The best payment terminal for the terrace season?

If your terrace is full, you don't want to send guests inside to have them pay. This costs your guests extra time and your seats are occupied longer than necessary. Mobile devices provide a solution. With them you can charge guests directly at the table. There are several options for mobile devices. If your staff are carrying full trays, you don't want them to also have to carry a heavy payment terminal. Back-pocket formats with a digital PIN slip function are then a good option.

2. Ensure a stable range

Another important point is the range of your device. This, of course, depends on the size of your hospitality business if you are using a device with Wi‑Fi connectivity. Fortunately, most payment terminals nowadays come with a 4G connection, through which you can receive payments anywhere. This is also handy if you are at an event or at another off-site location.

3. How long does the battery last?

Mobile devices need to be charged. Here too you have several options that vary with an average battery life of 10 to as much as 50 hours. This depends on how often you use the device. If you want to charge as infrequently as possible, choose the larger variant. If you value the device being as light as possible, go for a smaller option.

4. How many devices do you need? 

From experience we know that entrepreneurs who on average about 150 transactions per day perform that can be done with one device.  If you have a lot of staff, it can be useful to purchase a few extra devices. Are you just starting your business and unsure about the number of devices? Then rent a number of payment terminals in addition to your purchased device first. This lets you test which quantity works well for your business. Also keep in mind changing factors such as the weather, shopping evenings, holidays and other things that lead to more or fewer visitors. 

Temporary extra PIN capacity with Tap to Pay

Another option for temporary use is Tap to Pay (also called SoftPOS). This is an app that you install on a smartphone that lets you receive payments. You can easily use it as a backup device or an additional device. If you need to process many transactions in a short period, this system is less suitable. In addition, you need a smartphone that you can use as a PIN device.  

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