For more information contact us on:
T: 0118 948 2588
E: enquiries@ackltd.co.uk
More innovative ACK Solutions....
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ACKTerm for WinCE - Simple integration without accredition requirements for mobile EFT >More
Bulk Delivery System - Consolidate multiple transaction log files for bulk submission to acquiring banks >More
Deterministic Queuing Service - Manage multiple remote site EFT authorisations via head office >More
E Top Up - Additional revenue opportunties for retail with E Top Up of mobile phones >More
Fuel Cards - A strength area for ACK, along with support now for the IFSF standard >More
IFSF Interface - A defined standard for simple interfacing to fuel forecourt systems but with many benefits to the general marketplace >More
Roll Out Manager - Centralised production of configuration parameter files for role out to large estate >More
Soft MSR - Utilise existing mag stripe readers plus chip & pin devices for other functions such as user log in >More
Switching Server - Add resiliance to multi till sites with this EFT server back up option >More
Why work with ACK?
Accepting credit cards for most retailers is its lifeblood and so this
small element of the whole retail cycle becomes the most important part.
Selection of the right supplier and application to perform this task
therefore becomes critical. From our experience gained helping customers
over the years we have drawn up this list of considerations when
selecting EFT software.
All low cost offerings come at a price which is often difficult to see during the selection process. It is most important to ensure that all costs over the lifetime of the application are identified as clearly as possible and in this must be included the burden of support whether that falls on the EPoS integrator or merchant.
What happens when?
You begin the roll out, who does the site configuration and at what cost?
ACK have developed Roll Out Manager all that is required is for the global parameters to be defined and complete the site specific information. At this stage Roll Out Manager will produce the individual configuration files ready for downloading to each site.
What happens if you need to change banks 12 months later, can you do that yourself, does it take considerable time from an EFT expert or do you need supplier support and if so at what cost?
ACK EFT products are supplied with simple to use configuration tools allowing changes to be quick and simple, requiring minimal engineering support. With the development of ACK Estate Manager such changes will be controlled centrally and ‘pushed’ out to remote sites.
Are you being asked to sign up to a lengthy contract period to use the software and additional services? What’s the cost of terminating the contract early?
ACK provide software under standard software licence conditions without time limit. Once the software is purchased the only additional cost is the fixed annual maintenance fee. ACK remain independent of network providers and managed services giving retailers freedom of choice to select the best elements for the environment.
Are all the costs over the lifecycle of the application clearly defined at the start? Are there additional costs for upgrading to latest versions?
ACK use the very best endeavours to ensure that all known costs are clearly identified at the outset. This allows the retailer to more accurately budget year on year costs. Our standard annual maintenance package provides for new code releases if relevant or required.
What happened if my communication infrastructure fails?
ACK EFT software a point of sale has the ability to try twice via the primary communications link, if that fails then an automatic switch can take place to an alternative route. A good example of this is with the growing number of retailers opting to use broadband services for routing EFT traffic. In normal operation the IP link is used to route through to the bank if that fails then the ACK code will switch to a back up solution perhaps a traditional modem link. This all happens seamlessly with only a small delay during the retries being experienced by consumer.
In a server/client environment what happens if the EFT server fails?
ACK have developed Switching Server for just this condition. In the event of the EFT server all client PoS will automatically switch to using a back up EFT server on the network. It is noteworthy that ACK have always advocated the use of branch-level servers for multi-POS installations and a server is not necessary as the ACK software makes very little demand on system resources and can be run on single a standalone or master PoS.
How mature is the EFT code you are considering?
ACK EFT software has been developed over many years and the same core code is in use today as it was 10 years ago. As new operating systems have come along we have retained that common core ensuring that with each new operating system ACK EFT products have not had to be re-written. Such action ensures solid code that works, first time every time.
Does the EFT solution you are considering allow additional functions such as E Top Up to be added with minimal complication?
ACK EFT software is provided with additional support for such functionality as E Top Up, Gift Cards and Loyalty Cards as standard simply requiring a licence key to activate once required in the field. This is achieved through the modular design philosophy employed by ACK in all its developments.