Biometric Cashless Catering

[gl2u2]

Hello All,

 

Currently using Cunninghams card system but the Head's not happy - any recommendations for biometric systems from other suppliers?

 

Thanks.

[Edu-IT]

Nationwide Retail Systems.Nationwide Retail Systems Ltd - Nationwide Retail Systems Ltd

[CambsICT]

Two issues I've come across with biometrics:

1. Queues at the readers

2. Parents objecting to the use of biometric data.

[gl2u2]

Thanks for all the responses. I should point out that I actually think Cunninghas cashless catering solution works quite well and generally don't have problems. However, this time round the issue is hardware related - 2 of our three revals are down - and it's been a nightmare getting through to technical support and trying to get an engineer site visit (still waiting, called logged on 03/09). Head teachers aren't that forgiving and don't understand why everything cant be sorted TODAY!!!! Frankly, since we pay the thick end of 2K in support fees annually she's right to feel aggrieved.

[pete]

I assume the "why don't we just ditch the revaluation machines?" conversation has been had?

 

When we were tendering for cashless catering, nearly every vendor said "please don't buy revaluation machines from us because as a concept and from a reliability standpoint they're all terrible" (I paraphrase, but that was the gist from the sales people).

 

So we didn't bother and everyone tops up their balance online.

 

We're using Biostore for auth, Vericool for the catering/vending and ParentPay to top up balances. Initial setup and bedding in is a bit of a faff but it maybe takes 10mins/week of my time nowadays.

[IrritableTech]

In almost two years I think only one of our two reval machines has broken down due to a broken bank note reader. We encourage online payments obviously, but the revals are still well used.

 

We use LiveRegister. It doesn't have the same feature list as cunninghams and nationwide but does exactly what we wanted from a cashless system. Quick and easy tills speeding up service.

 

As for biometrics, initially we had about 2% of students requesting pins rather than us scanning their thumbs. Mainly by sixth formers rather than parents of lower years. That number has reduced since then.

 

I'd assume you'd need three quotes with the cost of such systems, so it'd probably worth looking at them.

[tech-man]

I think it's fair to say that most Cashless providers are swamped this time of year...!

[Wubbalubbadub]

As soon as the head see it costs another 10k to change the complete system.. One day won't matter so much!

 

Usually cunninghams are really good.. Had them in two schools it worked at and hoping to get them in my current place!

 

If had card readers break, I phone up and usually the same day get a receptionist telling me someone is here to fix it! (In my old place anyway)

[howartp]

I've looked at leaving CRB for a couple of years; this year it's 2nd in line on the call for my capital budget so I'm hoping it will happen.

 

NRS is the planned destination.

[Achandler]

We have Cunninghams, support at this time of year is atrocious as expected. We have had reval machines up and down everyday since start of the term, so only 4 days. Finally got an engineer visit yesterday to sort it out and another mess up by Cunninghams over the summer which meant 700 items in our menu were wrongly priced!

 

If your reval machines aren't working make sure your call is escalated to be an emergency callout, as students unable to put money non means they might not be able to buy food or atleast feel they can't because it is awkward and embaressing.

 

I don't mind cashless catering so much, but relying on parents putting money on online is impossible to as most providers want the UPN numbers to create online accounts and you don't have all the UPN numbers yet, we have about 10-15% missing still as we haven't been sent the CTF files or the DFE hasn't issued a number to the pupil yet (or hasn't let us have it). That is ignoring the other problem of not all our parents have Internet at home, laptops or computers etc, yes they may have SMart Phones but I suspect most online payments websites are designed for phones.

[john]

Agree with suggestions for Nationwide was very happy with them and the support offered.