Card Payments Dominate, but Versatile Payment Solutions Boost Fundraising for Gothia Cup at VP Day in Uppsala

During the VP Day event in September, IF VP’s P09 team offered card payments for the first time using Surfboard Payments’ terminals, SurfTouch and SurfXpress, along with their convenient SoftPOS solution, CheckoutX. This allowed organizers to accept payments both via traditional terminals and self-checkouts, resulting in a significant increase in both sales and flexibility.

Caroline Hedlund Fulgeri, a dedicated parent from the team, described how smoothly the payment solutions worked: "It went incredibly well. Both the terminals and the mobile app were easy to use for those of us handling payments and those making purchases. It was convenient to have multiple self-checkouts when we needed to quickly add more payment points."

SoftPOS Expands Sales Opportunities

Surfboard Payments’ SoftPOS solution, CheckoutX, allows ordinary smartphones to be transformed into payment terminals, greatly increasing the number of sales points during an event. For events like VP Day, where flexibility and speed are critical, Surfboard’s various payment terminals proved to be the perfect solution. "Being able to accept card payments at several stations made it much easier to manage the lunch rush since card payments are quick without the need to scan a QR code," says Caroline.

All Devices Support the Same Payment Methods and Tipping

Whether payments were made through the terminals or the CheckoutX solution, the same payment options and tipping functionality were offered. This included cards, Swish, and Klarna, providing full flexibility for both consumers and merchants. The integrated tipping function, “Rounding Up,” also made it easy for parents and visitors to contribute to the team’s fundraising for Gothia Cup. Tipping accounted for a remarkable 14% of the total income on the day.

Facts from VP Day:

Customer interacting with the Self-checkout SurfXpress solution

Versatile Payment Methods Drive Sales

Card payments remain the most popular and widely preferred payment method, especially for events like VP Day, where speed and convenience are key. Consumers appreciate the quick, contactless experience that card payments offer, allowing them to complete transactions in just a few seconds. This efficiency is particularly important during peak times, such as lunch hours, when there is high foot traffic and long lines. However, while card payments continue to dominate, offering a variety of payment options has become increasingly important for merchants to meet the diverse needs of today’s consumers.

Surfboard Payments’ flexible solutions allowed the team to handle a diverse range of payment preferences without the need for multiple systems or complicated setups. By integrating all payment methods—card, Swish, and Klarna—into a single platform, the merchants were able to streamline their operations and minimize potential delays at the point of sale. This not only enhanced the customer experience but also boosted overall sales by reducing friction and ensuring that every visitor could complete their purchase using the method they found most convenient.