EMV Credit Card Guide: Mobile EMV Solutions for Hotels and Hospitality Brands

If you manage a hospitality business, you likely deal with guests presenting EMV cards on a daily basis. This means you’ve probably have a few questions about EMV like how does EMV work, and what are the best EMV solutions for hospitality?

This guide to EMV credit cards and EMV processors has all the info you need to answer your EMV questions, and get the most out of your mobile EMV solution.

What is EMV

EMV is an abbreviation of Europay, MasterCard, and Visa. It’s used to refer to the global standard of authentication and encryption for transactions conducted via debit, credit, prepaid cards. In other words, EMV is the little chip in the bottom right corner of your credit card used to make payments more secure.

How Does EMV Work

When a customer uses a traditional magnetic stripe swipe card, they only need the card number and expiration date to complete a card-present transaction. Since that information doesn’t change, it’s relatively easy for that valuable data to be compromised, and used to make fraudulent charges.

EMV cards bring increased security to this process by requiring the card to be physically inserted into an EMV chip card reader to validate the card, and create an unique encrypted code for that specific transaction.

The dynamic nature of these single-use codes makes it virtually impossible for data-thieves to steal EMV encrypted credit card information, because said info is only valid for one specific transaction.

What is an EMV Device

It may sound complicated, but EMV processing is really a simple concept. EMV cards feature a small computer chip (microprocessor) that must be inserted into an EMV-enabled terminal (chip card reader) to 1.) authenticate and encrypt the transaction, and then 2.) prove that the card is physically present.

To facilitate this process, owners utilize an EMV-enabled terminal that communicates with an EMV-certified payment gateway and processor. Widespread adoption of EMV chip cards means most POS terminals and devices are now EMV-enabled and mobile EMV solutions have become more popular as consumers assume a contactless mentality.

What is Contactless Payment Technology (Contactless EMV)

Contactless EMV facilitates the same authentication and encryption as standard EMV, but does not require the cardholder to physically touch the EMV card reader. Instead, the cardholder need only wave their card over the EMV card reader.

The transaction processes once the card is removed from the contactless field emanating three to four inches above the EMV terminal. This allows consumers to pay using their chip card without the need to swipe, enter a personal identification number (PIN), and/or sign for a transaction. In addition, these contactless EMV innovations have produced a more sanitary, safe, and secure environment for customers and staff alike.

Best EMV Solutions For Hospitality On A Mobile Device

Thanks to smartphones and tablets, hospitality brands no longer need to rely exclusively on stationary credit card terminals. Now anyone can turn their mobile device into a point of sale system (POS) for on-the-go credit card acceptance

All you need is a credit card reader that pairs with your mobile device or fits into pre-existing headphone jacks. These mobile readers allow businesses to swipe, dip, or tap credit cards (just as they would with countertop terminals) and accept payments on the spot.

With the addition of a wireless credit card terminal you could also accept mobile payments much like a traditional credit card terminal, with a magnetic stripe or chip reader, keypad, and display screen.

The best part is that wireless terminals don’t require a direct hookup to a phone line to accept EMV credit cards. All they need is a Wi-Fi connection. These mobile EMV solutions enable hospitality brands to process transactions anywhere — including off-site events like fundraisers, trade shows, and conferences.

This technology also allows hospitality brands to offer payment flexibility and maintain an environment that fosters customer loyalty. No one does it better than Brink POS on the Touch Dynamic Tablet.

Introducing Brink POS on the Touch Dynamic Tablet

Rugged, scalable, and fully customizable, the Touch Dynamic Tablet combines touchscreen-based POS with card readers and other peripherals to make payment processing faster, less labor-intensive, and less prone to error.

Combined with the Brink POS software, you will have the only point of sale platform loaded with the reliable hardware and services portfolio that your business demands like:

  • Online/Mobile Ordering – Seamlessly manage your digital menu off the same database as your POS and create ambassadors of your brand at the same time.
  • Loyalty Programs – Strengthen relationships with recurring customers and attract new customers with this powerful and flexible loyalty program built into your point of sale.
  • Built-in Kitchen module – Streamline orders, reduce errors, and decrease customer wait times with a highly customizable offering that improves the overall efficiency of your restaurant operations and acts as the communication link between the front and back of house.

If you’re looking to mobilize your point of sale or optimize the mobile solutions you already
have in place, we highly recommend our mobile POS partners. To learn more about mobile point of sale solutions and get specific recommendations for your hospitality or retail environments, contact us at ReSource POS today.