A Boost For Busy Retailers

Prepaid Solutions Provider Smartpay Ltd Says Off- Line Terminals Provide A Boost For Busy Retailers

AUCKLAND Monday March 5 2007Advances in payment systems technology is helping retailers to overcome busy times behind the counter.

With booming sales in prepaid vouchers and international calling cards, retailers were unable to use their prepaid voucher terminal and separate EFTPOS terminal at the same time.

Mr Linc Burgess, chief executive of SmartPay Ltd, says because voucher pin numbers are stored in the terminal, the processing doesn’t tie up the phone line for each transaction.

“This is a huge feature to many of our retailers who operate in busy environments and need to use their EFTPOS terminal and the SmartPay terminal at the same time. The flow on effect obviously is the whole sales process is speeded up for retailers as they don’t have to wait until the line is free, and because the terminal is not dialing out it means the vouchers can be printed a lot quicker.

“The terminal only needs to dial out when it reaches a certain threshold and needs to refresh the pins stored in the terminal – this may only be once a day.”

Allan Delaney, proprietor of PaperPlus Sunnynook on Auckland’s North Shore says the technology solution is streamlining his business.

“We can serve our customers a lot quicker and the processing of prepaid sales is hassle free.”

Delaney is able to print off multiple prepaid vouchers at any one time, providing quick turnaround of customers wanting prepaid product.

“It’s certainly a much better alternative,” he says. “We are a busy, seven day a week operation. The business in prepaid sales is pretty brisk. The last thing we want is having to wait behind the counter while the telephone line to our two EFTPOS machines become free.”

PaperPlus Sunnynook switched to the SmartPay network two years ago because the company offered a few extra benefits, explained Delaney.

“SmartPay look after their customers very well and their response times to any queries we have is always excellent.”

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ABOUT SMARTPAY LTD

SmartPay Ltd (NZX:SPY) is a leader in the development and supply of innovative electronic prepaid and POS solutions including mobile phones, international calling cards, internet and data management services, gift cards and a range of other products.

For an example of the business in which they operate, the value of the prepaid mobile and international calling card market in New Zealand is estimated at $500 million and $100 million annually and growing every year.

Established in 2004, SmartPay has signed contract agreements with telecommunications networks and product suppliers including Telecom New Zealand Ltd and Vodafone New Zealand Ltd. The company is also researching and developing potential software business interests in New Zealand and internationally, including markets in Australia and Asia Pacific.

In New Zealand, SmartPay manages a network of merchants who supply products to a wide range of retailers, including a number of high profile, national retail chains and route/convenience store owners and operators.

More information about SmartPay is available at www.smartpay.co.nz

ENDS

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