--- title: "Smart Terminal: 7 Traits to Look for | PayJunction" description: There’s more to a Smart Terminal than EMV acceptance. Look for these seven traits when upgrading your POS machine. image: https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/smart-terminal-traits.svg --- [tel:1-800-601-0230](tel:1-800-601-0230) 800-601-0230 - Features - Solutions - Developers - [Pricing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/pricing.html) - Resources [See a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/tour-payjunction) Features - EXPLORE PRODUCTS [No-code Payments Integration®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/no-code-payments-integration.html) [ZeroTouch Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-terminal.html) [Portable Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/portable-credit-card-reader-terminal.html) - ACCEPT PAYMENTS [Invoices](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/electronic-invoices.html) [ACH Electronic Checks](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ach-payments.html) [SmartSurcharge®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-surcharge.html) [Cards on File](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/store-credit-card-info.html) [Rapid Refunds](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/credit-card-refund.html) [Recurring Billing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/recurring-payments.html) [Ecommerce](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ecommerce-merchant-services.html) [Mobile App](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/payjunction/id1324839420?ls=1&mt=8) - EXPLORE CAPABILITIES [Overview](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-processing-solutions.html) [Integration Marketplace](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Remote Signature](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/signature-capture.html) [Multi-Location](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/enterprise-payments.html) [Sales Reports](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/sales-reports.html) [Search and Export](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/transaction-history-search.html) [Customization](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/custom-payment-software.html) Solutions - [Veterinary Streamline payment workflows and get paid faster with up-front deposits and payment schedules for high-cost procedures. 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With the major selling point being EMV acceptance, many providers benefit as businesses continue to upgrade their [merchant credit card processing](https://blog.payjunction.com/merchant-credit-card-processing/) equipment. However, a truly “smart” terminal goes above and beyond just accepting EMV. Here are seven attributes that make a [Smart Terminal](https://blog.payjunction.com/tag/smart-terminal/), well, smart. ## Payment Processing Demo Schedule 15 minutes with a payments expert Get a customized PayJunction product walk-through Understand requirements and pricing Determine your SAVINGS! GET DEMO NOW ## Recognition A Smart Terminal should not only accept EMV but should also recognize when a chip card is swiped. The smartest terminals have the ability to read magstripe data, which indicates whether the card supports EMV. When present, the [credit card terminal](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-terminal-guide/) will then reject the swipe and prompt the customer to dip or insert the card instead. This benefits your business in a few ways. Cashiers will no longer have to micromanage every transaction and instruct customers with an [EMV chip card](https://blog.payjunction.com/emv-chip-readers) to insert it, which reduces your business’s instances of [EMV fallback](https://blog.payjunction.com/emv-fallback-risk/). On top of that, it protects your business from [bank-initiated chargebacks](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-chargeback-banks/). ## Communication A standard POS machine cannot communicate with other software or devices, limiting your reporting capabilities by making you rely on paper printouts (more on that later). Ideally, Smart Terminals communicate with a corresponding [Virtual Terminal](https://blog.payjunction.com/virtual-terminal-credit-card-processing) to log all transaction history. What does that mean for you? Customers’ information is securely captured and stored along with every transaction detail for future reference.  ## Acceptance Smart equipment should accept all payment types, including magstripe cards, EMV chip cards and [NFC mobile payments](https://blog.payjunction.com/mobile-payments-adoption/). According to NFCWorld, [Strategy Analytics](https://www.strategyanalytics.com/) projected that NFC transactions will grow to [$160 billion](https://www.nfcworld.com/2016/03/10/343180/more-than-100m-people-will-make-an-nfc-mobile-payment-in-2016/) in 2020. As payment technology and consumer habits continue to advance and center around mobile devices, NFC payments will increase in popularity. Failing to use a terminal that accepts mobile payments will likely set your business back in the long run. ## Signature Capture It’s typical for a standard POS machine (and even some Smart Terminals) to require paper to collect signatures. Top-of-the-line Smart Terminals [capture signatures electronically](https://blog.payjunction.com/signature-capture/) directly on the device. This allows businesses to avoid using receipt paper that is prone to fading and is easily damaged. Additionally, they can save money and time spent storing paper receipts. ## Reporting Ideally, Smart Terminals communicate with Virtual Terminals to produce [batch reports](https://blog.payjunction.com/video-batches-bank-reconciliation/) that are stored online as opposed to being printed on long paper receipts that have to be organized and stored away. Because the Virtual Terminal captures all transaction information, including the date and department the transaction is associated with, you can produce custom, [online reports](https://blog.payjunction.com/business-reporting-upgrade/) across different time periods and locations. ## Email Receipts Advanced terminals should be able to collect customers’ email addresses and allow them to choose how and whether they’d like a copy of their receipt. This gives customers power at checkout while simultaneously growing your email list for marketing purposes. If a customer wants a paper receipt, you can still print one. An ideal Smart Terminal will still retain an electronic copy for your records. If a customer loses the paper receipt for a past transaction, you can email her a new copy with a single click. ## Sharing Capabilities Despite their advanced technology, the majority of Smart Terminals on the market require one-to-one connection to a computer. Some, however, can be shared across multiple computers. Larger businesses benefit by cutting back on the number of POS machines needed to accommodate multiple checkout points. For smaller businesses with just one or two registers, this eliminates bottleneck at checkout at busier sale times. ## Want a Smart Terminal that can do all this and more? So easy to use! Love the security and features like easy address search, re-charge, customer name search, and reports! Great format and design and so easy to navigate! Aayer May 1, 2018 ![](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/CLIENTS%20LOGOS/trustpilot-logo.png) PayJunction has made our credit card processing and deposits easier than ever! Cyndi L. January 17, 2018 ![](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/CLIENTS%20LOGOS/capterra-logo.png) PayJunction is a great asset to our office! Easy to use and amazing customer service! We have not been disappointed! Mrs. Office Mgr May 2, 2018 ![](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/CLIENTS%20LOGOS/trustpilot-logo.png) A hidden gem! PayJunction may not be the biggest payment processor, but they have some amazing features and an excellent support team. Jason H. July 19, 2018 ![](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/CLIENTS%20LOGOS/g2crowd-logo.png) I love, love, love using PayJunction they truly are 5 star across the board. Anna H. February 26, 2018 ![](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/CLIENTS%20LOGOS/capterra-logo.png) I have used your services since your company just started and I am happy with everything. Thank you for making my job easy. Your technical department is always available to assist, if ever needed. Faith May 1, 2018 ![](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/CLIENTS%20LOGOS/trustpilot-logo.png) *Editor's Note: This post was originally published in August 2017 and has been updated for comprehensiveness and accuracy.* Have you upgraded your POS machine yet? Does it have all the attributes listed above? Tell us below! [EMV](https://blog.payjunction.com/topic/emv) [Smart Terminal](https://blog.payjunction.com/topic/smart-terminal) [NFC](https://blog.payjunction.com/topic/nfc) --- ##### [![What Is Credit Card Interchange?](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/interchange-definition.svg) What Is Credit Card Interchange?](https://blog.payjunction.com/interchange-definition) ##### [![PayJunction's Journey to Launching a New Website](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/payjunction-new-website.svg) PayJunction's Journey to Launching a New Website](https://blog.payjunction.com/payjunction-new-website) ###### About Author ![Picture of Ursula Librizzi](https://blog.payjunction.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ursula_Librizzi.jpg?width=200&height=200&name=Ursula_Librizzi.jpg) ### Ursula Librizzi Ursula is the sales and marketing operations manager for PayJunction. She oversees daily marketing tasks and liaises between the sales and marketing departments. ###### Related Posts ## [![Credit Card Readers: 6 Things to Avoid](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/credit-card-readers.svg) Credit Card Readers: 6 Things to Avoid If there’s one thing to take away from this post, it’s that all credit card reader are not made equally. Despite looking similar, they vary greatly in features, business benefits and cost.](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-readers) ## [![POS Credit Card Terminal: The Advanced Shopping Guide](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/credit-card-terminal-guide.svg) POS Credit Card Terminal: The Advanced Shopping Guide Investing in a POS credit card terminal carries obvious benefits. A combined 75 percent of consumers prefer to shop with a credit or debit card, so accepting credit cards opens your business up to a wider market than businesses that only accept cash. Some modern credit card terminals can also process alternative forms of payment, such as mobile payments. One downside is that researching credit card processing terminals can be daunting. What do you really need to know about EMV, NFC and PCI DSS?](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-terminal-guide) ## [![Credit Card Chip Reader Advantages (and Disadvantages)](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/credit-card-chip-reader.svg) Credit Card Chip Reader Advantages (and Disadvantages) As credit card, or EMV, chip cards become more common, so too are the credit card terminals that accept them. If you happen to have a swipe only terminal, or an older chip card reader, you may be wondering whether it makes sense to upgrade your existing terminals. Keep reading to discover the key advantages and disadvantages of using an upgraded credit card chip reader.](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-chip-reader) ## Meet a Payment System You’ll Love - ###### FEATURES [No-code Payments Integration®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/no-code-payments-integration.html) [ZeroTouch Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-terminal.html) [Portable Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/portable-credit-card-reader-terminal.html) [Invoices](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/electronic-invoices.html) [ACH](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ach-payments.html) [SmartSurcharge®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-surcharge.html) [Cards on File](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/store-credit-card-info.html) [Recurring Billing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/recurring-payments.html) - [Ecommerce](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ecommerce-merchant-services.html) [Customization](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/custom-payment-software.html) [Remote Signatures](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/signature-capture.html) [Rapid Refunds](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/credit-card-refund.html) [Multi-Location](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/enterprise-payments.html) [Sales Reports](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/sales-reports.html) [Search and Export](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/transaction-history-search.html) [Mobile App](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/payjunction/id1324839420?ls=1&mt=8) - ###### BUSINESS SOLUTIONS [Auto Dealers](https://www2.payjunction.com/automotive-merchant-services) [Veterinary](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-veterinarians) [Dentistry](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-dentists) - ###### RESOURCES [Product Overview](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-processing-solutions.html) [Integrations](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Blog](https://blog.payjunction.com/) [Guides](https://guides.payjunction.com/) [Support](https://support.payjunction.com/) [Service Status](https://status.payjunction.com/) [Tutorials](https://blog.payjunction.com/tag/pj-university/) [API](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-api.html) - [Trust Center](https://trust.payjunction.com/) [Request a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/payjunction-demo) [Pricing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/pricing.html) [About Us](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/about.html) [Careers *HIRING*](https://www2.payjunction.com/careers) [Press](https://media.payjunction.com/) - ###### RESOURCES [Integrations](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Guides](https://guides.payjunction.com/) [Tutorials](https://blog.payjunction.com/tag/pj-university/) [API](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-api.html) [Request a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/payjunction-demo) [About Us](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/about.html) [Careers *HIRING*](https://www2.payjunction.com/careers) [Press](https://media.payjunction.com/) [Trust Center](https://trust.payjunction.com/) [Service Status](https://status.payjunction.com/) - ###### BUSINESS SOLUTIONS [Auto Dealers](https://www2.payjunction.com/automotive-merchant-services) [Veterinary](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-veterinarians) [Dentistry](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-dentists) ##### 800-601-0230 SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER  Become a better advocate for your business. 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