RedCrater’s vision for Combination Smart Card Solutions is that Smart Card technology will be used strategically to support business growth and enrich customer experiences.

Smart Cards offer huge benefits as a strategic tool for combining multiple uses into one technology. For example any combination of identity, bus passes, parking, attraction entry, event tickets, discounts, cash on card, loyalty, building access and computer access can be combined onto a single Smart Card. Because their electronic chip enables data to be stored on the card separately, several discrete applications can all be contained on one card but not be accessible to each other. This ensures complete privacy of data on the card which protects both vendors and customers, and allows solutions to be added onto the card incrementally and in a cost-effective manner.

RedCrater specialises in designing, developing, delivering and managing such highly secure yet extremely flexible Combination Smart Card Solutions. We are experts in developing fully integrated Smart Card solutions either from new or that build upon any pre-existing Smart Card systems already in place. RedCrater provides turn-key solutions and services to the Corporate and Education, Transport, Retail and Hospitality, and Tourism markets worldwide.

Destination Pass

Today’s local travellers, overseas vacation and business visitors expect easy and affordable access to the best a destination can offer, all in one single seamless package. As leaders in the provision of fully integrated Smart Card solutions, RedCrater can help attract, retain and increase visitor numbers and spend with a Smart Card Destination Pass.

Smart Cards provide an effective tool for focussed marketing campaigns by enabling defined packages to be offered strategically. Alternatively, cards can be loaded with customers’ hand-picked attractions and savings as they choose them, offering great flexibility. Key benefits to scheme participants are faster throughput of visitors, greater visitor spend, receipt of payment in advance, and on-going loyalty to both the destination and participant because the cards can be re-loaded.

A Smart Card Destination Pass can include:

• Entitlements for multiple attraction entry
• Multiple people on one card (the card can be loaded with as many passes as needed for individuals or the whole family – forget using multiple cards or tickets)
• Public transport passes (include passes for buses, trains and ferries to enable easy access to city or resort attractions and retail areas)
• Cash on card (credit on the card for use at the point of sale can be pre-loaded either in one transaction at the destination or before leaving home in own currency)
• Streamlined entry (just swipe the card– no need for exchange of cash or an EFTPOS transaction, avoid long queues, offer VIP entry)
• Discounts (the card can be loaded with discounts or bonuses from hotels, restaurants, complementary businesses)
• Assists in collection of tourist information (e.g. country of origin can be loaded on the card and read when used – avoids the need to survey your visitors).

Visitor Smart Card passes are being increasingly adopted worldwide such as the US based Explorer Pass and Go City cards, and the Dublin Pass. These systems are highly complex involving large numbers of participants and offering a wide range of packages. However, a Destination Pass system can be built cost-effectively by starting simple and incrementally adding more applications, participants or more complex package structures. RedCrater are the experts in designing, developing, delivering and managing Combination Smart Card Solutions that can start with simple software and hardware, yet which are highly extensible to support future growth.

Destination Pass Examples

  Destination Pass

City Pass

Promote your city as a vibrant and attractive place to visit or live, and help grow your economy with a Smart Card City Pass. Encourage people to take a bus to work, exchange their library books, buy tickets to a production at the local theatre, redeem a free coffee, use the public swimming pools, and enjoy a night out on the town with free secure parking, by making such offerings all possible on the one Smart Card City Pass.

A Smart Card City Pass provides the tool to help strategically manage the growth of your city by using an integrated system to increase the use of public transport and city facilities, attendance at events and attractions, and spend in retail and hospitality. It can be used either city-wide for a wide range of complementary businesses and services, or more intensively in a focused market sector such as a shopping mall, entertainment district, in relation to a significant city event or for a specific promotional campaign.

RedCrater are the experts in developing fully integrated Smart Card solutions either from new or that build upon any pre-existing Smart Card systems already in place. Most cities already have Smart Card technology in use somewhere such as for student/corporate identity, or bus passes. RedCrater has the unique expertise to create Combination Card Solutions to enable existing Smart Cards to be used for additional services. This vastly increases return on investment as the uptake of new services gains momentum. For example, the number of Smart Cards used for public transport is greatly increased by capturing tertiary students that have Smart Card ID cards.

A Smart Card City Pass can include:

• Public transport passes (increase your use of buses, trains and ferries with Smart Cards which provide pre-paid ticketing and fast entry – just swipe and board!)
• Parking (pay and display and boom-gate operated – pre-paid and faster)
• Access to city facilities – libraries, pools, theatre, galleries etc
• Events and attractions – combined transport, ticketing, streamlined entry and cashless payment
• Student and corporate identity – combined identity, building access and transport or parking entitlements
• Loyalty – encourage people to do business within your city by offering benefits (discounts, loyalty credits, spot prizes, free passes etc) based on use of public transport, city facilities or purchases made.

The Hong Kong Octopus Card and London’s Oyster Card are undoubtedly the most successful uses of Smart Card technology for city pass applications. There are over 19 million Octopus cards in circulation. This system handles over 10 million transactions each day worth HK$90 million. There are 18 million London Oyster Cards issued. 80% of the nearly 10 million daily train and bus journeys use an Oyster card and it is accepted by 4,000 retail outlets city -wide.

The Octopus and Oyster card programmes are definitely at the large end of the scale. However, City Card systems need not be so complex, particularly at the outset. For example, RedCrater has developed a Smart Card system which extends the use of Waiariki Institute of Technology’s student ID and building access Smart Cards, to incorporate bus passes and print/copy control. Waiariki are currently looking at extending the use of these cards further to also include gym membership.

RedCrater encourages any city considering Smart Card technology for a particular use, such as transport ticketing, to become aware of where else Smart Cards are being used within their city and how strategically combining uses onto a single card can provide greater benefits to all. We provide the expertise in designing, developing, delivering and managing such flexible Combination Smart Card Solutions that can be built incrementally and therefore cost-effectively.

City Pass Examples

  City Pass

Event Pass

Make managing events easier by using a single Smart Card Event Pass to manage the complete event including combined ticketing, transport and/or parking, faster patron throughput, removing cash or EFTPOS payment from the event environment, and offering promotional opportunities through entitlements and discounts. Retain customers for a single recurring event or for multiple similar events (such as season rugby games) all on the one card.

A Smart Card Event Pass can include:

• Tickets (either for one event or multiple events such as a season pass
• Event entry (faster throughput by using Smart Cards directly at entry gates)
• Transport and parking (combine event tickets with transport to the event and /or parking)
• Cash on card (remove cash from the event by having pre-loaded cash on the card to be used at point of sale, can top-up the card further at on-site terminals)
• Entitlements (offer entitlements e.g. free t-shirt)
• Discounts (promote loyalty to sponsors by offering discounts on related products/services)
• Can be linked to a City Pass or Destination Pass.

RedCrater has developed a Smart Card Event Pass solution for Eventfinder. They required a Smart Card solution for ticketing, entitlements and cashless payments initially for the New Zealand Beer Festival and later for other similar events.

Membership Card

Membership Smart Cards provide a highly effective tool for managing club memberships, licensing, classifications, programmes, events, records, official and staff credentials, security, and for supporting marketing initiatives. Increase club participation, reduce administrative workloads and provide a better experience for all involved.

A Membership Smart Card can include:

• Membership information (personal data, entitlements, affiliations, qualifications, classifications)
• Event entry (stream lined participant entry, spectator ticketing and entry, visitor entitlements, safety inspection records, equipment registration)
• Participation history (results, rankings, penalties, endorsements)
• Officials or coaches credentials and training
• Discounts and cash on card (for use at club facilities, functions, associated retailers, local restaurants/bars, redemption of sponsorship benefits)
• Physical access to secured buildings, boom-gated and security gated areas, parking facilities, secure computer login
• Promotion and sponsorship support (through branded cards, provision of benefits and rewards, focused marketing), and collection of information on membership behavior (e.g. frequency of participation, type and location of events entered, trends in membership numbers, effectiveness of benefits offered).

Many associations and clubs have existing membership management systems in place, have large numbers of members, and offer a wide range of membership packages, programmes and events. However, a Membership Smart Card Solution can be provided simply and cost-effectively by working with current membership databases and replacing any existing membership cards, or integrating competition databases. Greater benefit is acquired by incrementally adding more applications, participants or more complex structures.

  Membership Card