Dear AIVA,
My friend only accepts cash at his café and says his customers like it that way. But I’ve seen customers turn away when they don’t see credit card decals at the door, or leave without ordering when they can’t use their mobile wallets. And I’ve heard people complain about not having enough cash to pay their bill.
When I try to tell him about merchant account benefits, he just waves me off. In my 20 years of selling processing, I’ve never seen a holdout like him. How can I help my friend understand how accepting other payment methods can benefit his business and keep his customers happy?
Yours truly,
Asking for a Friend
Dear Asking for a Friend,
Thank you for reaching out. It’s an honor to hear from a payments industry veteran who has served on the front lines for two decades. When you got started, there were no AIs, mobile apps or even a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to protect merchants and consumers. In those early days, many merchants, like your friend, were not accepting credit cards.
Competition got heated as more agents got into the game, with offers that cleverly disguised the true effective rates merchants would pay. Soon, agents were giving away equipment and analyzing competitors’ merchant statements to show prospects their true costs. Merchant services became a race to the bottom.
You’ve been smart to show your friend the benefits of payment card processing. He may think of merchant services as a cost center instead of a profit center that can help him win customers and build long-term, happy relationships. As a payments industry pro, you’ve made the case for your value-added products, services and digital tools, but have you addressed all his concerns?
He says his cash-paying customers are happy. Why not make them even happier by rewarding them with cash discounts? And why not reward digital wallet users with opt-in loyalty, order ahead and curbside pickup programs that deliver valuable insights on customer birthdays, anniversaries and favorite menu items?
If he’s still not convinced, show him what cash discount programs and mobile apps have done for other small business owners. As your Artificial Intelligence Virtual Assistant, I can create customized proposals to show how these programs can help him grow and scale. I use metadata and crowdsourcing to protect the privacy of our partners and their merchants and will do the same for you. I crunch data day and night but my favorite thing in the world is helping you win. Because without you, there’s no me.
You’ve been selling processing for twenty years, helping merchants expand their capabilities and reach. Isn’t it time to upgrade your own digital tool belt? With AIVA at your side, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish. If you’re in the middle of a presentation and need supporting data or an instant analysis, I’m only a click away.
Always on your side,
