The last few years really have seen an upheaval in each and every business, whether it be an increase in demand for services or, sadly, where businesses have had to scale down. Adapting to the ‘new world’ we live in means many organisations have had to implement new and advanced digital technologies that have fundamentally changed the way businesses operate.

It is very apparent that Covid-19 radically disrupted consumer behaviour, forced into ordering groceries online, relying on eCommerce sites, click and collect services and adapting to new contactless technologies. Although life is back to normal, online demand is still high with businesses in the UK and globally, having to adapt accordingly to ensure they reach their customer base, meaning investment in sleek new online platforms or apps that make remote purchasing possible and the implementation of contactless technologies.

Contactless payments were already widely used before the pandemic shook the nation, but since the pandemic, the use of this form of payment has grown exponentially. Contactless payments have proved to be the perfect solution to endorse a germ-free environment. The fear of catching Covid from tangible surfaces like point-of-sale card readers and keyboards has only accelerated the growth of contactless transactions and mobile wallets and has driven retailers to actively invest in contactless payment functionality because without doubt, the consumer has adapted to this new way of living and provides them with peace of mind knowing that they are reducing their chances of catching the virus.

Contactless payments, the benefits.

  • Contactless payments have entirely revolutionised the financial market. Here are some of the fewer known benefits of the technology:

Improved security

  • Inside your contactless card is a chip, this chip emits radio waves. An antenna is built into the plastic to secure the connection with a contactless reader. This is known as radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. This means your card company are able to block any suspicious transactions and block your card if it is stolen or lost. This built-in protection helps to protect the user against any fraudulent activities.

Increased Speed

  • Did you know contactless payments take approximately 15 seconds? This is at least two times faster than normal payments – meaning there is a higher chance of improved turnover and queues will eventually be reduced.

Convenience

  • This is probably the biggest advantage of contactless payments – and today, the user is not just restricted to cards, users can interact with their mobile devices and other accessories such as watches and rings. This again makes the payment process much quicker and more convenient. Remember the days of forgetting your wallet (I’m sure we have all done it in the past!) – well if you have a mobile device this is no longer an issue.
  • Consumers no longer need to insert their cards and expose themselves to the Covid-19 virus which could be lurking around.

Improved customer experience

  • This is by far something all businesses strive to achieve and by offering a contactless solution customers are being given a better experience – it gives them the opportunity to pay by whichever mode they find most suitable to them and is probably the fastest way for a business to convert leads.

Promote Card and App Usage

  • Due to ease of use, convenience, security and speed the use of cards and e-wallets has led to an increase in digital applications which are created especially for normalising card payments. Consumers are attracted to downloading applications that provide discount vouchers, coupons, and other freebies.

In conclusion, at JC designs we think it is safe to say that the contactless world is here to stay and with advances in new technologies and securities we believe that there will be new forms of contactless technologies that will improve the way businesses operate in the future. Watch this space……