BASIC TRANSACTIONS
Registers are usually hooked up to Internet connections for a variety of reason, including making sure credit cards are authorized before accepting them as payment. At Panera cafes, there are backup cellular lines in case the Internet connection goes down.
Even if Internet and backup lines failed, the registers would be able to accept a credit card payment, Hurst said.
"It's a processing device that's designed to operate independently," he said.
The company would simply take the relatively minor risk that some cards might be invalid, rather than inconvenience everyone by refusing to accept credit cards, he said.