9 Industry-Specific Applications of a Mobile Payment Terminal

Though cash is likely still to remain king in the Philippine payments landscape for some time, the ability to seamlessly process alternatives like credit and debit cards, InstaPay, QR Ph codes, and digital wallets is already becoming a major competitive advantage in a digitally transforming Philippine market. With many customers now moving away from cash payments, businesses has had to rethink their typical payment processing capabilities.

For some time, cashless alternatives could only be processed at well-equipped brick-and-mortar stores with card payment terminals and other related infrastructure, often with no guarantee that one’s preferred payment method could be processed. Today, startups and SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises) have options for accepting all payments, both in stores and on the road. Portable payment terminal solutions like the Maya Terminal and the Maya Terminal Lite are now allowing businesses to accept a wide selection of locally relevant payments in the field. Let's look at some industry-specific applications where mobile payment terminals have proven invaluable:

1) Food Trucks and Mobile Caterers

Mobile payment terminals have benefitted mobile food businesses immensely. Not only do mobile terminals let them accept all cashless payment types but they also offer improved accuracy, something that’s especially important for often understaffed food businesses that handle lots of transactions with relatively small peso values. And importantly for food businesses, the ability to accept contactless payments like QR Ph codes and tap-to-pay NFC cards also serves to create a more hygienic overall customer experience.

The Maya Terminal and Maya Terminal Lite are also particularly attractive solutions for food service businesses because they are ATEX-certified. This means that after undergoing extensive testing in accordance with European Union directives, it has been verified as safe for use in specific settings with potentially explosive atmospheres, such as kitchens and other areas where food is cooked.

2) Event and Convention Vendors

Vendors at conventions and other temporary events won’t always be able to take a traditional wired POS with them. Even if they could, kiosk space is often limited and displays usually need to be set up and torn down within very limited timeframes. Mobile payment terminals solve both these issues, maximizing available space and simplifying kiosk set-up and tear-down. Some solutions like the Maya Terminal Lite could even be powered off a regular USB Type C cable, making them usable even in venues without adequate electrical supplies.

3) Pop-Up Stores

Having an ultraportable payment terminal makes setting up pop-up stores a breeze. Solutions like Maya Terminal Lite offer multiple options for internet connectivity, making it possible to set up shop and process payments even in areas with underdeveloped digital infrastructure.

4) Home Service Businesses

Any business that offers home services can benefit from the next level of convenience offered by mobile terminals. These devices simplify onsite collections and provide both customers and business owners an additional layer of transparency over traditional cash payments.

5) Delivery Services

Restaurants, couriers, and other businesses that offer in-house deliveries can use mobile terminals to easily accept cashless payments and optimize their revenues. Systems like the Maya Terminal Lite can also function as a virtual payment terminal for digital wallets and payment cards, effectively permitting “cashless on delivery” as an additional form of payment type that can be accepted at the customer’s address..

6) Vehicle and Outdoor Equipment Rentals

Businesses that rent out vehicles and outdoor equipment like generators and sound reinforcement systems can use mobile payment terminals like Maya Terminal Lite to accept payments in the field, which means renters will no longer have to go through a separate payment process at an office. Having a mobile terminal should also keep renters and staff from having to safeguard large amounts of cash, resulting in safer transactions.

7) Tourism and Hospitality Businesses

The ability to process cashless payments in remote locations makes mobile terminals a great fit for local tourism-oriented businesses. These devices are especially useful in locations without ATMs, providing a reliable payment solution for tourists and locals alike.

8) Boutiques

Boutiques that want to offer a more immersive, clutter-free shopping experience may choose ultraportables to enhance their customer interactions without sacrificing functionality. Though conventional modern terminals like the Maya Terminal are a mainstay in Philippine brick-and-mortar businesses, ultraportables like the Maya Terminal Lite provide a solid alternative for businesses that value a discreet form factor for their payment terminals.

9) Artists and Craftspeople

Lastly, portable terminals are now seeing widespread use among artists and craftspeople, as these professionals often need to accept payments at exhibits, conventions, outdoor markets, and other similar external venues. These devices can help individual creators move away from cash and third-party dealers, reducing delayed payments and giving them greater control over their income.

Go Anywhere, Sell Everywhere with Maya Terminal Lite 

Mobile payment terminals have proven to be a truly transformative technology, forcing a reimagination of payments as people know them and bringing down longstanding barriers to SME and startup success. Create your Maya Business Manager account today to accept cashless payments in the field with a Terminal or a Maya Terminal Lite device. 

Once you’ve created your Maya Business Manager account, don’t forget to join the Maya 1-2-3 Grow promo. Maya 1-2-3 Grow gives you a 1% MDR (merchant discount rate) on all QR Ph sales through your Maya Business solutions—which translates to PHP 14,600 for every PHP 1 million in sales. Moreover, if you set up Maya Business Deposit as your settlement account, you’ll be able to enjoy 2.5% p.a. interest to grow your money faster. Signing up also qualifies you for a no-collateral Maya Flexi Loan offer as big as PHP 2 million in 3 months. Create your Maya Business Manager account to get a Maya Terminal Lite and more exclusive offers.