Ocius Proves It's Hard To Beat For Hardware Chain
A pre-approved Chip & PIN payment solution is proving it is hard to beat by helping hardware chain, Charlie’s Stores, to implement the new technology.
Developed by Commidea, Ocius is a pre-certified Chip & PIN system that requires no bank testing and can be integrated with virtually any retail POS setup. With this generic approval, all organisations have to do is simply integrate the Ocius system with their existing POS system and they are ready to accept Chip & PIN transactions. Alternatively, the system can be configured so that the terminal is standalone.
Established for over 20 years and with branches throughout mid Wales and the borders, Charlies Stores is a leading independent retailer of hardware with items ranging from garden products and machinery to toys and giftware. Faced with the shift of liability for fraudulent transactions at the beginning of the year, Charlies Stores working with CTS Retail, leaders in the development and installation of retail systems, decided to evaluate their options. Having looked at the various solutions available, they decided that the Ocius system offered the best in terms of cost implications and ease of implementation.
Developed by Commidea using VeriFone hardware, Ocius has achieved generic approval from major UK banks by approaching Chip & PIN from a different angle. Rather than an individual merchant certified solution that requires each separate component to be tested thoroughly, including the POS, Ocius moves the transaction processing away from the EPoS and directly onto the Chip & PIN terminal. The terminals, VeriFone’s Omni 3750 and 3600, have achieved generic approval, therefore enabling the solution to be implemented with the minimum of bank approval.
As well as an integrated solution, Ocius can also be implemented as a stand-alone terminal and then integrated to the POS system at a later date for those organisations who want to fast track their Chip & PIN acceptance.
CTS Retail integrated the Ocius system with their Oasys EPOS software already running at Charlies Stores, utilising VeriFone 3750 Ethernet terminals, across their sites. They have been configured to work with Commidea’s WinTi card payment processing system at the branch, using ISDN for authorisation. Head office reporting is then provided via Commidea’s Application Manager (CAM) and its TMIS reporting application.
“Whilst larger retailers with dedicated IT budgets and teams, are able to look at fully integrated Chip & Pin Solutions, many mid-tier retailers are struggling to justify both the cost and resource requirements for a fully integrated solution,” commented Elaine Holloway, CTS Retail’s Client Services Manager.
“Charlies Store Ltd found themselves to be in this situation, so working with CTS, an extensive survey of the Chip & Pin Solution market was undertaken to identify a cost effective solution. The Commidea Ocius solution was selected and a three-way partnership was established to ensure an effective integration, pilot and roll-out plan were carried out.”