COVID has changed almost everything. Some industries have been decimated as a result of the pandemic (e.g., hospitality) while others have seen their businesses soar (e.g., Zoom). But most businesses fall somewhere in between. And what’s been evident for these businesses, is that the ones who have survived (and even thrived) have one thing in common: agility. They all acted quickly to the circumstances and adapted their business to the new reality.
There’s one thing COVID hasn’t changed. People still need to buy food and other essentials. They just want to be safe when they do it, which means, among other things, no more cash. Customers now use credit/debit cards almost exclusively, for everything. And when they do, they don’t want to touch anything or get near anybody. Whether you want to be or not, if you run a retail business, you’re now also in the customer health business. Customers no longer frequent a business where they don’t feel safe.
The good news is that the merchant account services industry in general has proven to be nimble in response to COVID. Service providers realized the point-of-sale changed forever and they quickly respond by offering products and services their customers (and their customers’ customers) demanded. In other words, the industry really upped its game.
So, what should you be looking for today in a merchant account provider to make sure they’ve upped their game? A provider that is nimble, creative and has access to the products and services needed to keep you and your customers safe. A provider like AppStar Financial.
AppStar has put in place all the tools and technologies you need to respond to the new reality. Whether it’s creating a safe point-of-sale checkout at your store, or quickly transitioning your store online, AppStar has you covered.
At the point-of-sale, AppStar now offers touchless processing on most terminals with either ApplyPay, Google Pay or near field technology (NFC). They also offer customer-facing Bluetooth card readers and customer-facing PIN pads with extra-long cables up to 15 feet long. That should put your customers at ease.
Have you ever considered taking your business online? It has never been faster and easier to do with AppStar. You don’t have to worry about website design, website hosting, merchant accounts, gateways, fraud screening or inventory management. People who had never even considered shopping online prior to COVID, now do so to stay safe. Isn’t it about time you met them there?
In the age of COVID, it’s the agile who survive. The merchant account services industry and companies like AppStar have responded by being agile and by offering the solutions you need to succeed. Only one question remains: will you be agile and take advantage of it?
