How to Choose The Right Church Giving Kiosk

How to Choose The Right Church Giving Kiosk it’s important to pursue new and innovative ways to promote and accept donations.

The rate of social change throughout the world has rarely been greater. And as more and more of our daily lives transfer to the online world, we must all learn to adapt. Installing giving kiosks for churches is just one way to encourage giving in this new and evolving era.

Donation kiosks provide congregants with a new and convenient way to donate. Used in non-profit settings around the world, these mobile giving stations are being embraced by people who don’t like to carry cash.

A giving kiosk can be something as simple as a table and a glass jar. But today’s challenges call for a kiosk that processes cashless payments digitally. And that’s where church tithing software comes into its own.

We’re fast becoming a cashless society, and this represents a major challenge for churches. The collection plate is losing its appeal, yet many congregants lack the technical know-how to donate regularly online.

A giving kiosk for churches is a practical solution to a relatively new problem. But how do you choose a system that’s right for your fundraising strategy? There are a few pertinent issues to assess before making a decision.

1. Customization features

Congregants don’t want to feel like they’re giving to a faceless corporate entity. A generic giving kiosk lacks a personal touch. If there’s a lack of branding linking the kiosk to the institution, a lot of people might be reticent about making a donation.

But if you can customize your giving kiosk with the logo, color scheme, and messages associated with your church, you can instill confidence.

A donation kiosk that connects congregants to the cause elicits a subconsciously positive response. People need to be confident that their money will end up in the right hands — and customization delivers that confidence.

2. Versatility

Modern giving initiatives are all about providing people with options. The more ways people can make a donation, the more likely they are to do so. With this in mind, choose a giving kiosk that includes a card reader or that is compatible with a third-party device. Remember, fewer people than ever are carrying cash these days.

Ideally, choose a system that can be adapted to different situations. For example, a set-up that’s suitable for a church service might not be effective during a fundraising event. You should be able to adapt your kiosk to different scenarios and events quickly and without any fuss.

3. Mobility

The only way a giving kiosk can be truly versatile is by being mobile. A kiosk that’s fixed to the spot can’t be easily moved in line with the needs of different events. And if the same kiosk sits in the same spot for months at a time, it eventually becomes invisible.

Find the perfect spot for your services — somewhere the kiosk can’t be ignored when congregants are entering and leaving the church. That’s the easy part. But what happens when you need your giving kiosk for a charity dinner dance or a fundraising auction?

The kiosk you choose should be mobile, lightweight, and easy to transport. If you have the right church tithing software, you can use a standard tablet computer as a highly portable giving kiosk.

4. Data reporting capabilities

When people donate digitally, they’re providing you with a huge amount of valuable data. Used correctly, this data can be utilized to fine-tune your giving strategies and maximize your church’s income.

The latest giving kiosk solutions offer extensive reporting functionality. They can measure a range of metrics, include donations by size, time of donation, location of donation, and age of donator. By creating a bespoke registration process, you can create the metrics you need to boost your church’s income.

It’s also possible to connect church tithing software with other software systems. If you use CRM, for example, linking the two is often a straightforward process.

An increasing number of churches are using kiosks to harvest contact details. They then use this precious information to communicate crucial church business and fundraising activities via email, text, telephone, and traditional mail.

5. Interactivity

Giving can be fun with the right technology in place. Including the element of interactivity in the giving process lets the donor know that they’re doing something worthwhile.

This interactivity is delivered in several ways. For example, a fun sound can signal that a digital payment is complete. A recorded “thank you” message via an audio or video presentation might compel the donor to give more frequently.

There is no doubt that the experience of giving is diminished greatly when the traditional collection plate isn’t involved. Implementing interactivity in a digital setting can help to replace some of that lost experience.

6. Usability

The donation process should be simple and quick. This is very important. Even the slightest confusion or delay could persuade a potential donator to give up. The fewer obstacles in the way of making a donation, the more people will give.

Good usability involves minimizing the number of steps that constitute the donation process. The process should be exactly the same every time. Once a donator knows exactly what to do, future donations should be fast and hassle-free.

The church tithing software must utilize a self-explanatory donation process. Tutorials can help, but they cause delay and frustration. The best giving kiosks offer contactless payments, so donators can “dip” their credit card in the same way they’d dip their hand into a donation jar or plate. The user simply enters a donation amount and “dips” their card in order to give.

7. Security

There is a lot of mistrust surrounding online payments and digital interactions. Many people worry their information will somehow fall into the wrong hands. You should be able to give your congregants a cast-iron guarantee that their payment and personal details are completely safe.

Look for a kiosk provider that offers PCI-compliance. This means that systems such as encryption and “tokenization” are used to ensure that personal information can’t be stolen or misused.

The best advice when searching for church tithing software is to do some extensive research. Use the Internet to compare different software providers using the criteria listed above. And look for a one-stop-shop such as Donor Werx. This online giving specialist offers advice, coaching, and donation software that makes kiosk giving easier and more secure than ever.