Xero, the global small business platform, has launched Tap To Pay on iPhone, enabling Xero customers in Australia with a Stripe account to seamlessly and securely accept in-person contactless payments with their iPhone and the Xero Accounting app — no additional hardware or payment terminal needed. Tap to Pay on iPhone enables businesses to accept all forms of contactless payments, including contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets.

Using Tap to Pay on iPhone is easy, secure and private. With Tap to Pay on iPhone, at checkout, the merchant can simply prompt the customer to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch with their contactless credit or debit card, Apple Pay or other digital wallet to pay with their contactless credit or debit card near the merchant’s iPhone. The payment will be securely completed using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Tap to Pay on iPhone also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options.

Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone technology uses the built-in features of iPhone to keep the business’ and customers’ data private and secure. When a payment is processed, Apple doesn’t store card numbers or transaction information on Apple servers, so merchants and customers can rest assured that their data stays theirs¹.

Empowering businesses with more ways to pay

Managing cash flow is more important than ever for small businesses, and receiving timely payments from customers is a fundamental piece of the puzzle.

Xero research shows two in five (41%) consumers say they are frustrated when their preferred payment option isn’t available and one in four (28%) would shop elsewhere if a business didn’t offer one of their preferred ways to pay. The research also showed that 86% of consumers say they use credit and debit cards.

Bharathi Ramavarjula, SVP, Payments & Ecosystem at Xero said, “Managing payments plays a vital part of the cash flow equation, but small businesses continue to face challenges, including chasing late payments. With so much on their plate already, keeping pace with shifting consumer expectations and market trends can feel overwhelming."

"That’s why payments is such a core part of Xero’s business strategy. With the launch of Tap to Pay on iPhone, we’re excited to support small businesses to streamline payment processes, enabling them to accept payments on the spot, and maintain a healthy cash flow.”

Tap to Pay on iPhone enables Xero customers in Australia with a Stripe account to use a contactless payment acceptance solution that is easy to set up and use. Businesses will be able to unlock contactless payment acceptance through the Xero Accounting app on an iPhone XS or later running the latest version of iOS, and can simply download the Xero Accounting app from the Apple App Store to start accepting contactless payments within minutes.