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Retailers across the country, and in White Plains, are using mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers to ring-up purchases. For businesses, It’s as simple as downloading an app on their mobile device, attaching a small credit card reader to the headphone port and linking the service to a bank account to transfer funds from the customer’s card to the business’s bank.
To do this, businesses need to choose a mobile payment service, such as Square or Intuit. PayPal entered the market in March 2012 with PayPal Here. These companies charge the business a fee for every swipe of a card.
“It’s quite efficient,” John Ravitz, vice president of the Business Council of Westchester, said. “You’re working with someone to buy the item and then they’re actually checking you out, rather than having to wait online. I’ve seen it work at Apple.”
When you enter the Apple store in The Westchester Mall, the person who helps you find an item can also help you pay for that item using his or her iPhone. Sears recently introduced mobile checkout using a tablet at some stores, including its location in the White Plains Galleria Mall.
“We are living in a hyper-connected world,” a Sears spokesperson told The Daily Voice. “Customers are looking for convenience and they are more networked than ever. They want to get what they want, when they want it and where they want it—on their own terms. As this trend evolves, retailers must not only adapt, but lead and stay ahead of the curve.”
While you won’t find a cash register at an Apple store, Sears maintains its cash registers as it experiments with this new trend, which a spokesperson called a convenient and integrated approach.
“I don’t know if smaller businesses like mom and pops could actually do that,” Ravitz said. “But it will be interesting to see if that Apple model can be drilled down into other areas.”
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