Judopay boosts scanning power to keep consumers from terminals

As a way to help small businesses maintain COVID-19 social distancing measures, Judopay is using a longer-range QR code that removes the need for any interaction at a point of sale device.

JudoAccept will allow U.K. merchants to accept payments both in-person and remotely through their smartphones or tablets. Consumers scan the merchant's QR code displayed on a tablet or smartphone with their own device to instantly initiate a checkout payment.

In pilot testing, the London-based Judopay says the merchant QR codes, depending on the type and size of screen, were being accepted by consumer smartphones at about 6.5 feet. The company also indicated it was considering a Near Field Communication technology addition to JudoAccept in the future, but currently the long-range QR capability is driven by its own QR tech, one it hopes to eventually add even more communication distance.

The JudoAccept setup provides merchants with the option to do without costly payment terminals, integration resources or development time. Through the Judopay portal, businesses can also create and send payment links for items such as takeout food, taxi fares, invoices or utility bills.

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"In the current environment, adaptability is key to business survival," Judopay CEO Jeremy Nicholds said in a Wednesday press release. "The longer we live with restrictions in how we go about our lives, the greater the economic impact from the pandemic will be, impacting the 5.9 million small and medium size enterprises that are the lifeblood of the U.K. economy."

The company views JudoAccept as a payment method that not only enables "a unified, health-conscious and secure commerce experience" but one that provides merchants with an accessible and affordable means to thrive through the pandemic and beyond, Nicholds added.

JudoAccept works with several alternative payment methods at checkout, including Apple Pay, Klarna, PayPal and others. Judopay is positioning JudoAccept as the type of service that has become vital to small businesses as they turn to digital payments as a lifeline during the pandemic.

"Many businesses don’t have the expertise, teams or finances to invest in the latest technology, but they all need to keep trading," Jumaane Hutchinson, head of products at Judopay, said in the release. "JudoAccept is a touch-free payment method, eliminating the need for them to invest in hardware or download payment apps. This is a game-changer to help businesses that may have over relied on cash with no technological complications."