In the fast-paced world of retail, where convenience and efficiency reign supreme, optimizing in-store queues and payment processes has become paramount. As brick-and-mortar establishments strive to meet the evolving expectations of modern consumers, finding ways to streamline waiting times and enhance the overall shopping experience has become a top priority.
While traditional notions may suggest that long lines signify popularity, today's consumers demand swift transactions and minimal wait times. At least one study has revealed that many shoppers are willing to wait at most 5 minutes before abandoning the checkout line. Recognizing the detrimental effects of lengthy queues on sales, customer satisfaction, and brand reputation, businesses must embrace innovative strategies to make in-store transactions smoother and more efficient. By implementing effective line-busting techniques, retailers can not only retain customers but also stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.
If you’re still not sure how you’ll shorten lines at your store and make in-store payments more efficient, try looking into these popular strategies:
1. Offer Payment QR Codes
Placing a QR code payment standee near your payment area makes it simple for customers to pay with their mobile phones. Even though not every customer will want to pay through QR, having a QR standee near your checkout area reduces the overall time spent on payment processing. This gives your staff more time to properly handle more customers’ needs and helps avoid the perennial issue of not having enough change.
Maya QR makes the implementation of a QR code payment system simple and transparent. When a customer pays through the static QR code displayed on your QR standee or poster, you’ll get real-time payment confirmation via text message. You can also monitor all transactions over the same secure dashboard used for other Maya Business solutions. If you have a Maya Terminal or Maya Terminal Lite device, you can also generate a dynamic QR code on checkout so that customers can pay exact amounts with just a few steps. Take note that Maya QR can accept payments through any QR Ph-enabled banking app or e-wallet. This interoperability is also true even when paying through a dynamic QR code on the Maya Terminal or Terminal Lite.
2. Mobile Checkout
With this setup, your cashier’s station is no longer your store’s only point of sale (POS). Employees with secure mobile POS devices like the Maya Terminal and Maya Terminal Lite can facilitate checkouts for customers anywhere in the store and even right outside of it. Customers can pay with whatever method they want as well, right at the display shelves or when picking up orders by the curbside.
The main advantage of this approach is that it enables a much more fluid and convenient shopping experience. Since sales associates are no longer tied to a specific checkout area, they’re better able to upsell and guide customer decisions, leading to more sales and an improved in-store experience.
3. Self-Checkout
In the Philippines, businesses have been experimenting with self-checkout for some time. While customers do have to undergo a learning curve to some extent, self-checkout is generally well-liked by both businesses and regular patrons. The key, it seems, is to offer customers guidance and to limit the number of items that a customer could check out by themselves.
With this setup, regular customers who only need to pop in for a couple of items can use these as a faster alternative to express lanes while other customers use other checkout options. You can make self-checkouts even more efficient by incorporating Maya QR codes in the process.
4. Self-Pickup
This strategy involves building an online channel from which customers can order items without going to your physical store. They can then book a courier or visit your store themselves to pick up their order.
If you have a website, online payments can be facilitated through a payment gateway like Maya Checkout. If you don’t have an online shop, you can also provide customers with a Maya QR code or use Maya Payment Links to offer a full range of digital payment options over messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Viber, WhatsApp, or Telegram.
Keep Lines Short at Your Store with Maya QR
Maya QR lets you offer your customers fast checkouts that will ultimately elevate everyone’s in-store experience. With Maya QR and other Maya Business solutions, you’ll have everything you need to control queues at your store. Create a Maya Business Manager account today to order your Maya QR kit and your Maya Terminal or Maya Terminal Lite device.
Once you’ve set up a Maya Business account you’ll also be able to access aa Maya Business Deposit account for your settlements. Maya Business Deposit offers an industry-leading 2.5% per annum interest rate, earning your funds PHP 25,000 in interest per year with just a PHP 1 million deposit. Your Maya Business account also unlocks savings on your daily banking with free cash transfers to partners and suppliers via InstaPay and PESONet.
Creating a Maya Business account also qualifies you for a no-collateral Maya Flexi Loan offer of up to PHP 2 million within 3 months. Use your loan to develop better line-busting strategies or build online channels to facilitate self-pickups. Get bigger loan offers by using Maya Business as your primary processor for all wallet and card payments. Sign up for Maya Business to enjoy the benefits of the Maya QR kit and other Maya Business solutions.
