How To Accept Apple Pay: 4-Step Guide for Small Business Grocery
As a small grocery store owner, adopting Apple Pay isn't just about staying current; it's about staying on pace with the future of retail.
Apple Pay is accepted by more than 85 percent of retailers in the U.S. While this percentage includes far more than grocery stores, it highlights an important point: Consumers expect touchless payment wherever they shop. And your grocery store is no different.
In this article, we’ll walk through the four steps to accept Apple Pay in your grocery store checkout, and provide some tips for maximizing your efficiency and profits as you do it.
How To Accept Apple Pay in 4 Steps
Before we explore how to accept Apple Pay, let’s establish some foundational information: What is Apple Pay?
Apple Pay is a mobile payment system that allows customers to make purchases using supported Apple devices like iPhones, Apple Watches, and iPads. This payment solution relies on near field communication (NFC) technology to transmit payment information when two enabled devices are placed in close proximity.
Related Read: The Importance of Mobile Pay and Contactless Payments
Security is critical to Apple Pay’s processes. When a customer adds their credit or debit card to Apple Pay, the card numbers are not stored on the device. Instead, a unique device account number is created and encrypted for security. At checkout, the customer simply holds their iPhone or Apple Watch near the payment terminal to connect via NFC and authenticate using Touch ID, Face ID, or passcode. This transmits the encrypted token to process the payment — no actual credit card number passes hands.
Apple Pay provides multiple benefits over traditional payment methods:
- Enhanced Security: The tokenization discussed above reduces the risk of fraud. Additionally, most Apple devices are accessible through biometric authentication, increasing POS security.
- Convenience: Tapping a device is faster than swiping or inserting a card, and far faster than handling cash.
- Cleanliness: Completely contactless payment prevents germ transmission from touching keypads and pens.
- Speed: Transactions process in seconds without having to dig out your wallet.
With acceptance at over 85 percent of U.S. retailers (a number that is growing daily), Apple Pay's contactless convenience is transforming the checkout experience. Customers appreciate the simplicity, retailers benefit from quicker transactions, and sensitive financial data stays better protected.
Let’s now explore the steps to accepting Apple Pay at your store.
Step #1: Purchase an NFC-Enabled Reader
The first step toward accepting Apple Pay is purchasing a compatible NFC-enabled payment terminal. As mentioned above, NFC stands for near field communication. These devices allow contactless transactions through tapping a mobile device or card on the reader.
When researching terminals, ensure the model you select specifically supports NFC payments, traditional card swiping, and chip inserts. Though mobile wallets like Apple Pay are growing in popularity, you'll still need to accept magnetic stripe cards and EMV chip cards for years to come. Choose a high-quality terminal that can handle all forms of payment. Market-leading platforms like Markt POS offer Apple Pay-ready terminals right out of the box.
Step #2: Set Up Your Apple Pay Account
Once you have an NFC-enabled terminal, you need to create an Apple Pay merchant account. First, visit the Apple Developer website and create an account if you don't already have one. Then, within your Apple Pay settings, navigate to the "Merchant Account" section and set up a new merchant account for your business.
Apple will prompt you to provide information like your business name, industry, contact details, and banking information. You'll need to link this new account to your payment terminal and merchant services account.
Next, submit all required documentation for Apple to authenticate your account, including business licenses, tax ID numbers, and proof of address. This provides legitimacy and security around your business accepting Apple Pay transactions. Apple will review your application and documents, which typically takes a few days. Once approved, your Apple Pay account will be ready for activation.
Step #3: Set Up Your Payment Terminal
With your Apple Pay merchant account created, it's time to integrate it with your payment terminal. The setup process varies depending on your terminal provider. Advanced POS terminals will arrive ready for quick configuration, while others require more involved installation and support from a technician. Follow your provider's specific instructions to connect your Apple Pay credentials into the device.
You may need to install Apple Pay software packs or adjust the terminal settings. Run a test transaction to verify it’s set up correctly before going live. You can conduct a test by tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch to the payment terminal and confirming it processes as Apple Pay. This end-to-end test is an important step to avoiding customer frustration.
Step #4: Manage Your Apple Pay Processes
With your back office and terminals fully configured, you can start accepting Apple Pay transactions from customers. Prominently display Apple Pay decals on your registers and store entry points so customers know it's an accepted form of payment. You can even incentivize usage by offering loyalty program bonuses or exclusive deals for Apple Pay users, since contactless checkout provides faster speed.
For the back end, use a grocery point of sale (POS) system that tightly integrates mobile payments like Apple Pay for seamless acceptance and reconciliation. With the proper tools and processes in place, the convenience of Apple Pay will be a benefit for both customers and your grocery business.
Troubleshooting Common Issues With Using Apple Pay
Customers may experience occasional technical issues when using Apple Pay in your store. Though some challenges may require you or the customer to contact Apple Support, we’re including some quick troubleshooting tips for common challenges here:
- Credit or debit card not appearing in Wallet
- Ask your customer to verify the card is an eligible Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover card and that the issuer supports Apple Pay.
- Ensure the card is properly added to the Wallet app and activated for Apple Pay.
- Have your customer contact the card issuer to confirm the card is enrolled and compatible. The bank can assist with their troubleshooting.
- Transaction declined
- Ask your customer to confirm the card has not expired and has available credit or funds.
- Have your customer contact the card issuer to check if they blocked the transaction due to suspected fraud.
- Try a different card registered in Apple Pay to see if it goes through.
- Touch ID or Face ID not working
- Check that fingerprints or facial recognition data are properly set up in device settings.
- Have your customer input the device passcode when prompted to bypass biometric authentication.
- Ask your customer to restart their phone and retry Touch ID/Face ID to reset the system.
- As a last resort, remove and re-add the cards to Apple Pay.
With some troubleshooting help, you can usually get customers' Apple Pay working smoothly again!
How To Accept Apple Pay: Running Your Checkout Processes
Accepting Apple Pay can greatly improve checkout convenience and satisfy customer demand for contactless payments. Following the steps in this guide can help you get set up with Apple Pay, so you can enjoy the benefits of offering this option.
By accepting Apple Pay, you can speed up transaction times, reduce cash handling, and enable customers to check out without touching screens or keypads. It's a win for your business operations and your customer experience.
To run Apple Pay and other modern payment types seamlessly, it's crucial to have a robust point of sale system in place. Markt POS provides grocery retailers with a feature-rich POS solution, integrating mobile wallet acceptance, powerful inventory tracking, self-checkout kiosks, customer loyalty programs, and more.
If you want to accept Apple Pay and optimize your checkout processes, schedule a free demo of Markt POS today.
