What is a virtual terminal?
Virtual Terminals
Simply, a virtual terminal is a solution that turns your computer or mobile into a payment-processing device, so long as it has internet or LTE access. Merchants can use a virtual terminal to process a transaction once they've collected a customer's information over the phone, web, by mail or even in person.
A virtual terminal is a software application for merchants which allows them to accept payment with a payment card, specifically a credit card, without requiring the physical presence of the card. Highly recommended for B2B Merchants.
Are you in a business-to-business industry? Do you often receive MOTO (Mail Order/Telephone Order) requests from your patrons? For B2B professionals, a virtual terminal is a great addition to your point of sale (POS) device or as a standalone option.
Manually-entered transactions processed on a POS terminal bear higher risk due to the fact that they were not processed using chip-and-pin technology. Transactions processed through a virtual terminal bear risk as well; however, two additional VT functions, AVS and CVV, make all the difference when it comes to the level of risk.
The Address Verification System (AVS) is a system used to verify the address of the cardholder. The system will check the billing address provided by your client to ensure it matches the address on file at the credit card company.
The Card Verification Value (CVV) is an extra code printed on debit and credit cards. CVV for Visa and MasterCard is the final three digits of the number printed on the signature strip on the back of the card. CVV for American Express appears as a separate 4-digit code on the front of the card.
With a virtual terminal you can rest assured that the client placing the order on the other side of the phone line has the physical card in front of them (CVV) or knows the address of the cardholder (AVS).
If your business is processing a lot of card-not-present transactions, a virtual terminal is the way to go and you should definitely consider the increased security and convenience it offers.