EPnet Cashless operates in real time with staff using their existing security or access device. EPnet Cashless works in debit mode (like Maestro or an Oyster card) and/or in credit mode (like a credit card). In many cases, buildings can become totally cashless with payment for meals and snacks being made from an EPnet Cashless account, which loads an electronic purse.
In debit mode, employees simply pay money in at a cash loader to credit their electronic purse. Web loading enables users to transfer funds from a debit/credit card to their EPnet Cashless account on an internet enabled PC at home or at work. Alternatively, in credit mode, transactions are paid for retrospectively on a weekly or monthly basis out of salary by means of payroll deduction. Salary sacrifice is becoming more popular in the workplace, providing both employer and employee with benefits and EPnet Cashless is ideal for running such a scheme.
Introducing EPnet Cashless will not disrupt the smooth running of your business. Nor does it mean having two access devices. Regardless of brand, EPnet Cashless will work with your existing access device, be it smart cards, proximity cards, contactless tag or biometric recognition. EPnet Cashless does not co-habit with the data on your card, it shares information with it only in order to recognise an individual employee’s electronic purse account.
For the employee it could not be simpler. Using the chosen access device, it may be used to make purchases from vending machines, staff restaurant or staff shop in very much the same way as it may already be in use for car park access, door security or to pay for equipment use.
The transactional information is instantly fed back to a server. The payment is deducted from the employee’s electronic purse in debit mode or added to the employee’s account if in credit mode. Regardless of which method of operation is selected, the access device remains just that - a device for accessing the employee’s electronic purse. At no time is cash ever carried on the card, meaning that the system is far more secure than cash-carrying cards. If the access device is lost or stolen, it can be replaced without loss of credit.
Staff restaurant and shop
In the staff restaurant, EPnet Cashless uses touch screen tills, making life simpler for restaurant staff. EPnet Cashless is flexible enough to support subsidised meals and may be programmed on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis to avoid carry over. EPnet’s dual account facility will help those companies which need to offer differential pricing by cost centre, department or position. The system allows employees to ‘overdraw’ their account to a predetermined limit to avoid embarrassment and queue build-up at tills. Visitors are catered for by means of a temporary card, which may be paid for by the visitor or charged to a relevant hospitality account.
Vending
In like manner, employees use their cashless payment device to make purchases from vending machines. This may include subsidised or controlled free vend and differential pricing.
Office Equipment
EPnet Cashless may be used to pay for the use of business equipment such as photocopiers or fax machines, with usage being charged to nominated cost centres.
Audit Trail
All EPnet Cashless equipment, including cash loaders, vending machines and EPoS terminals provides users with details of each transaction and their account balance. However, a full audit trail is stored on the server and is accessible from the management workstation giving the system manager access to all system activity. This provides the data for a suite of comprehensive and flexible management reports based on users, stock items and time periods.
