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Help! Which EMV Payment Terminal Should I Use in My Business?

I recently received an email from a merchant with a problem so common that I thought I’d share it with all of you. Many small business merchants are too busy running their businesses to keep up with the latest developments in payment processing hardware and security. That said, they’ve been informed that they will need new hardware or face increased liability in case of fraud.

So if you need a crash course in the different types of EMV terminals and their respective benefits, this post is for you.

Dear Rick,

I’m starting to panic. The liability shift is just 2 months away and we don’t have any EMV-ready terminals at our gym. Not sure how to begin the shopping process. Any insight would be hugely appreciated.

 

Rick Ellis’ Answer on Choosing an EMV-Compliant Terminal That’s Right for Your Business

Thanks for your question and not to worry!

Since the change to chip-enabled technology affects literally every U.S. merchant, terminal manufacturers have been hard at work developing an array of high-quality, secure, EMV- compliant terminals for you to choose from. What’s particularly exciting is that many of the new terminals have built-in revenue-producing functionality, such as couponing and targeted up-selling opportunities.

 

Figuring out which terminal is right for your business is really a matter of determining:

How much are you willing to spend?

  • How large do you want the terminal to be? In other words, how much space do you want the terminal to take up on your counter?
  • Do you want to keep the terminal at your counter or go mobile?
  • What do you want the terminal to do? Do you want a standard terminal or one that gives you opportunities to up-sell, cross-sell, promote your brand?

We at Constellation Payments have chosen to deploy a variety of terminals made by Ingenico, a global leader in payment solutions. I’ll review each of the terminals in our offering, their feature sets and the most common use case scenarios.

All of the terminals in our set are fully EMV-compliant and accept all electronic payment methods including EMV chip & PIN, magstripe and NFC/contactless payments.

Many of our clients and partners deploy a combination of several of these units to address the different payment scenarios unique to their industry. Some position large multimedia units at check-in counters, while using smaller handheld devices for drive-through or quick-service customers.

 

iCT 220/250

  • Fully EMV-Compliant
  • Budget Friendly
  • Small Footprint

The iCT 220 and iCT 250 are the smallest devices, making them the perfect solution for merchants who need a budget-conscious EMV-compliant solution with a small device footprint.

The iCT 220 has a monochrome display. The iCT 250 has a color display. These units accept all electronic payment methods including EMV chip & PIN, magstripe and NFC/contactless payments.

To review the full list of specs for the iCT 220, CLICK HERE. To review the full list of specs for the iCT 250, CLICK HERE.

 

iSC 250/480

  • Fully EMV-Compliant
  • Fast, Easy, Interactive
  • Can be Customized for Loyalty Programs and Marketing Messaging

The iSC 250 and 480 are super-fast and feature-rich, making them perfect for
high-volume multi-lane retail stores, as well as merchants looking to take advantage of advances in multimedia technology.

These units can be customized to allow customers to easily access loyalty program information, see marketing messages and capture customer signatures from a large color touch screen.

Only slightly larger than the iCT 220 and 250, the iSC series accepts all electronic payment methods including EMV chip & PIN, magstripe and NFC/contactless payments.

To review the full list of specs for the iSC 250, CLICK HERE. To review the full list of specs for the iSC 480, CLICK HERE.

 

iPP350

  • Fully EMV-Compliant
  • Maximum Speed
  • Maximum Security
  • Minimum Countertop Space

The iPP350 is the perfect PIN pad solution for merchants who need fast, secure transactions, but cannot afford to give up too much counter space. The iPP350 features an ergonomic design, backlit keypad and a sharp LCD display.

The privacy screen allows customers to enter their PIN IDs without fear that they are exposing their personal information to those around them.

This compact unit fits nicely into almost any retail application, and can be connected to your POS system with powered serial, USB or Ethernet.

To review the full list of specs for the iPP350, CLICK HERE.

 

iWL 252

  • Fully EMV-Compliant
  • Reliable Wireless Connection
  • Long Battery Life
  • Integrated Receipt Printer

The iWL 252 is perfect for merchants who need to be ready to accept a full spectrum of payment types without being tethered to a sales counter. The pocket-sized iWL 252 features all the freedom of Bluetooth connectivity while remaining secure, reliable and PCI-compliant.

The iWL 252 has a long battery life, so merchants can accept all electronic payment methods including EMV chip & PIN, magstripe and NFC/contactless payments wirelessly via Bluetooth without the worry of recharging too often. The integrated thermal printer is super-fast, so you can quickly service your customers and avoid having them wait too long.

To review the full list of specs for the iWL 252, CLICK HERE.

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Now you should know that if you’re using a Constellation Payments partner software, you’re in good hands.

Our current partners include:
97Display, 123Signup, Campsite, Clubsystems Group, Cogsdale, Common CENTS Solutions, eFit Financial, EWS, EZ Facility, Harris, Jonas Fitness, Member Solutions, Monarq, myVolo, Optima, RainMaker, SDA software, Shortcuts, Snap Fitness 24-7.

What does this mean for you? If you use a Constellation Payments partner software, you’ll benefit from a smooth integration and certification process. Constellation Payments is certifying these terminals, transaction and functionality with key processors and we continue to invest in our multi-site PCI Level One Service Provider infrastructure to give you airtight, industry-leading data security.

Your representative will be contacting you soon to cover your terminal options through Constellation Payments.

If you need EMV terminals, but are not using software from one of our partners, you can email me directly at rellis@csipay.com and we’ll take great care of you.

If you have questions about EMV, integrated terminals, or our terminal initiative, feel free to give me a call at 267.287.1035 or send me an email at rellis@csipay.com. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

Rick Ellis is a Business Development Executive with over 20 years of experience running a successful membership-based company built around a lucrative recurring revenue business model. As an Executive for Constellation Payments, a fully integrated and proprietary payment gateway and merchant service provider, as well as for Member Solutions, a leading provider of full-service billing for enterprise businesses, Rick enjoys working through complex business models, and leveraging proven payment processing strategies for maximum effect.

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