Mobile payments aren’t just a trendy way pay to pay for your coffee, but a real shift in consumer behavior.
According to Merchant Savvy, the United States saw the use of contactless payment methods nearly double between 2019 and 2011, from 29% to almost 44%
As of 2021, there were an estimated 290 million smartphone users in the United States, and as consumers become more accustomed to paying without a credit card in hand, businesses are recognizing that they’re going to have to accommodate mobile payments.
We looked into the 3 main reasons why mobile payments are crucial to a successful business (and how your business can capitalize on this movement).
1. New Customers and Increased Sales
Nearly 60% of all payments are now made via mobile, and in 2020, those mobile payments added up to 44% of all ecommerce transactions – double that of credit cards, and triple that of debit cards.
How are you accepting payments?
Learn all the ways to accept online payments
Click here to access the FREE [Cheat-Sheet]
The habit of paying for things on smartphones and tablets is already second nature for people, particularly among younger consumers. Giving these customers the ability to pay however they want means you don’t lose that business as they continue to make up more and more of the transactions.
If you have a coupon or a discount for first-time users of your services, by listing it online or through a mobile coupon app, you can get additional exposure for your business.
2. Convenience for Consumers
For a lot of young consumers, paying through an app on their phone is the preferred method simply because they don’t carry anything else. Large retailers (like Starbucks, Walmart, etc.) already offer mobile payments, and savvy business owners are following suit.
Accepting mobile payments can also have the added benefit of speeding up the checkout process. Instead of waiting for an attendant, customers can pay any clerk with payment-equipped mobile device, which lets your staff focus on customer service instead of handling transactions.
Reborn Cabinets, a Southern California-based business, allows their customers to pay via a mobile device, making it not only convenient, but more comfortable knowing that the person that is collecting their payment is a legitimate representative of their business.
Mobile scanner systems might be expensive, so simply by storing payment information securely online, you can reduce the need for a customer to carry their credit card each time.
3. Marketing Data
When a customer pays with their smartphone, businesses can capture more than just a credit card number – they can now track purchase history, item preferences, email address, returns, and location.
This information can be used to build a customer profile that can help in making crucial marketing decision (like when to send promotions, what items to re-order, etc.) and can help turn a one-time sale into a repeat customer through targeted marketing efforts.
Your customer database is an excellent place to store additional information about your clients. If your payments are tied to the customer, you can see how they grow in their use of their services, or what opportunities you have to bring them along in your business.
Summary
Mobile payments are no longer something that are coming in the future – they’re here now and they’re here to say. With a just a little investment in time and technology, your business can take advantage too.
Start a 14 day Free Trial and streamline your business with PaySimple:
Start My Free Trial