Worldwide, technology has emerged as one of the conspicuous winners in the economic crisis. Against the backdrop of tight consumer spend and vigorous competition, retailers have been compelled to revise their IT budgets and to employ staff more efficiently without jeopardising customer satisfaction.
In a groundbreaking move, Spar (UK) is set to roll out contactless payment technology across its 2 600-strong national store network. Based on the combination of an embedded RFID chip and the normal EMV chip on payment cards, the technology enables shoppers to make purchases of £15 or less by simply waving their card over a reader at the POS. The secure transaction uses the tried and trusted Chip and PIN technology to automatically add the purchase to the customer's credit card bill or debit it from their current account. The roll-out follows a four-store trial in London.
Developed in conjunction with IT partner BCP (Business Computer Projects), the contactless system integrates with the existing till system. Its incorporation into Spar’s POS store solution has been claimed as a first c-store sector feat. Citing the benefits of the contactless technology – faster transaction times, lower transaction fees, reduced training requirement, and a robust audit trail – Spar believes it will also satisfy the customer’s always high priority need for swift supermarket passage.
But Spar is not the only one on the look-out for a good thing. Having finalised its partnership with Barclaycard, UK high-street food retailer the Co-operative Food Stores intends a national roll-out of the revolutionary payment method in time for the 2012 Olympics. The roll-out will follow a pilot across 100 Co-operative food stores, to be initiated next year.
Contactless payment made landfall in the UK in 2007. There are now over nine million contactless enabled cards in circulation.
| It’s competition time! Wilde Fruit Juice is running a competition in the July 2010 edition of the SA Garden Magazine, where twelve lucky readers stand the chance to win twelve cartons of 1 litre Wilde Fruit Juice. read more |  |
| Alpen Muesli The classic and unique Alpen blend of crispy wholegrain wheat flakes and rolled oats, juicy raisins and roasted almonds and hazelnuts, high in fibre, low in saturated fat. Arguably the finest muesli money can buy. read more |  |
No comments:
Post a Comment