Card terminals in Flensburg, Germany

Start with the customer’s route through the café

Walk through ordering, paying and collecting from a customer’s perspective. A clear route to the counter is useful, but also consider terminal height, screen glare, trailing cables and whether someone seated can see the amount and use the device privately. Do not assume contactless payment removes every access barrier.

Make assistance an offer rather than a requirement. Staff can explain where to present a card or how to request another payment position without asking a customer to disclose a disability. Customers should retain control of their card and protect their PIN.

Choose counter or table payment around staff capacity

A counter-based terminal gives staff a consistent payment point and may make charging and supervision simpler. Its weakness is reach: a device fixed behind a high counter can make an otherwise straightforward purchase difficult. Check whether the proposed arrangement allows safe repositioning.

A portable terminal can bring payment to a table or another accessible position, if the chosen device and service support that use. It also creates responsibilities: who carries it, where it returns and who checks its charge. For occasional use away from the counter, agree a simple handover rather than leaving staff to improvise.

Test the connection where payment actually happens

Ask which connectivity options the proposed terminal supports in Germany, including any network requirements or separate charges. Do not assume a device supports Wi-Fi, mobile connectivity or offline payments. A good connection beside the till does not establish that a table near the entrance will work equally well.

Test the intended positions using an agreed demonstration or supported test procedure. Include the route staff will take with a portable device. Establish what staff should do if a result is unclear: check the transaction status through the supported process before attempting another charge, and explain the delay to the customer.

A hypothetical café trial in Flensburg

Consider a hypothetical café with takeaway orders at a high counter and a seated area beyond it. The owner wants customers to be able to pay without joining a queue they cannot comfortably use. Rather than immediately buying several devices, the owner asks to assess a portable option for counter and table use.

During the trial, one colleague takes the order while another brings the terminal to the agreed payment position. They check that the customer can read the amount, operate the device and receive a clear payment outcome. Success is observable: the customer completes payment without moving to an unsuitable position, and staff can match the result to the correct order.

• Try both a seated and a standing payment position.
• Check that moving the terminal does not obstruct the collection route.
• Confirm that staff return the device to its charging position.

Confirm settlement and the full commercial offer

Payment confirmation and settlement are different stages. Before signing, ask when proceeds are normally paid out, which cut-off times apply, how weekends or holidays affect timing, and how fees, refunds and adjustments appear in reporting. Confirm the payout currency and account requirements for your German business rather than assuming arrangements from another market apply.

NeroPay offers card terminals and payment services. With an eligible NeroPay card terminal, NeroPOS, NeroWeb and NeroBooking software can be included without an additional software subscription charge. Terminal costs, payment processing charges, eligibility and applicable terms still apply. Ask the team to confirm availability in Germany, supported devices, any required integrations and pricing against your café’s actual workflow.