SmartPay Announces Software Innovation

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SmartPay Announces Software Innovation

AUCKLAND Tuesday, February 20 2007 Prepaid solutions provider SmartPay NZ Ltd (NZX:SPY) has announced a new, groundbreaking POS software solution for service station group Gasoline Alley Services Ltd (G.A.S) in a retail innovation which has major impact for shop owners.

The software combines the SmartPay application for prepaid topup vouchers and calling cards with EFTPOS capability and a host of other applications embedded in a single POS terminal.

The solution was a combined project by SmartPay and Radium, a specialist technology company, which developed the software to operate on Cadmus terminals. Applications include software to also process a range of fleet management/fuel cards and a G.A.S/Diners Club International loyalty card.

The single terminal application is significant for retailers, with counter space today like prized real estate,” says Mr Linc Burgess, chief executive of SmartPay. “The EFTPOS pinpad software sits alongside other multiple secondary applications in the same terminal. The one terminal solution provides multiple benefits and features, including more counter space.”

G.A.S general manager Jocelyn Murray is committed to any technology innovations which assists retailers. She was involved in the first oil industry EFTPOS trial installation in 1989, and says now she is again privileged to be involved at the leading edge of retail technology.

“This is great news for G.A.S retailers because they can also initiate additional revenue streams such as prepaid vouchers and calling cards from the SmartPay application.”

More than 130 planned and existing G.A.S sites nationwide are included in the roll-out between now and the end of the year.

Mr Burgess added: “Since each application requires a large piece of terminal memory we needed to move the EFTPOS application off the printer and in to the pinpad. This freed up the memory in the printer to allow the G.A.S and SmartPay software to reside there.

“The primary benefit to the retailer is that they have one terminal that has multiple functionality, rather than having one or two separate terminals taking up room on the counter.”

He said the solution would now bring new revenue opportunities from prepaid vouchers and calling cards for retailers who previously were reluctant to have a separate terminal sitting on the counter.

“We are expecting other retailers to want to follow the G.A.S lead.”

Mrs Murray said the re-action from G.A.S retailers had been “quite amazing”, particularly with the “seamless” transaction processing.

“It’s profit for our service station owners who have never had this revenue stream before. One of our people had never realized that it could actually make money. He thought it was just a free service we were providing.”

The solution also provided the retailer with the ability to reconcile their takings at the end of the day or at the end of a shift.

“The functionality is fantastic. There are cost savings on equipment and the ability to provide sales reports of various staff members and other benefits.”

She said G.A.S service stations were eager to plug in to the business of selling prepaid vouchers and calling cards because of its estimated $600 million worth of annual sales in New Zealand.
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Pic caption: G.A.S Penrose service station owner Hidayat Kokate (centre) with SmartPay sales manager Melissa Barry (left) and Jocelyn Murray, G.A.S general manager.

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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

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