Each market segment has its own individual requirements. Epnet is versatile enough to recognise and answer the needs of each sector: (Click buttons to jump to the appropriate part of page)
The
Workplace
With EPnet, employees are able to make purchases inside the office building,
be it restaurant, vending machine or staff shop, without the need for cash,
using their existing access device. EPnet works like a debit card, with all
transactions being instantly reported to a central PC and deducted from the
employee's account. Accounts can be replenished by cash or bank card. As an
alternative, the card may be used in credit mode, with purchases being deducted
from salary weekly or monthly.
Staff Restaurant and Shop Rather than using cash, staff members tender their card to pay for food and drink in the staff restaurant. EPnet uses the latest "touch-screen" tills, which makes life simpler for restaurant staff. The card is read by the till and deducts the cost of the transaction from the staff memberŐs account. Some staff restaurants offer subsidised meals. EPnet is flexible enough to allow for this and can be programmed on a "use it or lose it" basis to avoid carry-over. At the same time, EPnet's dual account facility will help those companies, which need to offer differential pricing by cost centre, department or rank. EPnet also allows staff to "overdraw" their account up to an agreed limit. Visitors to the building can use the system, too, by means of a temporary card, which can be paid for by the visitor or charged to a relevant hospitality account.
Vending With EPnet, access to vending machines is also by means of the staff member's card or fob. This may also include subsidised or controlled free vends and differential pricing. EPnet can also be used to control the use of business equipment, with photocopies and fax machine time being charged to individual cost centres.
Loaders
Strategically located around the building, these facilitate the way cash is
added to the staff member's account and avoid the need for cash to be taken
at the catering office. Money loaders can be programmed to accept all notes
and coins or restricted to high denominations only to reduce cash counting
and banking.
Hotels
For hotels, EPnet is available
in two versions, EPnet Solo and EPnet Pro. EPnet Solo is designed for budget
hotels with simple bar/restaurant till and vending applications. EPnet Pro
provides a sophisticated EPoS system, giving all the features expected by
hotels of 3 Stars or above.
EPnet gives guests the ability to make purchases inside a hotel, using the hotel room key to charge purchases without the need for cash. Here, EPnet works like a credit card, with all transactions being instantly reported to a central PC and networked to the front office system, which adds the charge to the guest's room bill. In a similar fashion, the card may be used in debit mode, with non-residents pre-paying for the use of hotel facilities.
Bar
and Restaurant Drinks ordered at the bar can be charged to the room. All
guests have to do, is to tender their room card to pay for drinks/food. The
charge is immediately added to their bill and, if necessary, a receipt produced.
Likewise in the restaurant, meals can be charged to the room bill. EPnet uses
the latest colour touch screen tills with full operator and table tracking.
Sub menus and food order modifiers are available in the restaurant for providing
meal options and cooking instructions to the kitchen printers. Bills can be
transferred between the bar and restaurant for the guest's convenience.
Vending
With EPnet, vending machines in hotels become a viable proposition, as all
purchases are made using the room card, thus avoiding the need for loose change.
Vending machines can be sited in the foyer or on each corridor to generate
additional income from goods not normally sold from an in-room bar in the
hotel or given away free. This includes soft drinks and alcohol, snacks and
confectionery, toiletries and even videos. Vending machines dispense with
the need for in-room bars, which may be costly to purchase and operate. One
vending machine can replace a whole floor of in-room bars, thus minimising
overall stockholding and eliminating the problems associated with the logistics
and security of refilling bars in bedrooms. This provides a service to guests
24 hours a day, 7 days a week..
Business
Centres Business centres are becoming increasingly popular in hotels,
but it is difficult to arrange payment for their use without constant supervision
by staff. Here, too, EPnet can be used to charge use of these facilities to
the guest's room bill. Use of fax, computer, photocopier and other business
equipment can easily and simply be charged for.
Leisure & Fitness suites Access to these facilities may now be charged for, as well as restricting their use to guests and pre-paying non-residents.
Car Park EPnet allows the hotel to control car park barriers and so charge guests for use of the car park.
Schools
Using EPnet, pupils are
provided with a payment card to enable them to pay for refreshments in the
refectory or to obtain snacks from a vending machine or tuck shop. The EPnet
card does not carry cash. This considerably reduces the necessity for pupils
to bring cash onto school premises so improving security. Instead, EPnet works
like a debit card. When the card is "read" by a till, the purchase is instantly
reported to a central PC and the cost of the purchase deducted from the pupil's
account. As the card is not needed to replenish an account, parents may pay
in by cheque at the office or by post. Alternatively, pupils may pay cash
in at a money loader. Some schools may prefer to run the system in credit
card mode, with bills being sent to parents on a weekly, monthly or termly
basis. Pupils receiving free school meals have the same card as other students
and use it in the same way, thus offering them complete anonymity.
Refectory
Pupils tender their card to pay for food and drink in the refectory. EPnet
is used with the latest "touch-screen" tills, which makes life simpler for
operators. The card is read by the till and deducts the cost of the transaction
from the pupil's account. It is very important that pupils are not refused
lunch because there is no money in their account. EPnet recognises this with
the flexibility for pupils to "overdraw" their account up to a pre-determined
limit, or until parents can be alerted and funds paid in. EPnet allows for
discretionary spend, too. The "Dual Purse" facility means that parents can
allow their children some pocket money in the knowledge that money for sweets
and snacks can never be taken from the meal purse.
Vending and Tuck Shop Access to vending machines is also by means of the pupil's card. Vending machines can dispense hot drinks, snacks and confectionery without the need for cash. EPnet can also be used in the Tuck Shop. Control over the use of school equipment, such as photocopiers, computers and fax machines is easily achieved using EPnet, with the cost being charged to pupils' accounts.
Money
loaders Strategically located around the school, these allow cash to be
added to the pupil's account and avoid the need for cash to be taken at the
administrative/catering office. Money loaders can be programmed to accept
all notes and coins or restricted to high denominations only to reduce cash
counting and banking.
Universities
& Colleges
In colleges and universities,
students are provided with a payment card to enable them to purchase meals
in the refectory or to obtain refreshments from a vending machine. It can
even be used in the Students' Union bar. The EPnet card does not carry cash
-so a lost card is not lost money. Instead, EPnet works like a debit card.
Money is deposited into a student's account (typically at the start of term)
and the EPnet card used to make purchases whilst on campus. When the card
is "read" by a till, the transaction is instantly reported to a central PC
and the cost of the purchase deducted from the student's account. The card
is not needed to replenish an account, so cheques can be mailed in as an alternative
to visiting the bursar's office in person. Students may also top up their
account at a money loader. Some colleges may prefer to run the system in credit
mode, with bills being sent to students at the end of term.
Refectory
Students tender their card to pay for food and drink in the refectory. EPnet
can be used with the latest "touch-screen" tills, which makes life simpler
for cashiers. The card is read by the till and deducts the cost of the transaction
from the student's account. When funds in the account run low, the system
will not embarrass students by refusing the transaction, but will allow students
to "overdraw" up to a pre-determined amount, until they can replenish the
account. Some colleges hold regular formal banquets. EPnet can be used to
control the booking system to eliminate "no shows".
"Dual Purse" EPnet allows for discretionary spend, too. The Dual Purse facility means that two separate and discrete accounts can be set up using a single card. This means that funds "ring-fenced" for food cannot be spent on other items. A separate "pocket money" account is used to fund expenditure in other areas -the student's bar, for example. .
Other applications Access to vending machines is also by means of the student's card. Vending machines will dispense hot drinks, snacks and confectionery without the need for coins. EPnet can also be used in the coffee bar or university shop. Control over the use of business equipment, such as photocopiers, computers and fax machines is also achieved using EPnet, with the cost being charged to students' accounts. If colleges wish to add security to accommodation blocks or computer areas, students will be able to use their card for this purpose without disrupting the infrastructure.
Money
loaders Strategically located around the campus, these allow cash to be
added to the student's account and avoid the need for to pay in cash at the
bursar's office. Money loaders can be programmed to accept all notes and coins
or restricted to high denominations only to reduce cash counting and banking.
Golf
Clubs
In golf clubs and other
members clubs, EPnet reduces the problems that handling large amounts of cash
brings with it, such as cashing up; daily banking; change giving and change
queries. Less cash held on the premises gives rise to fewer security problems.
EPnet can also have a positive effect on cashflow by encouraging members to
pay in advance using the "Bar Levy" system 
The "Bar Levy" system EPnet is the ideal way to implement the "Bar Levy" system. It builds loyalty and encourages members to use the facilities. Most Club secretaries will recognise the phenomenon of the "Car park golfer" - fully paid up club members, for whom the use of Clubhouse facilities seems "out-of-bounds". They tread the well-worn path from car park to first tee, never setting foot in the clubhouse or pro-shop. To solve the problem, many Clubs have instigated the "Bar Levy", an additional amount collected up front with the fees, to be spent in the club. Until now, administering the system has been messy, relying on paper vouchers. If Bar Levy monies are added to the members' EPnet account, the system is streamlined and more easily workable. EPnet even caters for "Society Days", with cards, which can operate in credit mode.
Bar & Restaurant EPnet works by opening an account in the name of each member, who then credit their accounts with cash or cheque at the office or by feeding money into a conveniently located loader. The member's card is then used in debit mode to pay for food and drinks in the Club Bar. Staff simply key purchases into the touch screen till and swipe the member's card. The cost of the transaction is instantly debited from their account. Receipts may be issued and members can check their balance at any time at the loader terminal.
Pro Shop The Epnet system may be extended for use in the Pro shop. Goods and purchases are paid for using the card rather than cash. The cost of the transaction is debited from the member's account.
Vending machines Some clubs have installed vending machines to dispense confectionery, snacks, soft drinks and even golfing sundries. Finding the loose change for the machine can be frustrating and result in a missed sale. With EPnet, the purchase can be made using the card, with the transaction debited from the member's account.
