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Web Terminals
Web
Terminals are the logical next evolution of the classic physical
POS
Terminals.
Rather than requiring an additional piece of physical
hardware, the same functionality is offered on an Internet-based
application. In other words, these are special websites with
secure logins that are only available to authorized store clerks.
These offer a much richer visual experience, as well as a
much enhanced GUI (Graphical User Interface) that isn't possible on
classic credit card type terminals.
Some benefits include:
- Rich
color graphical user interface (GUI)
- Easier
navigation for pulling up account information, selecting payment
options, etc.
- Lower clerk learning curve; Web interfaces tend to
be a more rich and intuitive user experience
- Fast
and easy to make updates; Web application deployments don't require
terminal level pulls/pushes
- Easily supports multiple
wireless providers and programs
- Rich tracking,
reporting, and analytics tools that are usually real time, which is not
typically available on POS terminal programs
So
how web terminals work?
1.
For Card Activations
- The
one major downfall of web applications is that they can't support swipe
activation of physical cards. Card serial numbers can be
manual entered, or scanned using a bar code, but the classic swipe and
sell process is not directly supported. However, there is
add-on technology that can make the transaction feel more like a
swipe-and-sell process
- This
isn't really considered to be a major problem since this type of card
sale has become less and less common/popular in non-large retailer
stores. Generally speaking, physical replenishment cards are
being phased out of the industry altogether.
2.
For
PIN Sales
- This
process is virtually identical to the POS Terminal experience.
The only real difference relates to the benefits of the web
described above. The beauty of this approach is that a simple
Web application can easily support cards and/or PINs, and one or the
other or both products can be offered at a wireless carrier level with
ease. In other words, the Web Terminals can support whatever
is needed by the store as they have agreed to with the prepaid wireless
provider.
3.
For Topup Sales
- This process is also
virtually
identical to the POS
Terminal experience, except, again
as it relates to
the advantages of web applications.
- The real beauty of
using a Web terminal to process topup sales (i.e. Real
Time Replenishment) is that different topup amounts can be
easily added and removed as needed. The denominations and
values of open range topups can also be defined based on the user
login! It provides tremendous flexibility.
Generally speaking, Web terminals have largely taken over other
terminal type technology in non-major retailer stores. It
provides more flexibility, is cheaper and easier to maintain, and is
generally a much richer user experience and overall customer
experience. Also, initial deployment is FAR faster, easier,
and less costly. Careful consideration does need to be taken
to ensure that user IDs and passwords are secure, and that access is
truly limited only to people WITHIN a given store. For
example, an employee who quits or is fired should not have access to
the Web application outside of the store location. Believe
you me, many prepaid wireless providers have run into issues with this
seemingly simple issue over the years. The good news is that
with some thoughtful consideration, all of these types of security
concerns can be easily addressed.
Return from Web Terminals to POS Technology
Return to Prepaid Wireless Guide Homepage
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