Secondly, retailers need to adjust their prices with greater precision and enliven their points of sale with menu-led offers, promotions and information; the only practical way of achieving this is with dematerialised payment.

Today, new payment facilities and the quality of the networks are resolving problems associated with the electronic payment of small sums of money. And finally, the diversity of payment utilities placed at the disposal of consumers (private contactless cards, PayPass or Visa Wave cards, NFC mobile phones, loyalty or fuel cards etc.) will still enable customers without cash to access cash dispenser services.

So, there is more on offer than simple card-reading technology now?

Certainly. We now offer an end-to-end service, covering all activities, from the electronic payment terminal to transaction and service management, via IP and GPRS connectivity.

Our terminals are based on the TELIUM technology used in over 15 million units worldwide. Using this, terminal managers benefit from an attractive price:technology ratio. We can provide connectivity in two different ways. Our secure worldwide IP network is certified by the banks and has an availability factor of 99.95 percent, around the clock. Alternatively, our wireless GPRS network (for which we are the alternative operator in more than 100 countries) has the option of connecting locally to different networks, thus minimising the risk of inadequate coverage.

In addition, we can offer reporting and management services for controlling and remotely managing the terminals. This also includes communications management, the management of cash or dematerialised transactions, alarms and value-added services. So it's a comprehensive package for every aspect of the payments and management cycle.

How is your product range structured and which technologies have you adopted?

Our range of ‘paypoint' machines, sold at a rate of 4 million units annually, benefits from all the developments of the Group. It is based on a simple concept: a paypoint machine should function in a similar manner to a shop; the paypoint machine is a micro-store, in which the terminal is the cash register and the supplier is the shopkeeper.

Starting with this concept, we are able to deploy the entire Group offering, with simple adaptations to suit each line of business. Inside the machine, the cash register is replaced by a ‘black box' which records every transaction and event, and provides a connection to the networks. Payment interfaces are connected to this multi-application black box, including a contactless reader, a contact reader and the associated PIN pads.

Finally - and, without doubt, this is the most important part of the offer - a ‘server' function is provided, enabling the retailers to monitor his activities and to place services online. This service is totally secure. In fact, it is already assisting with the management of large companies, such as a leading fast food chain and a European furniture specialist. It is certified, in terms of security, by the major issuers of credit and debit cards (guaranteeing that the data remains confidential) and it allows access to a bundle of services, such as loyalty programmes, recharging mobile phones or even product information.

There is more and more talk of cashless transactions, bank transfer payments, payment by telephone, etc.. How are you integrating these solutions and which products are Ingenico in a position to offer managers?

As the market leader for payment solutions, it's no surprise that Ingenico is actively participating in all the committees and all the pilot studies associated with the new payment facilities. Managers can therefore rely on Ingenico terminals being compatible with the payment products currently on the market and will keep pace with their development.

The concept of payment also encompasses value-added services... so what kind of opportunities could be on offer to the vending industry?

Ingenico is offering a platform known as Incendo Online. This is a secure channel for the dissemination of information and services which provides a secure connection to any of the service providers the retailer may select from a given bundle. This authenticated connection guarantees to the retailer that a competitor will be unable to display disruptive messages on its machines. The services contained in the bundle may include recharging mobile phones, managing loyalty cards or even distributing information messages. In this way, the retailer is also able to simply create its own services, which we will then relay to the consumer.

After the proliferation in recent years of offers in the field of telemetry and payment, what makes Ingenico stand out from the other players?

Highest on the list, I would place our position as the market leader, which is successfully defended every day in the open market, and the priority we give to Research & Development. This is coupled with worldwide coverage which can be relied upon by companies wishing to expand into the international arena. And finally, our unfailing insistence on security and our unique ability to offer end-to-end solutions.

This is accompanied by the decision to intensively develop the vending offer by mobilising our entire sales network and by availing ourselves of the services of Msr Georges Cywie, a well-known figure in the world of automatic distribution. A wise choice, since it has made it possible to sign significant contracts with international retailers! For an advance presentation of our vending offer, we will be attending the next show of the automatic distribution (AVEX) and we would like to invite your readers to come and see us on our exhibition stand.

Stand P50

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