Companies having an ecommerce website and who process online payments cannot afford data breaches and security risks, because they lose money and their reputation. Being PCI certified means adhering to a set of rules and regulations that revolve around sensitive payment information regarding credit and debit cards. Many businesses have moved their activity online and they attract more buyers, but in the same time they can be breached and accessed from multiple locations and devices. It is essential to choose a reliable retail POS solution that assured safety measures.
Why Being PCI Certified Matters?
Customers need to know that their personal information is protected online, especially when they make online payments. Many businesses are prone to data breaches and this means that customers are exposed to identity theft. Becoming PCI certified has many implications and positive aspects and more business owners should consider going through the process. For once, the risk of security breaches is reduced. There are compliance regulations available that monitor all channels used by your customers to engage with your company. Data is kept safe using various methods, such as two factor authentication, access control, and many others.
Businesses don’t only obtain the guidelines and check them off the list, they actually have to take the necessary measures and implement them to protect the customer and the business from external attacks. How about the added peace of mind? When you know your business has gone through all necessary regulations, you can focus more on running the business and not worry so much about the existing risks and when something might take place. In time, your clients will also appreciate the effort you go through and they have peace of mind and choose to buy from you.
What Is Retail POS
Nowadays, more and more people use their credit and debit cards to make payments. They do it in physical shops and online as well. It is more convenient, and transactions are done faster. Every business knows about the retail POS , and many have implemented the system to process sales and payment transactions. Businesses find this system easier to use and more convenient as well, because it also helps track sales, creates receipts, and adds taxes. Using the POS, companies are able to accept multiple credit and debit cards and they have the money in their bank account, not in their establishment.
Companies that decided to open an ecommerce website want to have access to more customers, they don’t need to rely on a physical shop anymore, interaction with clients is done directly on the website, over the phone, chat, or email. The ecommerce platform is very powerful, because it gives valuable information about many other processes, such as inventory, sales data, shipping, customer management, and more. The POS system collects sales data from clients, related to their purchase and the amount they have to pay. It is time businesses start thinking about accepting credit, debit card payments on their website.
However, this is not always an easy process, because so many parts are involved, and business owners need to find a reliable payment processor that offers complete solutions. Becoming PCI certified is also a serious concern, especially if you want to gain your consumers’ trust. You wouldn’t do business with a company if you know that it is very likely to have the credit card information stolen. Not all customers are able to understand the concept, but with so many breaches advertised in the media, they become more aware and informed.
Once you advertise that your business is PCI certified, you will put up a sign that you follow the guidelines and practices, and gain clients’ trust. How you are viewed by your customers is a real concern and it affects your bottom-line and the brand. If people don’t know that their data is safe, they will not do business with you and this is a risk not worth taking. Not to mention that data breaches cost money, because companies need to pay fees and compensations, replace credit cards, and conduct audits and investigations to find out what happened and who is responsible.
Businesses are told exactly what to do in order to become PCI certified and there are set of security requirements. If you follow the guidelines, you will greatly improve security. Of course, if you don’t want to go through the process alone, you can always use the services of professionals and even ask your payment processor for assistance. It gives you peace of mind and a better insight on what you need to go through and what are the implications. Some changes might have to be done, but they are in your best interest. If you process and store payment card data, you need to become PCI compliant.
Why POS Is Important
For physical shops, retail POS is crucial to process credit and debit card payment. However, since many businesses decided to open ecommerce websites, they are also required to accept credit/debit card payments, if they want to attract more buyers and stay ahead of competition. The actual POS system is no longer required, but there are virtual methods to process and collect payments. A payment processor is one of the most important aspects.
Using a retail POS in the ecommerce website is highly beneficial and it helps employees as well. If they handle orders manually and use POS data to input it into the ecommerce platform, they waste so much time and instead, they can focus on the actual business, get in touch with clients, process their orders, prepare them and ship them for fast delivery times.
The good news is that there are payment processors out there with great experience in the field and reputation that can help with retail POS integration on your website. They will guide you through the process and point out what is required to accept credit, debit card payments, how to collect payments and transfer them in your bank account, and more. Opening and managing an ecommerce platform is both challenging and exciting.
