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Insights and Expertise

StreetSmarts SM

Ready to cash in on self-attended

solutions? Part 1

By Allen Kopelman
Nationwide Payment Systems Inc. Help merchants navigate choices

pple's trademarked slogan, "There's an app Remember the Where's Waldo book, where you'd look
for that," reflects our growing fascination with for Waldo's little face in a sea of people and buildings?
the self-attended world, where buying or sell- Navigating the digital world can feel that way to some of
A ing anything can be solved with the click of a our merchants, especially after the pandemic created new
button. The company trademarked that phrase in 2010 ways for people to buy products and services. Some of
and continues to expand and update the Apple App Store these digital payment methods are finding their way into
with products that drive convenience, speed, and cus- business-to-business transactions. Apps make buying
tomer loyalty. goods and services simple and easy. What's not to like
about convenience?
Now that the self-attended trend is here to stay, I'll explore
how we, as ISOs and merchant level salespeople (MLSs), But sometimes online and mobile services can go too far.
can cash in on it. Regulators have begun to crack down on marketplace
sellers, which are like virtual bazaars for small and
Apps offer a new way for customers to pay for goods and micro-merchants. Some of these marketplaces have been
services and flexible ways to receive them. At a store, a caught selling drugs, guns, ammunition and counterfeit
customer can use an app to scan merchandise and check products, none of which are acceptable to the card brands
out, skipping the checkout line. On virtual and mobile or authorities.
channels, a customer can order and pick up at a store or
at curbside. At a quick-service restaurant, a customer can Sell kiosks
use an app and pick up an order inside, at the drive-thru
lane or at curbside. If you've noticed more kiosks at stores and restaurants
lately, you're not alone. At these times of logistical
challenges and labor shortages, these self-attended
As merchant service providers, we need to help our solutions are a welcome relief to all types of merchants.
merchant customers navigate the sometimes baffling
world of apps. And let's face it, not all small and midsize Even major chains, fast food restaurants and airports are
installing them, and prices are coming down.
businesses can compete with apps, but we can offer
them alternatives. For example, we can help them set We'll probably see more kiosks at small and midsize
up an ecommerce website, so they don't lose business to
customers who prefer to shop ahead or online or across retailers and restaurants, and you may soon get more
requests for this type of service. Don't miss out on this
multiple channels.
new emerging market and opportunity. Shop around and
find a POS vendor that offers good training and support.

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