Tag Archives: Black Friday

In-Store Beacons | Abtek

Bring on the In-Store Beacons

Wondering what all the buzz surrounding in-store beacons is about? Here, we’re tackling the most frequently asked questions that both shoppers and merchants have about this new technology.

What are beacons?

Beacons are Bluetooth-enabled devices that, when placed in stores, communicate with shoppers’ smartphones with the goal of improving shopping experience by sending relevant real-time ads, coupons and more.

A beacon can scan a person’s phone for information about their shopping habits, preferences, history on the store’s website and more. Stores are using this data to send targeted information that users may find useful while shopping.

How is Bluetooth different from NFC?

It’s important to note that the Bluetooth technology used in beacons is different from Near Field Communication (NFC), a hot technology that’s used for making “tap-to-pay” transactions via smartphone. Here’s a look at he major differences between the two data transfer methods:

Bluetooth NFC
Longer range – up to 30ft Shorter range – approximately 4cm
Requires more power Typically consumes little power
Requires users to manually connect Automatically connects in seconds
Works best with minimal interference from other devices Short range makes it ideal for use in more crowded areas

 How do beacons affect shopper behavior?

Let’s say a shopper is walking down the toy aisle looking for Christmas gifts for her son. If her phone is connected to the store’s beacon(s) via Bluetooth, the technology may be able to collect information that she has an eight-year-old son. The beacon will recognize where the shopper is in the store, then respond to the collected data in real-time, sending the customer an advertisement and coupon for Legos, for example. In theory, this personalized, efficient delivery of information will entice the shopper to take advantage of the offer and purchase Legos.

What does this technology mean for merchants?

Beacons will affect stores in two major ways. First, they will improve merchants’ abilities to gather insightful data about their customers’ shopping habits, which will in turn allow stores to tailor their shopping experience to shopper preferences. Second, it will maximize communication between the store and the customer, making the shopping experience more interactive and customized. Think of it like having a showroom sales person in the back pocket of every customer.

How can you use technology to improve the shopping experience?

While beacons are a hot topic, they’re still far from being fully integrated into stores. In the meantime, there are a number of ways that you can use technology to improve the shopping experience for your customers:

  • Upgrade your POS System – If your current POS system doesn’t accept EMV® cards, you could be on the hook for paying for any fraudulent transactions. Plus, many the latest systems include NFC technology, which allows for contactless payments via credit cards and phones.
  • Implement a Mobile Loyalty Program – Consumers are all about mobile these days. Give the people what they want by digitizing your paper-based loyalty program.

To stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in the payment-processing world, follow Abtek on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn.

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Preventing In-Store Credit Card Fraud this Holiday

With holiday sales projected to increase by 3.7 percent this year, merchants are looking forward to ending 2015 with a bang. But, with the slow adoption of EMV®,  it’s quite possible that the criminals, thieves and frauds could put a damper on your holiday cheer (and profits). The good news is that you can help prevent fraud by taking these key steps:

Look for Abnormal Behavior

Preventing Holiday Fraud | AbtekOf course, there are the obvious tells that someone is doing something they shouldn’t be—they’re in a rush, they won’t make eye contact with you, they seem jittery, etc. But also know that every industry has its own type of clientele with unique buying habits. For example, in the jewelry industry, it’s quite common for customers to negotiate prices. If a customer comes in and has no problem forking over the actual ticket price for a high-priced item, it could be a red flag for fraud. Identify some key behaviors of your typical customers, and use these as a benchmark for identifying fraud moving forward.

Keep Good Records

Keep Receipts | AbtekLet’s say a customer comes in and claims that you charged them for an item they didn’t buy. This scenario could play out in a few ways:

  1. The customer made the purchase, but is running a scam
  2. The cashier made a mistake and rang up an incorrect or duplicate item
  3. The purchase was made with the customer’s stolen credit card (or a fake card with the stolen number)

While it’s important to handle this situation delicately, in case the mistake is on your end, it’s critical to verify the customer’s claims before making a refund. The proof is in the paperwork. This is where organized receipt archives come in handy. Pull up any receipts that are tied to the customer’s credit card. Verify that charge did take place, then take a look at the signature field and compare it with the signature on the customer’s ID. Signed documentation (i.e. receipts) can help you win a dispute against a customer who is trying to take advantage of the chargeback system. If you’re looking at a potential mistake on your end, but the customer signed off on the transaction, it’s up to your discretion whether or not you make the refund. If it turns out that the purchase was made with a stolen card, the liability will fall on the card-issuing bank (as long as all EMV requirements have been met).

Train Your Staff

Fraud Prevention Training | AbtekWe can’t stress enough how important it is that you train your staff on proper processes for handling credit card transactions. Now’s the time—before the holiday sales rush hits full speed—to hold a workshop for your employees on maximizing security and preventing fraud. Not sure where to start? The Abtek Team is here to help. Give us a call today at (800) 544-9145 to discover how we can help you prevent in-store credit card fraud this holiday season.

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Prepare for Holiday Shopping | Abtek

Preparing for the Holiday Shopping Season

The holiday shopping season is quickly approaching, and you know what they say—“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” As data indicates, this year should be the most profitable yet, with 82% of merchants expecting their holiday sales to increase from the previous year. Make sure that you’re prepared for the boost in customer traffic (and sales) with these four tips.

1. Adopt EMV Now

EMV for the Holidays | AbtekIf you haven’t upgraded your POS equipment to for the new EMV chip cards, it’s time to do so. Accepting EMV technology at your store is critical for ensuring the security of your customers’ payment data. Plus, if a fraudulent charge occurs at your establishment, and the victim had a chip-enabled card, you bear the responsibility of paying for the loss. To minimize potential liability, you’ll want to get this installed quickly, before the holiday rush is in full swing. You will need time to properly train your staff on how to use the new system.

2. Ramp Up Hiring Efforts to Ensure an Enjoyable Shopping Experience

Hire for Holiday Shopping Season | AbtekLines will be longer than usual, aisles will be more crowded, and as always, customers will be in a hurry. Take measures now to ensure that your customers’ shopping experience will be enjoyable, no matter how busy your store gets. Ramp up your hiring efforts so that you can operate smoothly at full capacity. Consider bringing on specialized employees to assist with decorating the store, gift-wrapping, de-icing any slippery conditions outside and other seasonal needs.

3. Make Sure You’re Working with a Payment Processer You Trust

Between the increased customer traffic, extra-large seasonal inventory, and recent changes in payment processing (EMV), things might get a little messy this holiday. When you’re hit with a chargeback, whether “friendly” or not, you’re going to want to be sure that you have a payment processor in place that will fight for you and be available to answer your questions 24/7.

4. Don’t Forget About Gift Cards!

Offer Gift Cards this Holiday | AbtekGift cards continue to be the most asked-for gift item, making the wish list for 62% of shoppers, according to reports from NRF. The average person buying gift cards will spend $172.74. Are you taking advantage of this huge sales opportunity? If you’re still offering paper gift cards, it’s time for an upgrade. Talk to your payment processor about putting a stored value card program in place at your store.

Black Friday will be here before you know it, and if you haven’t begun to prepare, you may already be falling behind the competition. For more tips and tricks on how to prepare for the holiday shopping season, follow Abtek on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn! Or, to learn more about your payment processing options, give us a call at (800) 544-9145.

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How Holiday Shopping Has Changed in 2014

For many retailers, Black Friday sparks the beginning of their busiest period of business: Holiday shopping. Especially this year–when Black Friday sales were already underway as early as November 1. It’s just the tip of the iceberg. Forbes reports that post-recession savvy shoppers have changed the rules of the holiday shopping game. So how can you make the most of this potentially very lucrative time of year?

Know your window of opportunity. Did you know that you get ABTK-small-blog-image-NOV-1almost a month–28 days, to be exact–to make the most of your holiday shoppers?

• Mobile payments are the key. Most of your shoppers might use cash or plastic, but one way to help speed up long check-out lines? Mobile payments.* ABTK-small-blog-image-NOV-2

Reward savvy shoppers. Price-matching will remain a key element of staying competitive with shoppers.

Each shopper matters. Black Friday shoppers will spend, on average, $399/person.

• Apple Payers and Google Walleters will spend more. In fact, they may spend up to 17% more than customers not utilizing mobile wallets.

•  Protect yourself. With such heightened sales activity during theABTK-small-blog-image-NOV-3 holidays, the risk of data breaches is especially high. Do you have an action response plan in place?

*Need some help with this? Click here.

 

 


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Vote Now: Will Rejecting Apple Pay Cost Major Retailers This Black Friday?

Black Friday is a magical time of year when enterprising bargain hunters duck out of their Thanksgiving dinners early and line up at major retailers to score deep discounts on typically big-ticket items.

You could argue that accepting ApplePay could only speed up sluggish check-out lanes. Which is why with many major retailers–at least those which are part of the MCX–rejecting ApplePay this holiday season could cost them. And we want to hear from you.

Do you think rejecting Apple Pay will cost retailers like Wal-Mart this Black Friday?


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