For the mobile workforce, efficiency is key. Every aspect of fiction must be addressed and managed properly in order to scale operations while optimizing opportunities to provide a positive user experience. One does not have to look far to find industries that have been completely disrupted by leveraging technology, secure payments and unique business models that have harmoniously streamlined the interaction between the vendor and the client.
Looking to add Secure Payments for your business?
Secure payments are at the core of this disruption
We’ve all been there. The messy, confusing and sometimes awkward time when it’s time to pay for goods and services from a service technician, repairman or other soldier from the mobile workforce. Whether we’re waiting for them to log into their mobile phone and launch their payment application, or perhaps the dongle that loosely fits to their mobile device doesn’t seem to work properly, or what about the time that you need to add a tip, yet you’re using your finger while they are standing in front of you, holding their mobile phone. It all seems a bit archaic, not so secure, and definitely time consuming.
The perfect example: Uber
The technology company that continues to disrupt decades of cronyism, lobbying and political favors, leveraged one function that no one had ever considered: Integrated and Secure Payments. Not to discount some of the key differentiators such as: functionality of the app, insight to the drivers, and a labor model that attracted a large number of drivers. The fact that the payment happened in the background, out of sight and out of mind, made the user experience unique and special. Now, when you arrive at your destination, you simply say “thank-you” and leave. It’s a beautiful experience.
Field Service is ready for disruption
Now, let’s apply the Uber model to any vertical within the Mobile workforce. Comprehensive Field Service applications, like SmartField are already streamlining all aspects of managing a mobile workforce, like scheduling, productivity, providing up sell opportunities and effective CRM management, but what about the payment? Is this still being captured using the dated technology?
Consider home service providers such as The Cable “Guy”, IT Technician, Home Health Care Professional, Construction contractor or landscaper. Imagine booking the appointment, and in order to secure the time slot, a nominal deposit was required. At this point, the card data is encrypted, tokenized and stored securely for future use. Once the service call was complete, the technician would simply close the service call, which automatically sends the electronic invoice, and payment is processed, in the background, securely and magically. No more fumbling around with forgotten passwords or clumsy hardware. A simple “Thank-You” and your technician is on to the next appointment.
Is the public ready to this technology?
We’re already comfortable with so many entities holding our card data for future responsibilities, it’s becoming more normal every day. With programs like “Zero Liability” for fraudulent transactions the norm from card issuing banks, the risk of having a card-on-file has virtually been eliminated. Companies like amazon, Uber, Starbucks, rental companies and medical providers have been storing our card data as both a convenience for the consumer and merchant for quite a long time. Perhaps it’s time to give up our card data to the Cable Guy.