By Gary Wollenhaupt
Case Study
This article originally published in Self-Service World magazine's special section, FOCUS: Self-Service in Entertainment & Gaming, Aug 2007.
In designing next-generation solutions, self-service provider Boink Systems Inc. takes a best-of-breed approach. That means it searches out the top supplier for each component, rather than settling for integrated offerings that might come from fewer suppliers. Having top components is crucial, especially in the high-stress environment of a casino, where many Boink kiosks are deployed.
It's kind of like buying car. If you want a Mercedes-Benz, you know you'll pay a premium price based on the strength of the brand. Sure, a cheaper car could get you from Point A to Point B. But a Mercedes will do it with style, luxury and reliability.
William Toro, Boink Systems CEO, said the same thought process was behind the selection of Sagem Denmark's encrypting PIN pads for Boink's line of next-generation kiosks. All of Boink's products have multiple functions. In addition to ATM services, the kiosks also redeem casino tickets, sell movie tickets or help customers complete some kind of transaction.
"Sagem Denmark's pads were one of those components where we felt the quality of the product was excellent," Toro said. "Sagem PIN pads are very reliable and we're happy with the product."
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| The Venetian's kiosk offers several functions, including ATM -- which demands an encrypted PIN pad. |
Sagem's PIN pads are found in a variety of Boink products, including the Money Source ATM, a bill breaker and gaming ticket cashier that's an all-in-one self-service guest relations center for casinos. Movie patrons may encounter Boink's Perfect Attendant at the local cineplex, where it dispenses tickets as well as cash through the ATM function. Sagem pads also have found their way into Boink's foodservice kiosks.
"Our products provide a point of interaction to help a customer in some way," Toro said.
Dependability is critical for self-service kiosks; in casinos, for example, an ATM and ticket-redemption machine may handle 2,000 or more transactions a day. Boink has taken advantage of the different products from Sagem Denmark, using different models of pads with varying footprints and capabilities to fit into specific applications. In some cases, a small footprint is required to fit into a multipurpose kiosk. On the other hand, a keypad with a larger footprint sometimes is desirable to make the pad easier to see. "They have a good mix of different devices," Toro said.
The fact that Sagem Denmark's pads meet security requirements makes the choice easier. Toro noted Triple-DES compliance was a factor in Boink's choice of Sagem Denmark's pads. The pads also are VISA PED-approved and PCI rated. Boink typically uses Sagem Denmark products off the shelf, designing hardware and software to easily integrate the pads into the product.
"Once that's taken care of, you have a product that works well and reliably," Toro said.
Boink completed the certification process with banking interchange operators for the ATM function, and the company's kiosks with Sagem Denmark pads have undergone testing in a variety of labs, including Nevada Gaming, Gaming Laboratories International, RBSLynk and ASAI.
"The pads have been through a lot of labs as part of the equipment certification process," Toro said.
The PIN pads often are the least glamorous part of a self-service kiosk, overlooked by the end-user unless there's a very rare problem with a pad. That's why Boink chooses the Mercedes-Benz of the PIN pad industry. Although another pad could fulfill the function, it may not have the high standard of durability that's required.
"The pad is one of those things that go unnoticed, but there are lots of components inside a complex machine that the end-user doesn't get exposed to," Toro said. "We don't talk a lot about the Sagem Denmark PIN pads, but we've been very happy with them."
