While coin operated machines have been the standard at laundromats for decades, digital payments are quickly becoming the new norm—and necessity. Laundromat owners everywhere are upgrading to digital systems that allow customers to pay with both cash, credit/debit cards, mobile apps, and more.
Younger generations particularly expect the convenience of digital payment options, and many people no longer carry cash, and especially not coins. As more laundromats move to digital payments, those offering both options will have the upper hand.
But digital payments aren’t just about convenience for customers—they have a direct impact on laundromat profitability for owners too. By implementing a more modern laundromat payment software, owners will see big differences right away. You can expect your laundromat to be more efficient, profitable, and competitive.
This blog post highlights the seven key benefits of switching to a digital payment solution.
1. Run Your Business From Anywhere
Laundroworks enables owners to manage laundromats remotely —making it easier than ever to keep everything running smoothly from afar.
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Real-time machine tracking: With Laundroworks, owners can track machine activity as it happens. You can check if a machine is in use or needs maintenance—all from your phone or computer. This prevents issues and frees up time for on-site employees.
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Scheduling and staffing: Owners can adjust schedules and manage staff from a distance.
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In-app customer communication: The ability to respond to customer feedback or resolve issues remotely through the system.
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Financial monitoring: Owners can access real-time data on earnings, payment methods used, and even track how specific machines are contributing to revenue.
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Automated alerts and notifications: You can set up automated alerts for various events, such as when machines require maintenance or when a specific payment method isn’t functioning properly.
By using Laundroworks’ remote management features, laundromat owners can work more from anywhere, save on machine wait time, and give customers a better experience—all of which help increase your profits.
2. Guaranteed Additional Revenue
Using a cash-only payment system is the biggest barrier to growing your laundromat revenue. Modern customers demand the convenience of cashless payments. So if your laundromat only accepts quarters, you will undoubtedly lose business to your competitors with more payment options.
How digital payment options increase revenue:
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Accept all forms of payment methods: The Laundromat system allows customers to not only use cash—but also credit/debit cards, EBT, tap to pay, mobile apps, prepaid laundry cards, and even branded loyalty points.
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Dynamic pricing: Digital payment systems give you the ability to change pricing based on demand. You can then offer lower prices during off-peak hours to attract more customers, and charge slightly more during busy times. Cha-ching!
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Increase customer spending: The Laundroworks kiosk and app can show customers other services to try, such as sanitization, fabric softeners, or detergent.
3. Customer Loyalty
Laundroworks offers a customizable rewards program that encourages repeat visits. It’s a fact that customers who earn points for every wash/dry are more likely to return again and again.
Here's how loyalty programs can work for your business:
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Tailor rewards to customers: Target your rewards program to different customer segments, such as college students, families, or busy professionals, making it more appealing to a wider audience.
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The points game: Customers could earn points for every wash or dry cycle they complete, with bonus points for using mobile payments, prepaid laundry cards, or larger transactions.
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Habit formation: The principle of "earned rewards" creates a sense of achievement, and the idea of "something for nothing" keeps customers coming back for more. As customers work toward their next reward, they develop a habit of visiting more often, ensuring your laundromat becomes part of their routine.
Loyalty programs foster a sense of belonging, with customers feeling like they're part of an exclusive group, which further motivates repeat visits.
4. Smarter Decision Making
Running a laundromat with a digital payment system means making decisions based on hard data, rather than just intuition.
Do you know the answers to these important business questions?
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How many customers visit your laundromat each day?
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When are your peak hours?
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Which machines get the most use?
A digital payment system can tell you all of this, helping you make more informed decisions.
Benefits of business intelligence tools:
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Observe patterns: Understand which machines and services are most in-demand so that you can adjust your maintenance and promotions accordingly.
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Track revenue: Get automated reports showing daily, weekly, and monthly revenue broken down in a variety of ways.
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Understand customers: See how often your customers visit, the payment methods they use, and what add-on services they select.
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Forecast needs: Predict your busy seasons and staffing needs.
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Smart marketing: If the data shows that weekday mornings are slow, you can create a promotion like “2 for 1 wash/dry bundles on Tuesday mornings.”
Data will enable you to make better business decisions, ultimately leading to higher profits.
5. Happier Customers
A laundromat with a straightforward payment system will attract more customers and keep them coming back. Digital payments take away many of the challenges of traditional laundromats, making the experience better for everyone.
How digital payments improve customer satisfaction:
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Little to no wait times: Mobile app integration allows customers to receive notifications when their laundry is finished. This means no sitting around waiting for their cycle to finish—they can run errands or relax elsewhere while their phone alerts them when their laundry is ready.
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Instant refund processing: Laundroworks makes it simple to process refunds on the spot. Customers can get their money back right away without dealing with cash or waiting for a credit card refund, keeping them happy and more likely to come back.
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All the ways to pay: Credit cards, debit cards, mobile wallets, or prepaid cards—customers will be delighted by all the choices.
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Digital receipts: Customers will receive automatic receipts via email or through the laundromat’s mobile app, making tracking their finances easier.
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Added security: Many people prefer not to carry cash, especially in certain locations where cash transactions can pose a safety risk. By eliminating the need for physical money, digital payments help customers feel safer while doing their laundry.
Laundromats that make customer convenience a priority will stand out in a market full of competition.
6. Smoother Day to Day Operations
Running a laundromat is easier and more efficient with a digital payment system. With fewer hands-on tasks to worry about, owners can focus on the bigger picture of growing their business.
How Laundroworks helps improve operations:
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Less trips to the bank: One of the best parts of a digital payment system is the reduction in coin handling (counting, packaging, and bringing to the bank), which can be very time consuming.
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Automated reporting: Earnings are automatically tracked by Laundroworks, which generates reports for you on a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule.
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Proactive maintenance: If a machine is used a lot or needs repairs, the system can alert you, so you can fix it before it becomes a bigger problem.
With Laundroworks, laundromat owners can save time, reduce manual work, and make sure everything is running as efficiently as possible.
7. Prepare Your Business For The Future
Businesses that fail to adopt new technology will fall behind and shutter. Digital payment solutions will make your laundromat more resilient to change.
Why future-proofing matters:
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The new standard: Customers now expect digital payments everywhere. Businesses that only accept cash/quarters will lose customers to competitors.
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Technology adaptation: Digital payment systems can be updated to support new and emerging technologies, such as cryptocurrency.
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Scale your business: If you plan to expand your laundromat or open multiple locations, a digital payment system makes it easier to manage everything from a single platform.
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Subscription-based laundry services: Digital payment systems make innovative offerings like these (where customers pay a flat monthly fee for a set number of washes) possible.
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Investors and funding: Lenders and investors prefer businesses that use modern technology because they are seen as safer and scalable bets. If you ever plan to expand, having a strong digital payment infrastructure in place will make it easier to secure financial backing.
Digital payment systems will give your business the tools to keep up with new trends and expand.
Conclusion
As the laundromat industry (and the world) continues to evolve, embracing digital payments has become a necessary change. Luckily, there are many, many benefits to offering flexible payment options. You’ll gain valuable business insights, improve your customer experience, and earn more money.
If you’re ready to unlock the full potential of your laundromat, we invite you to take Laundroworks for a spin.
