TLS 1.2 Security Updates for pcAmerica’s Cash Register Express/Restaurant Pro Express URGENT UPDATE

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URGENT UPDATE

COCARD has been notified that pcAmerica’s Cash Register Express/Restaurant Pro Express customers must upgrade to version 12.8033 as soon as possible. If your point of sale is not on version 12.8033 or higher, please contact your COCARD representative to avoid any payment processing interruptions.

What is TLS?

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a protocol that provides privacy and data integrity between two communicating applications. It’s the most widely deployed security protocol used today, and is used for Web browsers and other applications that require data to be securely exchanged over a network. Several payment processors, including First Data/TSYS, are phasing out TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 by the end of February 2018 with only TLS 1.2 being supported. All PC America users processing with First Data / TSYS who do not have the updated version of PC America’s Cash Register Express 12.8033 will no longer be able to process credit cards through their point of sale system as of 2/28/2018. To ensure your system is compatible with this change, you must be using the latest version of Cash Register Express.

How will this affect you?

No action needed at this time if your POS

Has PCA version 12.8033 or Higher

Immediate Action Required if

PCA version below 12.8033
No current support contract through PCA
*Failure to act will cause you to no longer be able to process credit cards through your point of sale system. *

To check your version of Cash Register Express follow these steps:

Open Cash Register Express
At the login screen select File ⇒ About
Check your CRE Software and Database Version

PC America Screen Shot
Upgrade Your CRE/RPE Software to Version 12.8033 by calling 1-800-317-1819 Ext. 4360 or email support@cocard.info.

Please use the contact form provided below and one of our support team will give you a call ASAP!

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How Do You Show Your Customers That You Appreciate Them?

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Advice, Blog, Business, business owners, EMV, Industry, Lifestyle, merchant services, mobile payments, New Product, Point of Sale, POS, small business, Tech

Anthropomorphic cartoon EMV card smiling

It’s a new year, and if you’re still going strong as a business, there’s one reason why—and that reason is your customers.

Have you taken a moment to simply say thanks?

There are many ways that you can show your appreciation to the people and businesses who help keep your doors open.

Here are three ways that you can show gratitude to your clients:

Introduce a loyalty program. From e-commerce to restaurants to department stores, loyalty programs inspire brand loyalty by offering perks for those who are a part of the program. So, if you are a restaurant, why not offer a free dessert or discounted meal on a patron’s birthday?
Share a book or an industry-specific memento. Sharing a book offers two benefits. It shows your customers that you are making an effort to grow and build on your industry know-how. Second, your client will be able to learn more about you as a company, and have an interesting reason to start up a conversation next time he or she says hello.
Feature customers on your website. Take the opportunity to tell a story about how your client used your product or service and benefited from it. Having someone say something great about you is much more beneficial than saying something positive about yourself. So, use the resources you already have to drum up positive press, and your customers will be glad to gain free exposure for their work as well.

These are just a few ideas. You might already have some customer appreciation hacks of your own. What others would you add to the list?

Service Industry Boom

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Business, Industry

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Big news for the service industry: 2014 has brought a huge surge in the number of service-related companies. According to a recent article in Bloomberg, service industries—like restaurants and retailers—grew in July at the fastest rate since December 2005! Additionally, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing index increased to 58.7 (readings greater than 50 indicate expansion). The U.K. is experiencing similar trends in its service industry as well, which means your potential customers are ready and willing to spend. Terry Sheehan, an economist at Stone & McCarthy Research Associates is cited in the article as saying, “We’re seeing numbers that we haven’t seen since well before the financial crisis and recession, and they seem to be more sustained.”

Coinciding with this jump are an increase in new orders among service providers (they too are experiencing the highest ISM measure since August 2005) and an uptick in production (manufacturers have the highest ISM level since April 2011). Negative side-effects include an increased unemployment rate from 6.1 percent to 6.2 percent (given the influx of new job seekers into the labor market), a decline in the stock market (investors jumping on the anticipated uptick too soon) and an increase in competition for businesses in the service industry.

Worried about the influx of new competitors? Stay ahead of the curve by employing these business practices.

TLS 1.2 Security Updates for pcAmerica’s Cash Register Express/Restaurant Pro Express **URGENT UPDATE**

** URGENT UPDATE**

What is TLS?

How will this affect you?

How Do You Show Your Customers That You Appreciate Them?

Service Industry Boom

TLS 1.2 Security Updates for pcAmerica’s Cash Register Express/Restaurant Pro Express URGENT UPDATE

URGENT UPDATE