Advanced Gift Card Solution Boosts Efficiency and Revenue for AIB Merchant Services

The Savvy solution

To address this challenge, AIBMS chose to deploy the advanced PAX A920 Pro countertop terminals, equipped to support third-party Android apps in a secure, privately managed AIBMS App Store. Savvy developed a brand-new gift card application that could be remotely downloaded to any AIBMS PAX A920 Pro device, eliminating the need for an on-site engineer.

Rationale Behind the Solution
Savvy’s approach was designed to offer several key benefits to AIBMS and their mutual customers:

• Operational Efficiency: By integrating the gift card app directly onto the PAX terminals, Savvy ensured that these customers continued to have gift card functionality via the new PAX terminals. These devices support digital and physical gift card processing which streamlines business operations, enhances programme reporting, and frees up resources..
• Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: The new app offered a seamless redemption experience for both digital and physical gift cards, ensuring that customers could redeem their digital cards smoothly and without delay or hassle. It completely eliminated web based portal redemptions.  This was critical in maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction during the transition​.
• Increased Revenue Opportunities: Savvy’s solution opened new revenue streams for AIBMS customers by enabling targeted promotions and especially the government backed tax-free employee gifting schemes in Ireland. By providing these additional features, Savvy helped AIBMS clients maximize their revenue potential while maintaining operational control​.
• Security and Compliance: With built-in anti-fraud technology, the app safeguarded against potential security threats, ensuring that transactions were secure and compliant with industry standards.
• Flexibility and Scalability: The app was designed to be easily scalable, allowing for quick deployment across multiple terminals with minimal disruption to business operations. This ensured that AIBMS customers could continue to operate without any significant impact during the transition from Fexco terminals​.

Approach and Implementation

Understanding Client Needs and Contextual Analysis
The project began with an in-depth understanding of the client’s specific needs. Savvy engaged closely with AIBMS to identify the critical pain points, particularly the reliance on Fexco terminals for gift card services. This collaborative analysis helped define the project’s goals and set the stage for a solution that would not only replace the existing infrastructure but also enhance it.

Designing the Solution: User-Centric App Development
With a clear understanding of the requirements, Savvy’s development team designed a brand-new gift card application tailored to the AIBMS environment. The design process focused on creating a user-friendly interface that would be intuitive for merchants to use. This involved:

• App Layout and User Experience: Ensuring that the app’s menu structure, receipt details, and reporting functionalities met the specific needs of the hospitality sector.
• Security Integration: Incorporating advanced anti-fraud technology into the app to prevent malicious activities and protect both merchants and customers.

Iterative Development and Rigorous Testing

Savvy employed an iterative development approach, continuously refining the app based on feedback from AIBMS and selected pilot users. Rigorous testing was conducted to ensure that:

• The app could be seamlessly deployed via the AIBMS App Store.
• It functioned reliably across various terminal configurations.
• It integrated smoothly with AIBMS’s backend systems for accurate portal reporting.

Seamless Deployment and Transition Management
To minimize disruption, Savvy carefully managed the deployment process:

Remote Deployment: The app was designed to be remotely downloadable to any PAX A920 Pro device, eliminating the need for on-site engineering visits.

Parallel Operation: During the transition phase, Savvy ensured that both the old Fexco terminals and the new PAX terminals could operate concurrently. This approach allowed merchants to continue their operations without any interruptions, providing them with ample time to switch over fully to the new system.

Comprehensive Support and Training
Recognising the importance of user adoption, Savvy provided comprehensive support:

• User Guides and Training: Savvy developed easy-to-follow user guides and conducted training sessions to help merchants get acquainted with the new system.
• Ongoing Support: After deployment, Savvy continued to offer support, ensuring that any issues were quickly resolved and that merchants could take full advantage of the new system’s capabilities.

Continuous Improvement and Future-Proofing
Savvy’s commitment to excellence didn’t end with the deployment. The app was designed to be future-proof, allowing for seamless updates that could be pushed to the entire terminal network without disrupting normal operations. This ensured that AIBMS and their customers would always have access to the latest features and security enhancements.

Results

The solution has been highly successful, with nearly 700 terminals now running across Ireland in the mutual AIBMS and Savvy customer estate. These terminals process hundreds of thousands of transactions annually, with the entire system fully converted from the legacy Fexco estate.