Why you need an advanced pulse interface
Coin-operated pulse machines have been a part of all our lives for more than a century. Car washes, air vacs, laundromats, photo booths, children’s rides, prize machines, and more recently gaming consoles, etc.
However, there is no question that the world is changing since the Advent of the covid-19 pandemic. But the fact is, for all the challenges it has created, it is also driving amazing opportunities for both integrators and operators of coin-op pulse machines.
Coin operated machines have always had their share of glitches. Coins getting stuck, machines getting stuck so nothing happens, customers not having the right change on hand, and losing some of your income, when someone empties the machine at the end of the day…
What is keeping operators for making more money?
There are several factors that are keeping typical coin-op machines from making more money.
Theft – research shows that at least 10% of revenue goes missing due to theft. It is very easy to have a percentage of coinage disappear as the machines are being emptied and during counting, with little recourse for stopping this.
Running out of coin or cash – there are plenty of instances when a customer would continue using a service if not for the fact then they ran out of coins or cash which translates into lost potential revenue.
Additional equipment – in some instances, additional equipment such as timers need be installed to complete the solution. In the case of timers, this can cost hundreds of additional dollars.
The condition of equipment – today operators have partial or inaccurate information regarding the condition their machine is in, whether it is functioning properly or out of order.
Some nice to haves include:
- Additional forms of payment that can be offered with connected machines.
- Instant notification of glitches or of faulty operation.
- Tracking income and pinpointing problems with integrated management systems.
New Revenue opportunities
Putting things in perspective – imagine being able to secure a 10 to 30% increase in revenue with your existing equipment by just retrofitting your existing machines. If this sounds like science fiction, it’s actually just state-of-the-art technology coming to the Forefront.
It all begins with contactless technology. The simple fact is that money is not a clean surface. Today, people are more conscious of this and have come to realize that with all the viruses hanging around, people are looking to stop touching coins and cash. That’s where cashless technology is helping operators’ cash-in on profits.
But it goes much further than that. The new technologies can actually deliver some valuable additions to the whole operation that contribute to an improved bottom line. It’s not just additional income. It is additional customer satisfaction.
Who stands to benefit?
The following types of machines can be positively affected:
- Kiddie Amusement Rides
- Prize Machines
- Arcade Machines
- Photo Booths
- Self-Service Car Wash
- Air Vacs
- Laundromats
- Public Lockers
- Massage Chairs
- Public Bathrooms
- Self-Service Pet Wash Station
Retrofitting with Trio-IQ
TRIO-IQ changes your simple coin-op pulse machine into a powerful, state-of-the-art cashless/contactless pulse machine. An intelligent, state of the art modular combo platform , TRIO-IQ combines Telemetry with a 5-in-1 EMV payment reader to offer full integration even with your existing coin-op functionality and full payment options. The system knows how to sample the pulses that come in and estimate how many and which coins were inserted so even the coin payment s are counted and monitored.
TRIO-IQ is a standard size (so it can be retrofit easily with most existing equipment). It also has full connectivity options: Cable, WIFI, BT etc. It supports all customer requirements including working seamlessly with 4G networks.
More revenue potential
The smart billing process enables users to easily add more operations to an existing operation and get a single charge for all. This keeps them playing and spending more money rather than losing focus and searching for more change.
Integrated capabilities can also save on outlay. Some machines have need of an additional timer module that can cost up to $700. TRIO-IQ eliminates the need for a separate timer since it is capable of getting input directly from the machine and acting as a timer using its built-in display.
Fully customizable
Integrators love TRIO-IQ because it is easy to customize and configure and thanks to OTI’s open garden approach which provides you with SDK’s and API’s.
Payment processes can be configured by the operator at will. Everything can be customized including the messages on the display, the amounts, pulses, coin up or coin down, etc.
In addition, custom configurations and immediate actions can be done remotely. No need to bother going in person to the machine.
New payment channels
TRIO-IQ supports it all; Credit cards / smart phones that support EMV, insert, swipe, tap and QR Code.
The QR Code can be given as a coupon in front of the machine. The TRIO-IQ knows how to read it and send it to the server for approval for further operation.
Reporting
There are various options for reports and notifications. For example, monthly activity reports – allows tracking and control and prevents theft as happens today in the transfer of cash from the machine to the recipient.
Real-time reporting of faulty equipment enables operators to fix the problem in a timely manner, cutting down on the loss of revenue due to inoperable machines.
The bottom line
To sum up, there are several advantages of retrofitting Pulse Machines for cashless payments.
Adding cashless payment abilities to your coin-operated machine opens up new revenue streams. In the process, by connecting your machine to the cloud, significant costs savings can be achieved by more streamlined and efficient management.
Some research shows enabling cashless payments can increase revenue and profitability by as much as 28%. Consumers are likely to use your machine multiple times in the one visit, simply because they don’t need an endless supply of coins or bank notes to feed into the machine.
Connecting your machine to the network allows you to run your machines much more efficiently. Cloud management systems provide real-time status data for each machine. This saves money in two ways; less downtime when a machine is not working and fewer costs servicing the machine.
