Things you should know when switching to portable card machines from countertop card machines

If you’re an established business with a set premises and have been for years, you’ve likely been taking advantage of countertop card machines to accept credit and debit card payments.

While this may have served you well for a time, if you’ve been considering switching things up to better serve your customers, you may have explored the possibility of onboarding portable card machines.

Countertop card machines offer a fantastic traditional shopping experience - but they don’t come with a lot of advantages and features that modern, convenience-hungry customers expect. So, if you think investing in portable card machines could be the difference-maker your business has been looking for, here are a few things you should know.

The differences between portable card machines and countertop card machines

You’ll have more freedom to accept card payments

If you’ve become accustomed to serving your regulars from a single point of sale, making the move to portable card machines may feel like a shock to the system at first - especially if you’re planning on moving around your premises to serve them.

But portable machines have become a mainstay in countless businesses all over the world, where the ability to move comes in handy. Take restaurants, for example. No longer do customers need to visit the bar once they’ve finished a meal. Instead, they simply wait for their server to bring the card machine to them - making for a more convenient and enjoyable experience.

Shifting from a single point of sale to a point of sale that could literally be anywhere on your premises can be very freeing. Not only will it allow you to serve more customers, but you’ll be able to serve them all quicker by removing the need for them to head over to where you are. With portable machines, you can offer a more in-depth, personalised service and fulfil their needs while potentially raising customer numbers.

Whatever type of business you run, if your customers visit your premises and need to pay for your goods regularly, relieving them of the need to carry everything to a single point of sale - and bringing the payment option directly to them - could completely change the way they view your services for the better.

You'll accept card payments via Wi-Fi

Traditional countertop card machines benefit from strong internet connections to process payments thanks to their fixed-in-place nature. Because they do not need to move, they can be hooked directly up to your business broadband via an ethernet cable.

However, once you’ve made the switch to a portable or mobile card machine, this option is no longer viable. Instead, your card machines will rely on your business Wi-Fi to process payments. But this is, by no means, a disadvantage.

Modern Wi-Fi connections are fast, wide-ranging and reliable, and portable or mobile card machines won’t require ridiculously fast speeds to be able to accept payments - even the most basic of Wi-Fi connections will do. But it’s still wise to have business Wi-Fi in place that can be reached anywhere on your premises, to remove the risk of dead spots.

But even if your business Wi-Fi begins to suffer issues, some card machine options can accept payments without a Wi-Fi connection. The Saturn Android Smart Terminal, for instance, can accept payments utilising a mobile data signal - just like your mobile phone - perfect for when the internet goes down or you find yourself without a sturdy connection.

In short, as long as you have a reliable Wi-Fi signal on your premises, or you opt for a card machine with mobile data capabilities, you’ll be able to take payments virtually anywhere.

You’ll enjoy exceptional battery life

Countertop card machines benefit from a constant power supply by being plugged into the mains.

While portable machines don’t have this luxury, modern battery technology allows them to enjoy exceptional battery life that can easily last a full shift in almost any business setting. You could disconnect the card machine from the charging port in the morning and still have power left by late evening, making them an ideal choice for busy working environments with little downtime.

Plus, when portable machines are not in use, they’re easy to set aside while still being connected to their charging port - offering them some extra power whenever it’s convenient for you.

Explore portable card machine options and easily accept credit and debit cards with Handepay

If portable card machines sound like a step in the right direction for your business, speak with a Handepay expert today. With years of experience in card payments and card machines and a plethora of happy and satisfied customers just like you, we’re the people to talk to for all your card machine requirements.

Whether you want to upgrade your outdated card machines, find out more about digital wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay, or explore contactless payments, we're here for you.

If you've been looking into a new card machine, cost can be a concern. But with no hidden monthly fees and clear, fixed monthly costs, we're always thrilled to help both large and small businesses save money and find the cheapest card payment machine that will best serve their needs.