There is nothing like the hustle and bustle of the Royal Melbourne Show. The screams of excited children riding the attractions, while adults either look on worryingly or enjoy the arts, crafts and cookery.
What will not be missed is the ritual coin scramble we all go through when paying.
With so many businesses buying an ID card printer, this year’s show followed this trend and offered visitors the option of using a smart card payment system.
Smart cards and the Royal Melbourne Show
Vix Technology, a Perth-based global provider of smart access payment systems, in conjunction with NCR Corporation, a consumer transaction technology company, supplied a large number of smart cards for show goers to use.
People could load money on the badge and use it at over 215 NCR wireless point-of-sale (POS) terminals that were connected to Vix smart card readers.
The cards proved a hit with over 700,000 transactions executed by patrons at more than 50 ride and food stalls.
Security first
For most businesses smart cards are an excellent way to reduce the threat of ID fraud, which is why so many are buying ID card printers.
Richard J. Sullivan, senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC), argues that smart cards are an excellent way of authenticating an individuals identity.
According to research from the FRBKC, in 2007 over 8.1 million people had their identity stolen in the US alone.
Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) CFO Jon Perry said that the smart cards were adopted as a security measure.
“We were looking for a system that would give comfort to parents. They can potentially send the child out on their own [with a card] during the show,” he said.
Peace of mind is just one of the many benefits a secure payment system can deliver.
Live data analytics
It was not just visitors who benefited from the smart card roll out. The show’s organisers were able to access real-time data, enabling better and more accurate reporting, analysing and forecasting, while inventory control and cash management were improved.
The data analytics generated by the system offers RASV new insights into customer behaviour.
Due to the data collected, organisers plan to place caterers and amusement rides in different locations next year, in an effort to optimise profit.
A recent article from the University of Seoul argues that quick access to data can have a a positive affect on long-term and short-term planning.
Using the example of Seoul’s subway, researchers argued that using the 2.2GB of data generated everyday by commuters, planners can lower waiting times and optimise the running frequency of trains.
Smart card solutions can offer a range of positive outcomes for customers, employees and businesses. To find out more about how smart cards can improve your business, get in touch with experienced ID card printing professionals.
