How To Use A Card Reader for Android- A Guide For Users

A card reader is an instrument that reads the data on the magnetic strip found on the back of most bank cards, credit cards, and identification cards. Customers prefer card payments over cash because of the convenience of card payments. According to the Nilson Report, over 1 billion credit card transactions take place every day worldwide. Businesses can boost sales by accepting credit card payments as customers make more impulse purchases with credit card payments.

On swiping the card, the magstripe on the back of the card containing the cardholder's information is transmitted to the merchant. After a series of data exchanges including the customer's bank, the transaction is processed if the funds are available. For chip and PIN transactions, a customer's PIN is required to process the transaction. All this process takes a few seconds and the transaction is completed effortlessly. Mobile credit card readers are different from sd cards or SD card readers. The SD card reader android is a memory card reader that is compatible with android mobile phones.

Moving ahead from the credit card machine, there are various card readers that present-day businesses can select according to their requirements. Mobile or tablet POS or mobile card readers are famous for their portability feature that helps businesses to accept payments on the go. Traditional mobile card readers have a keypad or touchscreen. For others, businesses need to connect to an Android phone or tablet, for example, Samsung Galaxy, for accepting payments.

With a mobile card reader, businesses can accept payments anywhere. This helps to improve sales and increases customer engagement resulting in a more flexible and better customer experience. Mobile card readers benefit the business in various ways.

Some of them are as follows-

• Cost-effective- Mobile card readers cost less than traditional credit card terminals. For mobile pos software, businesses need to pay some processing fee like the monthly fee or per-transaction fee depending on the service provider. The absence of hardware makes the main difference. Businesses can use any Android device like Android phones or card reader Android tablets for processing credit cards.
  

• Easy to use- The easy-to-use card swiping device plugged into Android devices like tablets or smartphones is a refreshing move away from the bulky traditional Point Sale card terminal. By adopting mobile pos, businesses can upgrade themselves to a simple mobile device or tablet with an app to complete transactions.
  

• Better customer engagement- Customer experience plays an important role in retaining customers. A mobile card reader can improve customer experience by offering checkout wherever the customer is located. Therefore with better customer support and by reducing the long checkout wait time, businesses can improve customer retention and loyalty.
  

• Flexibility- Mobile credit card is the best option for businesses to accept payments on the go. The flexibility and freedom to accept card payments on a per transaction basis and not any monthly fee are beneficial for businesses not using the equipment often. The feature of flexibility also benefits customers as well by allowing them multiple payment options.
  

The availability of inexpensive card readers and their easy integration with Android has helped small businesses accept card payments with their Android phones or tablets. To accept credit card payments with an Android phone, businesses must select a reliable card reader service provider.

After signing up for the service, businesses need to buy a card reader and connect it with an android device. By downloading the compatible mobile payment Business Apps on an Android device, businesses can start accepting payments.

To set up a card reader for Android businesses need a mobile POS app and a card reader. The card reader is usually a dongle that is plugged into the phone to activate the app. For receiving any payment, businesses need to enter the purchase amount and swipe the customer's credit card through the reader.

The final step is to get the customer's signature to authorize the payment. An alternative to this is manually keying in credit cards. However, this method incurs high transaction fees. Businesses can email the e-receipt to customers and maintain a copy with them for keeping a record.

The mobile card reader is one best convenient methods for businesses to accept payments from customers. The card readers, when connected to readers' Android phones or tablets are ready to accept card payments.

Here are some tips and tricks for small businesses to remember while selecting the best credit card reader.

1. Fees- Earlier the high credit card fees were a hurdle to businesses wanting to make a shift to accept card payments. While selecting a mobile credit card reader, businesses should check the details of all the charges like transaction fees, monthly fees, processing fees, and more.
   
2. Security- To all information safe, businesses should select a mobile card reader service that offers multiple layers of protection and encryption for all data.
   
3. PCI compliance- Selecting a PCI compliant mobile card reader service ensures that the company follows industry protocols and standards. Companies following these protocols will have certification proving their PCI compliance.
   

Every technology has its own advantages and disadvantages. Similarly here are some pros and cons for mobile credit card readers that businesses must know.

Pros-

• Mobile card readers offer customization features. Businesses can customize and select the pricing structure as per their needs.
  
• Businesses can opt for a flexible fee structure with mobile card readers. Flat rate pricing is beneficial for future business growth.
  
• Mobile card readers are easy to use compared to traditional card terminals.
  
• Accepting card payments and offering these secure payment options increases the credibility of the business.
  
• Payments via mobile card readers are secure as there are encryptions and tokenizations to keep all sensitive information safe.
  
• Businesses can create individual accounts for multiple employees from a centralized system. It increases accountability and helps maintain records of transactions better.
  

Cons-

• Most mobile card readers are platform-specific like Android and iOS. Therefore, businesses should be careful while selecting the right device and compatible app.
  
• Fees associated with mobile card readers are usually less than the traditional system. However, some credit card processing services charge per-transaction fees along with monthly fees increasing the overall cost and making it unviable for businesses.
  

Mobile android card readers have changed the traditional way of accepting payments. It has made the whole process easier for businesses and customers. The mobile credit card readers' Android bring versatility and also help in inventory management. They support discounts and gift cards and allow the creation of employee accounts for easy business management.