwear, clothing accessories, school supplies, computers
Tennessee: July 28-30. Clothing, computers, school and art supplies
Texas: August 11-13. Clothing and footwear, school supplies, backpacks
Virginia: August 4-6. Clothing and footwear, school supplies, emergency preparedness items
* Excludes some counties.
Learn more about how Worldpay simplifies payments for small businesses here.
Discussing ISV and merchant acquirer partnerships at TRANSACT Tech
Worldpay US is excited to give the closing keynote on the value in connecting merchant acquirers and independent software vendors (ISVs), strengthening merchant acquisition strategies and capitalizing on the exploding FinTech industry.
Worldpay US Chief Executive Officer Kim Goodman will deliver the closing keynote at this year’s TRANSACT Tech event in Atlanta. The presentation, “Driving merchant value through ISV partnerships,” will provide an in-depth look at how FinTech companies can work with merchant acquirers to develop an effective business strategy.
More than ever, FinTech companies are focusing on customized integrated solutions for small businesses, specializing in specific verticals and aiming to deliver value directly to their customers.
While payment processing plays a role in these solutions, it’s not the main driver of a purchasing decision. There are more than 10,000 ISVs in the U.S., representing approximately 10 percent of new merchant accounts each year. This keynote will focus on the growing number of business strategies that U.S. merchant acquirers are pursuing in reaction to this growing trend.
In today’s highly-fragmented ISV segment, both ISVs and merchant acquirers can drive more value in commerce by working together through strategic partnerships. To learn more about the exciting innovations impacting the merchant acquiring industry, join Kim’s keynote on Tuesday, June 20 at 3:40 p.m at the Georgia Tech Student Center.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter for live updates from the event.
3 ways mobile payments benefit grocery
Today, many large businesses accept mobile wallets – but grocery, in particular, is seeing slower growth in mobile wallet usage. Many stores have the tools and technology in place, but customers still don’t see the value in changing their payment behavior. The faster POS experience driven by mobile wallets may help lead to shorter lines and increased customer satisfaction, proving to be great incentives for grocers to push mobile payments.
Here are three reasons mobile payments are a mainstay in the future of grocery:
1. Increased security: Today’s customers have heightened data security concerns, especially when it comes to mobile wallets. However, they can breathe a little easier knowing a unique series of numbers is assigned to each virtual credit card stored within a mobile wallet. This means that even if a transaction is compromised, the card number won’t end up in the hands of fraudsters.
2. Customer preferences: More than 87 percent of credit card users reported being frustrated that chip cards are slower to process than those with magnetic stripes. And although Quick Chip technology can help alleviate this pain point, major chains are welcoming mobile payment platforms to speed up payment processes and cut down on checkout wait times.
3. Room for innovation: Mobile presents the opportunity to get creative with new ways to reach customers. For example, mobile platforms enable retailers to capture data for better-targeted ads and coupons. Whole Foods Market capitalized on the trend with its SmartTap technology, which allows customers to “clip” and add digital coupons to their mobile wallet. Other stores have opted to allow loyalty program participants to earn and redeem points through an app on their mobile devices.
Long lines are a top frustration in grocery stores, and a faster, more convenient payment experience may be the deciding factor for customers who are considering where to shop. With more customers adopting mobile payments – and increasing incentives to support this modern payment method – grocers who harness the power of mobile can stay ahead of the game.
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