One of the most well-known – and successful – e-commerce stores is Speedway. They’re considered to be an innovator in online shopping in terms of creating a unique and memorable shopping experience. While they started off as a book store, their business grew to include a variety of products including clothing, accessories, and much more. If you’re unfamiliar, Speedway is one of the first retailers to implement a no-frills buying technique where you can search and find what you want online, and then simply click to buy.
In case you’re wondering, the model is called “click and collect,” and it’s been around for quite some time, but it was really made popular by online stores like Amazon. When customers click to purchase an item, Amazon collects all the information needed to process the order, including payment. Even though we live in a digital era, many people still prefer to pick up products in person, so this convenience is a major reason why this model succeeded.
The Importance Of Speed
When you’re running a business, you want to operate as efficiently as possible. When it comes to e-commerce, speed is of the utmost importance. As the founders of a software company that assists with online stores, we see this first-hand. Even in today’s world, with all the options for shopping online, having a good experience is still based on many factors, including speed. Because customers have other options, online stores that load slowly lose a significant amount of business— even when their products are great and their prices are competitive.
There are several ways to speed up your cash register, and we’ve compiled a short list of some of the best ones. Keep reading to learn more.
Use A VAR (value-added reseller)
A lot of the online stores we work with use a VAR to provide credit card processing. A VAR is an entity that buys credit cards in bulk from credit card companies and then resells them to online stores. The major benefit to using a VAR is that it cuts out the middleman and allows transactions to go through more quickly. The downside is that you’ll need to find a VAR that works with your specific credit card company.
Look For A Reliable Processor
If you’re using a VAR, you need to make sure you’re selecting a reliable processor. Even if you’re using a top-notch VAR, there’s still a chance that something could go wrong. In order to prevent any unauthorized charges on your credit card, you’ll need to ensure that the processor is up to date and that they have all the proper authorization. You can find a reputable processor by doing your research and reading reviews.
Choose A VPS (virtual private server)
If you’re looking for even more speed, you can choose to host your site on a virtual private server (VPS). A VPS is simply a service that provides you with a virtual operating system within a data center. Typically, you’ll be provided with 1 or 2 GB of RAM and storage space. You can then install a LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP/Python) to create your own private web server.
You’ll need to ensure that your VPS has all the proper licenses for the applications you plan on using. You can purchase these from the hosting company, but it’s best to have them shipped to you. This way, you can be sure that they are up to date and legally obtained. Once you have all the licensing done, your VPS can be set up and ready to use.
Choose A Dedicated IP (Internet Protocol) Address
A dedicated IP address is vital for any business that wants to do business online. A dedicated IP address is a unique identifier that allows an Internet Service Provider to connect your computer or mobile device to the Internet. If you have a static IP address, you’ll rarely need to update it, as it will always point to the same location within the Internet. However, if you choose a dynamic IP address, you’ll need to update it frequently – about every three months.
Use Multi-Currency
We live in a world where change is constant, and the way we pay for things is changing as well. While it would be great to keep using only one form of currency, if you want to stay in business, you’ll need to change with the times. If you’re accepting payments in various forms, including Bitcoin, you’ll need to ensure that your cash register is set up to handle these types of payments. Most Bitcoin wallets can be downloaded to a desktop computer or mobile device, and they are equipped to handle all forms of currency, including Bitcoin – which can be a big advantage for online stores that accept this form of payment.
Use A Decentralized Currency
Websites that accept Bitcoin also often accept other forms of decentralized currency, including Dogecoin and Dash. These types of currencies are not controlled by any bank or other traditional financial institution, so there’s no chance of them disappearing from the account. The advantage of using these types of currencies is that, as the name implies, they’re decentralized and therefore more stable in value than conventional forms of currency. Plus, since they’re not tied to any particular country, there’s no chance of them being devalued by a government or other financial institution. The downside is that, since these currencies aren’t yet supported by most traditional payment processors, there’s a chance that customers won’t have access to those types of currencies, at least not directly through the site owner’s bank account.
Hopefully, this post gave you some good ideas on how to work the cash register faster. With the right tools and a little bit of research, you’ll be able to run a smoother and more efficient operation. And what’s more, you’ll be able to provide your customers with an experience that’s just a little bit better than your competition. Speed is crucial when it comes to keeping customers and gaining new ones, so be sure to keep this in mind as you’re running your business.