Cards come in many varieties.
It is important to identify the type of application you would like your card
to support. Depending on the application selected, different system requirements
will need to be addressed.
Cards
can store anywhere from a single value that cannot be changed up to 32K of dynamic
data. It is important to match the storage requirements with the correct card.
It also often makes sense to allocate space for future scalability.
Card-accepting
devices can vary from readers attached to PCs, to specially designed terminals,
or even to small value checking readers. Readers attached to PCs tend to be
less expensive, while stand-alone kiosk terminals are at the other end of the
price range.
Card issuance
is the process of printing, encoding and issuing cards. Card personalization
can be done at the factory or at your site. There are many options for print
quality, signature panel, holograms, card thickness, etc.
The
number of cards will influence card pricing, printing options and other system
components. A pilot is a great way to test an application before rolling it.
CardSmart can build a prototype that can
help you evaluate an idea and explore various options.
Systems
integration is a complex component of a card solution. To avoid complications,
it is important to select an integrator who understands these issues.
Scalability
should be built into the system design. Thorough and concise requirements gathering
help guard against early obsolescence. We call this "future-proofing" the application.
If there are practical card issues that require
special consideration, it would be helpful to address them here.
Informative
reports are valuable for measuring effectiveness, auditing transactions and
marketing to new customers. In most cases, the transaction data is as valuable
as the card system itself.
Settlement
is the process of updating backend data with terminal data and then adjusting
account balances accordingly.
There
are many related support services crucial to the success of the overall application.
CardSmart provides the total solution support
or just specific areas as required.
There
are important differences between starting a card project from scratch and picking
up on one that is well along. Knowing where you stand will enable us to respond
to your needs more efficiently.
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Thank you for contacting
CardSmart Technologies. We
will be in touch with you shortly.
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