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When you perform a task only once a year, it is hard to remember all the necessary steps. Here are some suggestions from Heartland OneCard.

In our previous post covering contactless card implementation we discussed the card itself and issuing the card.  Next step in implementing contactless technology as part of your campus card program is to review the process of reader installation and use followed by keeping the cardholder informed of the changes to your program.

So you have decided to enhance your campus card program by using contactless smart card technology within your campus card program.  That is an excellent decision and one that will provide your campus, and cardholders, with benefits.  Now comes the fun part, implementing the contactless smart card.  Before you know it your cardholders will be tapping for entry and payments all over campus.  Let’s start the process by looking at three main areas for contactless implementation – let’s start with the card and in a future post we will cover the reader and the cardholder.

Quite often campus administrators ask if they should move to contactless card technology as part of their campus card program, using contactless identification cards instead of magnetic stripe. The answer is a resounding yes. Contactless technology offers many benefits over magnetic stripe technology and will enhance your campus card program for both access control and financial transactions, but more importantly it will enhance the experience of your students.

That’s a question we hear sometimes from campus administrators. As campus card systems grew in popularity over the last 30 years, an important feature of the system was the declining balance account, the “payment option” for the campus card user. Students used their account to make purchases around campus and, additionally, as part of a college’s off-campus merchant program.

Heartland has helped many campuses achieve their campus card goals through the years. While a large portion of our business is on collegiate campuses, Heartland works diligently to meet the needs of corporate, preparatory, and academy campuses, such as Oaks Christian School. Oaks Christian School is a private, college preparatory school located in Westlake Village, CA.

Whether we feel ready or not, the students have returned for another school year. Another year means more meal plans, door access, activity verification, bookstore purchases, parking permits, and more. Have you been able to get your day-to-day operations back on track now that the new semester opening is over? Let’s reflect back on how the new semester opening went.

Students rushing from class to class or activity to activity, not enough time to stop in the dining hall for a meal or a quick pick me up before they head off to their next location. So they stop at the campus vending machines to grab a bottle of water, refreshing can of root beer, bag of chips, or protein bar.

Many campuses say that that ability to accept standard payment types such as credit and debit cards with OneCard is a function that they cannot live without. This includes payments at our terminals and online deposits. With the acceptance of these standard payment types come additional liability and system security concerns.

I see two major trends impacting the retail industry in 2015, and both of them deal directly with point of sale. With cyber-attacks affecting major retailers and mom-and-pops alike, financial security is a daily concern. EMV, along with encryption and tokenization, will make major steps in securing transactions while assuaging consumer fears. Another trend to consider is Near Field Communication (NFC), which will enable mobile commerce and contactless EMV at the point of sale.