Prism Payment Technologies has been commissioned by Shoprite Checkers to implement a complete transaction handling solution for its chain of retail stores country-wide. The deal was concluded in June and the first orders for point-of-sale equipment, terminal application software, security and integration services worth more than R20 million have been placed.
The project involves the deployment of Bull TMF terminals loaded with Prism application software and security at all of the group's sales points over the next twelve months. The integration of the new infrastructure into Shoprite Checkers' back end will introduce multiple bank debit and credit card acceptance as well as the benefits of future smart card applications while at the same time catering for staff cards and Buy-Aid. In addition, terminals will be deployed at outlets which will offer the consumer a range of convenient services including electricity pre-payment vending, pre-paid cellular telephone voucher dispensing and bill payment services.
Says Orlando Da Silva, general manager of Group Information Services at Shoprite Checkers, "Ours is a transaction intensive environment with more than 9000 points of sale generating more than 28 million transactions per month. It was logical for us to enhance customer convenience while improving our transaction handling capabilities. We selected this technology because of considerable cost savings associated with installing our own infrastructure. This move goes hand in hand with Shoprite Checkers' philosophy of cutting down on extra costs in the supply chain in order to be the cheapest supermarket chain in South Africa."
Says Alvin Els, managing director of Prism Payment Technologies, "This deal is the culmination of meaningful relationships built with the client and represents an opportunity for Prism to extend its position in the Southern African payment solutions market. We feel that the technology chosen for this project offered the client the architecture, functionality and flexibility required to cater not only for the present needs of the Shoprite Checkers group, but also their future requirements. The Bull TMF terminal provides the space, power and flexibility to accommodate the latest multi-function applications and security."
"Prism's strengths in the physical payments area are now being extended to the virtual arena and, as a result, we are structuring a number of key alliances with global players. We have already experienced success with the introduction of the Public Key Infrastructures concept for local banking and retail players - an area in which we expect to see considerable growth over the next few years."
Prism Payment Technologies is a small but innovative owner-managed local company specialising in the development, manufacture, implementation and support of electronic value transfer and information security systems. It has built a strong reputation for skills and experience in banking, retail payment systems, electronic transactions and enterprise information security. The company was established in 1994 and with its head office in Johannesburg and branch in Cape Town.
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