Transactions / POS Networks

NORTHERN STORES

Northern Stores, a large retail and grocery chain in Canada with operations in remote Northern locations and smaller towns across the country, required an efficient system to handle daily transactions and inventory tracking, as well as monitoring of their product shipments.

Their Challenge
Many sites did not have efficient or reliable high speed Internet connectivity to assist the company with their needs. Many shipments were lost upon delivery across waterways, while financial monitoring was inaccurate and inefficient. In addition, Northern stores is often the only retail outlet available in the remote communities, and residents have been relying on them to conduct personal banking activities.

The Result
Infosat outfitted the company with a Connect system to operate its debit card system and wide area network (WAN), connecting all store sites across Canada to a head office in Manitoba. The cash register, sales and inventory amounts are updated daily at the site with all necessary information being directly transferred securely back to head office. The system also allows for payroll and credit/debit card transactions to be transmitted through the WAN network to the company's intranet. The card system enables customers to deposit cheques or transfer funds at any of the company's dozens of stores, then make debit purchases or obtain cash from a bank machine.

MARINE ATLANTIC

Marine Atlantic is a federal crown corporation which provides a constitutionally mandated passenger and commercial marine transportation system between the Island of Newfoundland and the Province of Nova Scotia. Its fleet consists of three passenger vessels, including the MV Leif Ericson, with a capacity to carry 500 passengers and 300 passenger vehicles, and Canada's two largest ferries namely the MV Caribou and the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood. Each of these larger vessels has a capacity of 1,200 passengers and approximately 350 passenger vehicles.

Their Challenge
It was realized early on that a system for instant monetary and POS transactions was required for fleet operations. Understanding the demand for such electronic commerce applications as ATM machines and Interac, a decision had to be made on what solution is available in the industry to meet within the fleet’s requirements and operating budget. Marine Atlantic thus wanted to find a solution that will encourage its passengers to take advantage of the fleet's onboard amenities during their journey, such as its cafeterias, bars, lounges, video games, and souvenir shops.

The Result
All three ferries were fitted with a stabilized antenna and a Connect system to enable data, voice, fax, Internet, ATM and POS capabilities onboard for both crew and passenger use. Monetary transactions became more efficient and quicker to process, while the system itself has proven to be cost-effective as it is able to provide additional applications.

Source: http://www.marine-atlantic.ca, February 2007