The Australian government plans to introduce a mandate requiring businesses to accept cash for essential items. This initiative aims to support those who rely on money and ensure the resilience of the payment system.

I don't know what an essential item is. I doubt anyone knows.

Many of my clients have given up on cash, but many more are committed to it.

Key Points of the Proposal

• Businesses selling essential items must accept cash payments
• Appropriate exemptions for small businesses The consultation period is open until 14 February 2025
• Proposed implementation date: 1 January 2026

Implications for Australian Retailers

While these policy objectives aim to protect consumers, they may present specific operational challenges for you.

Current Cash Usage Statistics

• 13% of transactions in Australia were made using cash in 2022
• 1.5 million Australians use cash for over 80% of in-person payments
• Up to 94% of businesses currently accept cash

Click here for more details

The Treasury seeks feedback from businesses like yours to shape the final policy.

If you want to supply feedback, here's how you can contribute:

1. Review the consultation paper on the Treasury website here

2. Submit your response by 14 February 2025

3. Share your unique perspective

International Context

Similar cash mandates have been implemented in countries like Spain, France, Norway, Denmark, and some US states.

Stay Informed and Prepared

The retail landscape in Australia is evolving, and staying ahead of regulatory changes is crucial for your business success. This cash mandate could significantly impact your daily operations, from technology investments to staff management.

Over the years, I've seen a rapid improvement in retail technology. One problem in retail today is the wait in a queue for people waiting to buy. This frustrates customers, leading to many lost sales.

Self-Checkout Technology

Self-checkout cash registers have become common in larger stores. Customers scan and bag their items and pay without a cashier. This retail innovation helps reduce queues and staffing needs, as one person can manage eight cash registers.

Benefits of self-checkout:

• Shorter wait times
• More checkout options during busy periods
• Reduced labour costs for retailers

Challenges with self-checkout:

• Some customers dislike using the technology, so you still need manned cash registers.
• These cash registers have high setup costs as they are expensive cash registers.
• It is not worth it for shops with low turnover.
• Higher rates of shoplifting. A recent study here of 5,000 transactions found that self-checkout lanes had 16 times higher shrinkage rates than traditional cashier lines. About 6.7% of self-checkout transactions had some amount of partial shrinkage versus just 0.32% with cashiers.

These are significant problems for retailers considering self-checkout technology. Several stores have removed their self-checkouts as a result. 

AI in Retail: The Next Frontier of Checkout

.One promising solution uses AI.

How AI-Powered Cashierless Stores Work

This "grab and go" approach eliminates the need for scanning, potentially reducing theft by automatically addressing shoplifting while creating a smoother checkout experience. I can see the potential here as someone who's worked closely with POS systems.

Conclusion

The retail landscape is changing. While queues and theft remain significant challenges, new technologies offer promising retail queue management and shrinkage prevention solutions. As a POS provider, we're committed to helping retailers of all sizes navigate this evolving terrain.

Have you experienced these new checkout technologies as a customer? What are your thoughts on the future of retail? If you are in Melbourne or Sydney, you can see it in operation where it is on trial at ten 7-Eleven Australia stores here: 

7-Eleven Cranbourne North (945 S. Gippsland Highway Cranbourne North)
7-Eleven Truganina (1/475 Leakes Road, Truganina Vic)
7-Eleven Craigieburn (264-270 Craigieburn Road Craigieburn Vic);
7-Eleven Doreen (8 Whitford Way Doreen Vic)
7-Eleven Tarneit (32 Escapade Street Tarneit Vic)
7-Eleven Braybrook (87 Ashley Street, Braybrook Vic)
7-Eleven Richmond (Building 2/658 Church Street, Cremorne Vic)
7-Eleven Burwood (Parramatta Road, Burwood, NSW)
7-Eleven Northmead (137 Windsor Road, Northmead NSW)
7-Eleven Graystanes (601 Great Western Highway, Greystanes NSW)

I recently had a surprising experience at a large supermarket. I went to pay and was told to go to another cash register as this one could not handle cash! While I'd seen this once at a trade show, it was the first time it had been in a mainstream store. This got me thinking that we are genuinely nearing the end of cash, despite what banks and governments say. Soon I expect many shops will introduce a surcharge for cash.

The Australian Cash Exodus

The numbers don't lie. The Global Payments Report predicts a dramatic shift – by 2025, cash will likely account for just 2% of the value in all point-of-sale transactions. It's not going away entirely, but other methods will dwarf the amount we spend using physical cash.  Unsurprisingly, it notes that ATM withdrawals also decline as people ditch cash.

Convenience and Security

We are also seeing the successors to credit and debit cards coming with digital wallets on our smartphones. These are far more secure. Think about it: a thief can potentially use a stolen card, but with a smartphone app, they'd need your phone, access to it, and usually your fingerprint. It's a big leap in protection!

Brick-and-Mortar Retailers: Time to Adapt

This cashier-less trend isn't just curious; it's a real opportunity for small businesses. Here's why upgrading your point-of-sale system makes sense:

- Efficiency:  No more fumbling with notes and coins means faster checkout. Customers love speed!

- Improved Security:    Less cash on-site drastically reduces the risk of theft.

- Enhanced Customer Experience:   People demand payment choices; cashless often feels to them secure and streamlined.

Embracing the Cashless Evolution

The retail world changes quickly. To stay ahead of the game, adaptability is key. Cashless point-of-sale solutions aren't just a trend but likely the future standard.

A Personal Note

Change can be unsettling – I remember when cards themselves were the new, scary thing! The same will happen with the shift away from cash. I know we now have and are selling cashless registers.

Ready to Make the Shift?

Our POS software is designed with both cashless and traditional payments in mind. Get your free consultation today, and let's future-proof your business together!

Picture this: A pensioner goes shopping; in her wallet are a few notes ready to use for shopping. Soon, most vendors will wave her towards card readers instead. "Just tap and go." They say, "It's faster!" Could this be our future?

Don't Panic, Cash Isn't Disappearing Overnight

According to some estimates, by 2030, Australia will be a cashless society. While this shift won't happen overnight, it will significantly affect businesses like yours.

Why the Cashless Craze for retailers?

• Faster: Tap-and-go payments are quick and easy. Our POS System can do such transactions faster than cash, I know, as we have measured it.
• Cost: Retailers save on handling, counting, and securing physical cash.
• Security: For retailers, handling electronic money is much more secure and more challenging to steal—lower risks of counterfeiting and internal theft for retailers when using electronic payments.
• Fewer banks and ATMs: Cash can be a problem as we have fewer banks and ATMs.

Hold On, Not So Fast – Retailers Are Concerned

Recent studies paint a complex picture.

• Few cashless support: A whopping 71% of Australians are worried about going cashless, and many retailers are among that 71%.
• More payment types: Few retailers want to lose customers, so if a customer wants to pay in cash, most retailers will accept it.
• Hidden Fees: Every fee counts, and a cashless society costs retailers.

The Real Risks of Going Cashless

It's not just nostalgia. Here's why all business owners should care:

• Leaving Folks Behind: The elderly, those with disabilities, undocumented workers, and even domestic abuse victims may rely heavily on cash. Going cashless can exclude them.
• Your Data, Their Data: Card companies and banks see every transaction, raising privacy concerns. Large companies now buy this information from banks, providing incredible information on what people buy from their cashless purchases.  
• Outages Happen, and Australia's electronic network is not ready: When the power or network goes down, currently, only cash keeps things moving.

So, What's a Business to do?

First, check what percentage of your sales are cashless versus cash via your POS reporting. The "End of Day" report will show a "Sales Payment Breakup" - run this for the past year to understand your current cash/cashless mix.

With this data in hand, you can plan appropriately:

Go to the main menu and select "End of day."

Click where it has a green arrow.

The part of the report you are looking for is the Sales Payment Breakup below.

Pick an appropriate period, generally the last year. Run it a few times with slightly different dates, as you may get a better value with various dates. 

This will supply you with the information you need.

Conclusion

1. Keep SOME Cash Handy: It's an emergency lifeline and a way to serve everyone.
2. Speak Up! Let your local council and politicians know a fully cashless Australia has drawbacks.

Australia's transition away from cash is complex. With proper planning and an inclusive "fair go" approach, small businesses can thrive by straddling both cashless and cash payments during this shift.