Apr
06
2016
Mar
28
2016
Julie’s Treasures and REVONU POS: Aye, the Perfect Match!
REVONU POS is making a huge impact on the POS community, and to talk about why, we asked Julie Nelson, owner of Julie’s Treasures in Minnesota, a retail consignment store, what she thinks about her new REVONU POS system and COCARD.
COCARD: What made you choose COCARD for your payment processing?
Julie: COCARD was recommended to me by the previous owner.
COCARD: Was the previous owner already using REVONU?
Julie: No, he didn’t have a POS system to run the business. But I definitely wanted to utilize one. The previous owner mentioned that COCARD had POS systems available and I really liked REVONU.
COCARD: So it seems like REVONU has made your business easier to manage! Could you give me some examples as to how REVONU has improved the operation of your business?
Julie: REVONU has made a positive difference! After getting REVONU, it has been easier to keep track of sales as it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of consignors. We also have two different shipping services that are out of the office, so we rely on REVONU to keep those organized. It is very important that we keep track of who we are selling to and who to pay!
COCARD: Would you say REVONU does a good job at catering to a retail business, such as Julie’s Treasures?
Julie: Yes
COCARD: Is it relatively easy for you to keep your inventory organized using REVONU?
Julie: Yes
COCARD: If you could see one feature be added/changed to REVONU what would that be?
Julie: Honestly, I haven’t encountered any issues!
COCARD: What is your favorite aspect of REVONU?
Julie: My favorite aspects are the sales tracking and the back office management options as well has being able to get support for REVONU and my merchant services account in one place with one call!
COCARD: Thank you Julie for taking the time to speak with us today!
Is REVONU POS right for your business? Give us a call to set up a demo, we love to show it off! 800-318-1819
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Mar
22
2016
Pssst! Did You Know That COCARD Has a Live Chat?
Do you have any burning questions? Not feeling like picking up the phone? Would you like some more information about credit card processing, POS systems or have a question about your merchant account with COCARD? Then chat away!
I’m REVONU your POS system pal, and I’m here to tell you about our brand new live chat feature. It’s conveniently located on the bottom right corner of the screen on our website, www.cocard.info.
Look in the right hand corner of your screen right now, click on the blue box and one of our fanatical support members will answer any questions you may have, so don’t hesitate to chat us! Hope to talk to you soon!
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Feb
23
2016
4 Unexpected Uses for QR Codes
A few short years ago, QR (Quick Response) codes seemed poised to reach smartphone levels of popularity. Advertisers, merchants and consumers had various reasons to be excited about this technology’s potential. In perfect application, QR drives traffic to websites, collects or processes simple, quick in-store or online payments or provides product info in a flash.
Despite its potential, QR has mostly faded from commercial limelight—codes are often present, but not visible.
Issues with QR codes as a tool for commerce are obvious. It’s clunky; users must download an app to scan the code, manually scan the code and then wait for whatever is linked to the code to display. Considering the information a QR code will provide is not always—or even often—given, it makes sense that consumers would skip scanning altogether.
QR shouldn’t be written off just yet, but repurposed. Here’s a look at some recent QR projects breathing new life into this tech:
Virtual Reality.
Google Cardboard, aka the working-man’s Oculus Rift, doesn’t just save babies’ lives (seriously!) Once you scan the QR code on the side of the viewer, insert your phone for an immersive, HD experience of locations from Stonehenge and the Palace of Versailles, to the Moon! Developers and virtual reality enthusiasts are constantly updating the app with new locations and experiences.
In this application, the QR code allows you to quickly sync the phone and the app.
In Memoriam
QR is reaching wider audiences as an educational tool. Graveyards, historical sites and museums are just some examples of organizations using QR code technology. Integrating QR codes with headstones provides a unique way to preserve biographical information for future generations. QR codes have been added to some museums, giving patrons more background on an exhibit. Other uses include providing audio tours and translation options.
Lost Pets
Losing a pet can be devastating and phone pole photos only reach a limited radius. QR codes are being used to simplify finding a lost pet. Q-Tag is a GPS-based QR code system where each pet has a customized profile. If they’re lost, a person who finds them can scan their code with their phone to pull up the owner’s contact details.
Saving Lives
In the medical field, every second matters. QR is being used to convey a patient’s important medical history to paramedics, even if they are unconscious. My QR Life Codes creates a personalized QR code applied bracelets or cards.
Up Next: In our ever-evolving technology landscape new ways to interact with our world are constantly emerging. QR codes are being applied in novel ways and NFC (Near Field Communication), aka Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Samsung Pay and Android Pay, is the latest development in payment processing. NFC excels where QR failed: it is truly instant and convenient. Widespread consumer adoption is making slow—but steady!—progress. Most new phones come pre-installed with NFC capabilities and the EMV Compliance Mandate means an increase in EMV cards, likely encouraging the upward trend.
Visit our education center to learn more about EMV and the future of payment processing
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Oct
05
2015
EMV Pocket Glossary
With the liability shift here, we know that you’ve already got a lot on your plate. So we’re going to just take it easy and go over a few terms you may have already seen or will see as you continue to learn about EMV. This list can serve as a simple pocket reference during the transition. Print it out even, and refer to it as needed when reading your next article or blog post about EMV. We want the transition to be worry-free.
EMV: Short for Europay, Mastercard, and Visa, the developers of the card
Chip-enabled card: A credit card enabled with a microchip; also referred to as “chip and pin” or “chip and signature”, depending on the cardholder verification method
Fraud: the criminal use of a person’s credit card information to make unauthorized transactions
With the transition to EMV terminals, the US aims to decrease fraud. The US currently accounts for nearly half of all worldwide fraud. On a positive note, the EU has decreased card fraud by 80% since completing its transition to EMV cards, which means the US transition should be successful.
Liability shift: Starting October 1st the responsibility for fraudulent transactions switched to the party with the least EMV-capable technology
If fraud occurs with a non-EMV bank card, the bank is responsible. If fraud occurs as a result of a merchant’s POS system that can’t accept EMV-cards, the merchant is responsible. Only 20-30% of merchants are expected to use EMV-capable terminals by October 1st, with the remainder throughout the three to five-year transition period. So if you’re not there yet, don’t freak out. COCARD can work with you to determine a POS system that is right for your company’s needs.
Transaction authorization: When a chip card goes through rules set by the card-issuer to determine whether the transaction can be authorized; transactions can be authorized either online or offline
Card authentication: the process of making the card authentic or unique by providing a one-time code for the transaction
If someone does manage to actually steal this code and use it, the transaction would be declined since the code was already used.
Cardholder verification (CVM): how the issuer and merchant verify that the cardholder and the person with the card are one and the same. An EMV-terminal might require a pin, signature, or for low risk transactions, no verification method.
Mag-stripe card: Cards with a magnetic stripe on the back. Much of the world has already switched completely to EMV-cards, and the full-scale transition in the US is currently underway. Cardholder data on mag stripe cards is easy to steal using a simple card reading machine.
Cryptogram: A one-time code created during online authorization; a cryptogram validates that the chip and issuer are not counterfeit
That’s it. We hope that this glossary of terms is short and sweet, and that it provides simple definitions for terms that are often times used when discussing EMV.
And now that October 1st has come and gone we’re sure that your still standing strong. So don’t worry. Instead, continue to read up on EMV and take the information that is most valuable to you as a business owner. If you’ve got any questions, we at COCARD will be happy to assist. Feel free to give us a call at 800-317-1819.
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Sep
23
2015
Sep
21
2015
The EMV Files: A Conversation with Chip and Terminal
Last week we introduced Chip and Terminal, who have a lot to say about EMV, mainly because they are the main components in EMV technology. So we were lucky enough to be able to book a slot on their busy schedule this fall season to interview them and ask them a few questions. Personally, we think they’d be great on Bravo, but they might have competition with a real housewife or two.
COCARD: Hi Chip. Hi Terminal. We’re so glad that we could ask you two a few questions about EMV. Really, we’re honored. Could you just start by telling us a little bit about yourselves?
Chip: Sure, well I’m Chip, and I’m the small chip that’s embedded in credit cards with EMV technology. Banks have already started transitioning to cards including yours truly, and plan on having all cards in the US utilizing EMV technology within five years.
Terminal: I’m Terminal, and all cards containing chips, will be dipped into terminals to be read. I like to say that I give new meaning to dipping the chip. I provide a one-time code to authenticate the card. Because of this, your data is protected, preventing a person from stealing a code that is only good for one transaction.
COCARD: So when did you first realize that you worked so well together, that you were a great team?
Terminal: I’ll take this one Chip. We’ve had a couple of countries really benefit from EMV technology. There’s the UK, which reduced fraud by more than half between 2004 and 2013 upon implementing EMV cards. Then there’s Canada, eh, that started the EMV roll-out in 2003 and reported fraud of $29.5 million (CAD), down 79% from 2009, which was $142 million (CAD). So I would say that it’s taken some time to see the effects, but in the past few years, we’ve really seen the impact that EMV cards have had in reducing fraud for many countries around the world.
COCARD: EMV is new for many business owners. So I’m sure you understand how such a change might make people anxious. What would you say to assuage the fears of business owners everywhere?
Chip: Well, first the sky is not falling. It might seem like it, but it’s not. The proof is that it’s already been successful in other places, and the US is simply one of the few developed nations that has not adopted this technology. EMV, through its authentication process, is really what makes these cards, our cards, more secure. So they are a safe and secure way to pay for things. We think that any business owner can appreciate the feeling of comfort that security brings. The big thing for business owners to remember is that banks have a five year plan and that only 21% of US cards will have the embedded chip by the October 1st liability shift..
COCARD: Anything else you’d like business owners out there to know?
Terminal: We just want you all to stay informed. Keep learning. The more you know, we think the less you’ll feel out of your element with something that can benefit your business.
COCARD: Thanks Chip. Thanks Terminal. You were both great. We appreciate that you were able to take time out of your busy schedules—you two are in high demand—to spend a few minutes with us at COCARD. Have a great day.
Chip: You too.
Terminal: Yeah, thanks COCARD.
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Sep
15
2015
Meet a member of YOUR COCARD support team, Salvador
Salvador was born in San Bernardino, CA and raised in Salt Lake City, UT. He now makes his home in Duluth, GA with his wife, Nelly and daughter Evelyn. Salvador plays soccer, hikes and loves taking pictures (mostly of Evelyn).
He is a great cook and thankfully likes to eat what he cooks!
When I asked Salvador if he could meet anyone in the world who would it be and why he responded: myself, it would be very interesting to see me through someone else’s eyes.
Around the office Salvador is known for his relentless testing abilities, we like to think of this as his super power. If we have new technology or equipment we are beta testing we want Salvador to do the testing so that we can repair, replace or upgrade before our customers ever use the technology or equipment. He really is a super hero!
Call our support team and ask for Salvador, he is ready to support your POS and your merchant account with one call.
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Sep
14
2015
