Kiosks for Cashless Payment

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RFID cards used as a mode of payment have been widely accepted, particularly as a method of payment in employee cafeterias in large organisations. Universities, schools and events venues often use cashless payment systems by deploying RFID cards backed up by a cash deposit.
 
This cashless payment system is quick, easy and hassle-free, which is why these kinds of solutions have become so prevalent. Contactless payment can dramatically speed up the payment process and, because the payment process is offline, the network does not get overloaded at busy periods.
 
Until now, RFID cards have been pre-loaded with credit at often bulky, space-consuming machines. Active Cards and friendlyway have now teamed up to deliver a new solution to this market. Using Active Cards’ RFID technologies and friendlyway’s kiosk technology, RFID cards can now be loaded from a kiosk located onsite.
 
Active Cards supply their solution to the Versicherungskammer in Bavaria and the Student Union Munich, but, more recently, Siemens Real Estate (SRE), a subsidiary of Siemens AG, has also adopted the cashless payment system. 80 Siemens locations will adopt this technology during 2009-2010. In total, approximately 200 units will be deployed at SRE.
 
SRE manages the maintenance of all Siemens locations worldwide so it was important that the cashless system could be installed without regional limitations, which is often a problem of current projects. In this one, however, the system can overcome regional limitations because the handling of the payments is decentralised. This also makes installation at outdoor venues like camping grounds or for local traffic management possible.
 
SRE was able to source the complete solution, including installation, maintenance and services, from their partners friendlyway and Active Cards. A customised friendlyway kiosk, the ‘friendlyway waiter 17’, is used to facilitate the RFID top-up transactions. The 17” touchscreen can be used to communicate a variety of digital content: as an advertisement for the RFID top-up service or for current company announcements. Digital signage applications can be incorporated using friendlyway’s composer 9 software to edit, distribute and play content on individual kiosks. When the kiosk is not in use, it becomes useful for messaging and providing company information.
 
The friendlway waiter 17” fixture is manufactured from anodized aluminium, so that all the required components for the loading of the RFID cards are securely integrated. To save space, the kiosks are wall-mounted.
 
The transaction can take place in any of three ways: loading by an EC/ credit card, cash or company card directly at the kiosk. Remaining credit on the card can be returned in cash. With these options, company visitors as well as company staff are able to use the system.
 
Mr Yerinmez, manager of Active Cards, commented, “We see the biggest benefit of this system which consists of our innovative software and the well-designed friendlyway terminal for modern and problem-free handling of the cashless payments in surroundings which were until now complex, time-consuming and involved the risk of queues. Here, our system offers a very effective ratio possibility.”