Have you ever wondered what the cryptic image (see right) at some restaurants, coffee shops and markets is? Here’s a hint – it’s not some secret code of a society you don’t belong to. On the contrary, it’s something useful guaranteed to make your life somewhat easier.
SnapScan is a smartphone payment app developed right here in Stellenbosch by technology start-up company FireID, located in Tegnopark – Stellenbosch’s own Silicon Valley. The guys from FireID realised that a cashless society, where payments were easier and faster to make, is became a necessity.
In 2013 SnapScan won the South African App of the year and it has been featured on Business Insider’s Top 12 African Start-ups list. In May of this year it joined in partnership with Standard Bank.
SnapScan benefits both the customer and the merchant. For the customer it provides an alternative for cash and credit cards, it’s faster and is meant to be more secure.
You no longer have to wait to have a payment processed at a terminal or risk carrying a credit card with you. You simply take a picture of the merchant’s unique QR code (the cryptic image) with your phone, enter your pin and the amount you want to pay. After the transaction is completed the customer and merchant receives an SMS notification to confirm.
The merchant never handles your credit card or details. Your card details are stored securely on your phone, encrypted and protected by a pin you select yourself.
It doesn’t cost you anything, no sign-up fee, setup, installation or monthly fee. All you need to do is download the app from the Apple or Google Play store, fill in your card details and you’re good to go. The app is available for iOS, Android, and BlackBerry.
For merchants the application is easy and fast. All they need is a cell phone and they can process payments, whether it’s a coffee shop or an informal trader at a market. The Big Issue, the non-profit magazine sold at intersections, vendors have recently been enabled to use SnapScan.
Not too bad for something starting out only in a number of stores around in Stellenbosch – from 600 merchants at the end of 2013 to 12 000 at present. So what are you waiting for? Start snapping!
More info on SnapScan:
https://www.facebook.com/SnapScanApp
http://www.getsnapscan.com/
[SOURCES: http://mybroadband.co.za, http://www.techcentral.co.za, http://www.2oceansvibe.com, http://ventureburn.com]
Het jy al gewonder wat die kriptiese prentjie (sien regs) by sommige restaurante, koffiewinkels en markte is? Wel, dis NIE die geheime kode van een of ander organisasie waaraan jy nie behoort of `n optiese illusie nie. Inteendeel, dit eintlik iets nuttig wat gewaarborg is om jou lewe makliker te maak.
SnapScan is `n slimfoon applikasie wat net hier in Tegnopark, Stellenbosch se eie Silicon Valley, deur FireID ontwikkel is. Die ouens van FireID het besef dat `n kontantlose samelewing waar betalings vinnig en maklik gemaak kan word, binnekort `n noodsaaklikheid gaan begin word.
In 2013 het SnapScan die eerste prys gewen as Suid-Afrikaanse Toepassing van die jaar en is dit reeds gelys op Business Insider se Top 12 African Startups– lys. In Mei vanjaar het dit ook `n venootskap aangegaan met Standard Bank.
SnapScan is voordelig vir beide die kliënt en die handelaar. Vir die kliënt bied dit `n alternatief vir kontant en kredietkaarte, beloof dit om veiliger te wees en is dit vinniger as tradisionele betaalmetodes.
Jy hoef nie meer te staan en wag dat jou betaling by `n kredietkaartmasjien verwerk word of die risiko neem om `n kaart saam met jou te dra nie. Jy neem bloot `n foto van die handelaar se unieke QR-kode (die kriptiese prentjie), sleutel jou PIN-kode in en die bedrag wat jy wil betaal. Sodra die transaksie voltooi is, ontvang die handelaar en kliënt beide `n sms ter bevestiging.
Die handelaar hanteer nooit jou kredietkaart of details nie. Jou kaartinligting word veilig op jou foon gestoor, enkripteer en word beskerm deur `n PIN-nommer wat jy self gekies het.
Dit kos jou niks. Geen aansluitfooi, opstelling of maandelikse betaling nie. Jy hoef net die toepassing af te laai van die Apple of Google Play-winkel, jou kaartinligting te stoor en jy’s reg om dit te gebruik. Die toepassing is reeds beskikbaar vir iOS, Android, en BlackBerry
Vir handelaars is die aansoek vinnig en maklik. Hulle benodig slegs `n selfoon om betalings te kan verwerk – of dit nou `n koffiewinkel of `n informele handelaar by `n mark is. So gebruik verkopers van The Big Issue, `n nie-winsgewende tydskrif wat op straathoeke verkoop word, ook reeds SnapScan.
Nie sleg vir iets wat eers net in `n paar winkels in Stellenbosch gebruik is nie – van 600 handelaars aan die einde van 2013 tot die huidige 12 000.
So waarvoor wag jy? Gaan neem daai prentjie af!
Meer inligting oor SnapScan:
https://www.facebook.com/SnapScanApp
http://www.getsnapscan.com/
[BRONNE: http://mybroadband.co.za, http://www.techcentral.co.za, http://www.2oceansvibe.com, http://ventureburn.com]
