‘V-Engineering’ part 2: Cloud: new gateway for remote monitoring and mobile commerce
Once a dynamic schedule is derived, its contents can be used to construct pre-pick lists for each machine and can then be aggregated to produce location, route, and truckload reports. Cloud-based RMM capabilities are significantly enhanced through the incorporation of accurate and timely data, producing:
Dynamic Forecasting
Having data indicating when coins or currency require collection or knowing machine inventory levels for pre-pick replenishment or awareness of maintenance or service alarms in advance of route trafficking can be of assistance in determining warehousing needs as well as tracking product movement. Pre-packing (pre- kitting) products at the warehouse can significantly impact route efficiencies.
Dynamic Notification
Machine communication of events and alarm conditions can be used to monitor and manage machines. Key factors relate to machine functionality, inventory movement, mechanics, and settlement data.
Dynamic Pricing
Two-way communication between a machine and remote device can enable remote price updating from a distant location.
Dynamic Scheduling
Since not all machines will require service, collection, or replenishment on a fixed schedule basis, a dynamic scheduling algorithm is capable of constructing a flexible routing without reliance on inefficient, static routing.
Dynamic Routing
Given the flexibility of dynamic scheduling, route maps can be built based on required stops (e.g., servicing or replenishment). Dynamic routing software can be applied to produce an efficient routing scheme.
Dynamic Couponing
Digital coupons can be found on Websites, through Web advertisements, received via email, pushed by opt-in programs, or available through related digital media. The difference between a traditional printed coupon and a dynamic coupon is its unique “call-to-action” (apply in a timely manner). The fact that the coupon is usually time and/or location specific (expires in a short timeframe) lends itself well to cloud computing monitoring in real time.
Cloud-based mobile wallets
Cashless vending normally refers to credit/debit account transactions via a magnetic stripe or contactless plastic card. The recent advent and implementation of cloud-based mobile wallets has added another settlement option.
A recent online survey conducted by Visa found that nearly two-thirds of respondents between the ages of 25 and 34 responded favorably to using a mobile phone for purchase payment. The survey also revealed that 64 percent of the respondents were interested in receiving coupons through a mobile device. In addition, more than half of those surveyed admitted carrying a mobile phone at least 75 percent of the time.
It is widely assumed that the demand for NFC technology is being heavily driven by the emergence of contactless payment formats packaged into mobile devices (advanced m-commerce).
The development and deployment of embedding NFC chipsets into cellular phones is projected to drive widespread adoption of a mobile wallet (also termed a cyber wallet or e-wallet) during the next couple of years.
It is important to remain mindful that data exchange in a mobile wallet transaction is controlled by the NFC chip in the phone. Hence, the POS terminal and the smartphone must both be NFC-compliant for settlement to occur.
A mobile payment solution requires downloadable applications for both the payment device and retail POS device. As physical and virtual points of sale converge, payment processes are being streamlined into a simpler data exchange. The transference of payment account information can be accomplished by activating the mobile wallet and selecting the desired account for transaction settlement.
The consumer will then be presented with the operator’s mobile Web page to select the payment option. Successful operations require that the machine reader support software capable of interoperating with the wallet’s functionality.
Since mobile wallets store account and proprietary data on a secure, remote cloud-based server and are powered by NFC technology, there is an assumption of reduced risk of unauthorized interception or interference.
While a mobile wallet is primarily a payment device, the ability to receive and store coupons, promotions, incentives, rewards, loyalty points, video clips, and other value-added services are important considerations. A mobile wallet may be built on a mobile commerce platform capable of integrating with a bank, payment processor, and wireless carrier.
