Contactless refers to not requiring touch or interaction between people. A contactless meal delivery service will involve leaving food orders and deliveries on doorsteps. Menus at restaurants have been replaced by QR codes that allow the patron to use their camera on their phone to read the QR code, directing them to an online menu.
These very same patrons can receive a bill on their mobile phone and pay immediately, all without having to handle anything provided to them by their server.
All of this has been made possible by the proliferation of mobile devices, and we are now at a point where most internet traffic comes from mobile devices with 50.48% is from mobile and 46.51% is from desktop. Along with ongoing increases in mobile usage comes greater comfort with paying from the phone.
Even pre-pandemic, people were becoming more and more comfortable with contactless payments. In 2020, around $2 trillion contactless payments were expected worldwide, with global values expected to reach $6 trillion in 2024.
A report published in May of 2020 from the Capgemini Research Institute titled, COVID-19 and the Age of the Contactless Customer Experience: Winning the Trust of Consumers in a No-touch World, surveyed over 5,700 people from 12 countries. Their goal was to gain insight into some of the consumer trends developing and responses to them during the pandemic.
The research found that 66% of consumers prefer to use mobile apps in stores, and 70% are comfortable using their phones to make payments. The study also found that, even after the pandemic passes, 62% would prefer to continue making contactless payments.
Contactless Impact on Nonprofits
While most of the Capgemini research deals with the for profit world, we know that these consumer demands and cultural shifts are already impacting the nonprofit sector as well. We see this with virtual events taking the place of canceled live events and much greater emphasis being placed on the digital experience for your supporters.
Many of these very same consumers that are part of the Capgemini research are also nonprofit supporters and donors looking for a very similar experience with the organizations they support. They have grown much more comfortable with conducting transactions over their phone, especially when the experience proves to be a seamless and secure one for them.
Contactless payments are a great way for nonprofits to increase the efficiency of your operations and processing. These payments tend to be faster than cash, card, and check transactions. That’s because they streamline the payment process, eliminating unnecessary steps. You can even save time by offering customers an automated email receipt.
In general, creating a contactless experience for your nonprofit demonstrates that you are sensitive to your supporters’ changing needs and that you care about their health at this time.
Creating a Contactless Experience With Humanitru
Humanitru has been developed for nonprofit organizations who want to create a robust and engaging digital fundraising ecosystem. In addition to mobile optimized membership and donation landing pages, Humanitru gives nonprofits the ability to create landing pages for volunteers, programs, and events that render beautifully on a mobile device.
One of the important components to the contactless experience within the Humanitru platform is the ability to quickly and easily create QR codes. Here’s how it works.
Humanitru Platform User
Step 1: Within Humanitru, you can create a landing page that showcases information for an event, ticket, program, silent auction, volunteer sign up, sponsor sign up, or donation page.
Step 2: With one click, you can automatically generate a QR code that provides access to these landing page elements when your supporters quickly and easily scan the code with their mobile device.
Step 3: Use the QR code in person, on business cards, within printed materials, over Zoom, and even online to easily and quickly direct users to the appropriate landing page.
Nonprofit Supporter
Step 1: Supporter scans the QR code with their mobile device.
Step 2: QR code is read and takes the supporter to the landing page where they can perform a variety of functions, many of which we will cover in the next section.
The important thing to remember is that basically anything and everything that has a registration or payment form attached to it can benefit from a contactless solution, whether you’re planning a sponsored golf tournament or a drive-thru Christmas light event.
8 Contactless Experiences Nonprofits Can Create for Supporters
So, how can Humanitru help your nonprofit create a contactless experience for your supporters?
In the not too distant past, QR codes have been created for print materials like brochures and advertisements. These days, QR codes are being used more and more on digital channels. A perfect example of this is a kiosk with an iPad that allows for the scanning of a QR code on its screen.
With that in mind, here are some great ideas for how your nonprofit can leverage the QR code technology within the Humanitru platform to enhance your fundraising efforts based on real-world examples we’ve seen in action.
Golf/Sport Tournament
If you’re hosting a golf tournament and asking for sponsorships, a contactless experience is hugely beneficial. At the event, you can use QR codes to encourage attendees to quickly and easily sign up as a sponsor, purchase a ticket at the registration table, or make a donation anywhere along the course.
Mobile Bidding
For your next mobile bidding event, you can set up a landing page and generate a QR code for each auction item. Then, at your event, you can use the QR codes for quick and easy mobile bidding.
This works great for tailgate-style events, golf tournaments, or galas. There’s no need to ensure that the bidder includes the correct identifying information for their item bid because the QR code handles all of it.
Event and Program Tickets
QR codes also help when hosting an event and selling entry tickets. Instead of forcing attendees to plan ahead to get their ticket or to have a credit card on hand, you can use contactless payments to make ticket purchasing immediate and on-site. Just have the QR code available at the door, and supporters can purchase their ticket right there.
This can be especially helpful when you have a limited quantity—whether due to crowd control or time limits. QR codes can help you control how many people enter your event at one time.
And by selling tickets on-site, instead pre-ordering, you can keep your programming full while allowing for last-minute plans. This also works great for raffles.
Timed Admission Tickets
Nonprofits like museums can help ensure paced arrivals and moderated attendance numbers with timed admission tickets that can be purchased in advance online.
The nonprofit selects the number of tickets that can be purchased in the specific time frame. Attendees select their entry time and are able to stay until their scheduled time expires.
Donations
We all know how difficult it can be to get donations, especially in person. People always say, “I’ll do it when I have more time and when I get home.” But then they inevitably forget. With QR codes and other contactless payment options, donations in person are easy. Just have the QR code ready and encourage supporters to donate immediately by using it.
Membership Signups
Use a QR code to take your supporters immediately to a membership sign up page. They can then enter how much they want to donate and how often, and become a regular donor in just a few quick steps—all from their phone.
Drop-in Volunteer Shifts
You can even use QR codes for drop-in volunteer shifts. Simply create a QR code for each shift/type of volunteer. Then, whenever someone shows up for their allotted time or duty, instead of using a computer or tablet to check them in, have them scan the QR code and check themselves in on their own phone. It’s an easy, safe, and contactless way to track your volunteers.
Text to Give With Beyond
Beyond is one of Humanitru’s payment partners. With the Beyond Text4Good™ technology, your donors are able to access your online donation page by simply texting a unique keyword.
All of These Are Possible With Humanitru
These are just a handful of contactless suggestions available to you within Humanitru. One of the wonderful things about the platform is that you have the opportunity to create specific contactless experiences that make the most sense for your nonprofit.
It’s Time Your Nonprofit Went Contactless
What is clear is that this pandemic is shaping our culture in so many ways as we are all finding new ways to adapt in this unprecedented time. As we have discussed, many of these digital tools that were less utilized before have become commonplace now as we have been forced to become more familiar with them. The end result will likely be the permanent expectation of a more contactless experience even after the virus subsides.
The good news is that change can be positive and implementation is easy. Learn how Humanitru can help you implement this new technology today.