Month: April 2016

Further to our previous article Cash is King, we take a closer look at the ATMs and point-of-sales (POS) usage. See the table below (Comparison of ATMs and POS Usage).

In 2010, the value of POS payments exceeded the value of cash withdrawals. However, by the end of 2014 our insatiable appetite for cash-in-hand had led to cash withdrawals surpassing POS payments.

Over the period, the ATM network and cash withdrawals grew by 19% and 49%, respectively. By comparison the POS network and POS payments grew by 44% and 16%, respectively.

Despite the bigger expansion of the POS network it was the ATM network that saw the higher demand.

Why the increasing need for cash? We shall explore that in a subsequent article.

Suffice it to say that in order to grow your business online it is advisable to give customers convenient options to pay with card or cash.

Cash is the preferred payment instrument for retail and personal transactions. Payment cards (credit and debit cards) and electronic payments (over the LINX system) run second. Other payment instruments like cheques are relatively insignificant as a widely used means of payment by the public.

The table below represents the value of point-of-sale (POS) transactions and ATM cash withdrawals from 2010 – 2014.

From the table, we assume that cash withdrawn from the ATMs are for transactional purposes. In other words, ATM cash withdrawals are the main means by which the society obtains cash for transactional purposes.

Surprisingly, the use of cash has grown while the use of electronic transactions as a means of payment has fallen. In 2010, electronic transactions accounted for 51% of the payments value as opposed to 44% in 2014. At the same time, the use of cash rose from 49% of payment value to 56%.

However, the above data represents a micro view of the real business-to-consumer or person-to-person payment picture. The cash withdrawn via ATMs does not represent the total cash used for transactional purposes. For example, cash withdrawn over-the-counter at financial institutions is not included in the above data.

Consequently, the use of cash is higher and the use of payment cards lower than the above data suggests.

There are several ways to receive payments. Payment options range from the traditional cash to modern day electronic payments. In this article we examine payment instruments and the payments systems available to local businesses.

PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS
The main payment instrument is cash. Non-cash payment instruments are debit cards, credit cards, cheques and bank drafts. Despite the high usage of non-cash payment instruments cash still remains the most widely accepted means of payment.

PAYMENT MECHANISMS
A payment mechanism is a financial system that supports the transfer of funds from payers to payees usually via financial institutions. There are paper-based mechanisms to handle checks and drafts, and paperless mechanisms to handle electronic transactions. Electronic funds transfer payment mechanisms are the back bone of ecommerce.

LOCAL PAYMENT MECHANISMS 
Paper Based Mechanisms
Traditional payment systems offered by banks to facilitate payments using cheques and bank drafts.

Electronic Payment Mechanisms
LINX – an electronic network that facilitates point-of-sale transactions using payment cards (debit and credit cards). Transactions are conducted via point-of-sale machines (fixed or mobile) at the merchant. Since a physical payment card must be presented to the merchant to conduct the payment such transactions are referred to as card present transaction.

Automated Clearing House (ACH)
ACH is an electronic transfer system that is commonly used as a payment system. Using ACH payers issue payment instructions electronically via their online bank accounts. ACH then moves the funds from the payer’s account to the payee’s account.

Bill Payment System
A system where a payer makes bill payments via a third party (network of agents) to the biller. Locally, TTEC customers pay their bills through the VIA Bill Payments service.

Money Transfer Services
A system where money is transferred from one place to another. Typically, cash is sent from one person to another. 

Ecommerce Payment Systems
These systems facilitate electronic payments for online transactions. Payments are made using credit cards. Local banks such as First Citizen Banks and Scotiabank offer ecommerce payment systems. A business has to obtain a merchant account to utilize the local ecommerce payment systems.

Foreign ecommerce payment systems include Paypal, Payoneer and 2Checkout. Paypal can be used by local businesses to accept payments online.

Alternative Payment Systems
These systems facilitate payments using a non-credit card alternative. Alternative payment methods include prepaid cards, debit cards, wallets and even cash. Alternative payment systems are increasingly being used for the payment of online transactions.

Paywise is a local alternative payment systems. The service accepts cash payments for online and offline transactions and transfers the payments to the merchants’ bank accounts.