Datalinx has provided a secure GPRS payment environment

Datalinx has successfully implemented their CellPAD device across Ackermans stores nationwide. This technology interfaces between Ackermans` instore EFT infrastructure and Nedbank the financial settlement house for the Ackermans group, enabling secure instore transactions to be carried out smoothly and efficiently.

Says Ackermans` IT Director George Zaverdinos: `We were looking for a better communication mechanism than the previous system we were using via Fastnet or Telkom lines, and Datalinx`s innovative CellPAD using GPRS technology via service provider MTN, was perfect for our environment. Datalinx`s CellPAD offered us innovative technology backed by a proven track record enabling Ackermans to confidently deploy this across a critical environment where there was zero margin for error.`

Implemented across the group at the end of October 2004, the benefits were not only increased speed in the actual transaction process, but there was also an enormous reduction in communication costs. Zaverdinos goes on to say: `We rolled out over 1000 devices across 300 stores and will save around R2, 5 million per annum in the process.`

As the first corporate in South Africa to use the GPRS platform across its chain, Ackermans needed to be 100% certain that CellPAD was going to be absolutely stable and that the ongoing service would continue to be utterly reliable in a mission-critical EFT environment. Zaverdinos says: `We were extremely conscious that the efficacy of this technology was simply non-negotiable when applying this to payment transactions.`

Reliability and stability became the core considerations in order to confidently implement this technology and to successfully deal with the increased capacity of the December high trading season. This included the assurance from MTN that the GPRS platform would be as stable as the technology of the CellPAD system. This assurance was confidently provided, based on MTN`s proven delivery record in this competitive space.

It was also important that CellPAD interfaced efficiently with Nedbank`s well-established and secure EFT system, which proved to be a problem-free procedure. Nedbank are the first bank to enable a major retailer EFT via GPRS in South Africa.

Zaverdinos adds: `Datalinx impressed me with their high degree of professionalism throughout the implementation process. There was never any doubt in my mind that they fundamentally understood our specific requirements from a technological, service and stability perspective.`

He goes on to say: `What was comforting to me was that Datalinx clearly had extensive experience in this field, and not only in EFT. Their existing customer base and successful track record in this field provided huge credibility to their offering.`

From a pure technology and delivery perspective, it is interesting to note that Ackermans did not encounter a single problem throughout November and December`s high trading period with any CellPAD device in any of the 300 stores across the country.

Zaverdinos concludes by saying: `I believe passionately that my business is not only about technology, but is driven by people. I was therefore extremely impressed by Datalinx`s people-oriented skills, and I believe that this ethic enabled us to forge strong relationships very quickly between them and ourselves, as well as MTN and Nedbank throughout this process, leading to a high level of mutual understanding of the specific needs.`