Card conversions are now second nature to ASK Global

Converting all types of amusement products to accept card payments has now become second nature to specialists ASK Global Solutions. The UK-based company is already supplying card reader conversion kits for a multitude of coin operated products, and the list grows ever longer. 

“We started with Juke Boxes and moved quickly onto Pool Tables,” explained ASK Global director Fivos Polymniou. “To date we have also supplied conversion kits for Pinball, Cranes, Amusement machines, Popcorn and Candy Floss dispensers and the latest popular requests include Darts and Football Tables.”

As a result of the popularity of adding “tap and play” to all things coin operated, ASK Global now works directly with several manufacturers of Juke Boxes and Pool Tables. They supply their conversion kits to the OEM, who factory fit the card reader and associated components. They are then despatching direct to site with card readers already “live” and ready to use.

ASK Global uses several different card reader types for its payment solutions. A PIN on glass device although costing more than a simple “tap and play” card reader offers a much higher specification; ASK Global uses its PIN on glass readers additional processing power to run different operating systems, drive LCD and Touch screen displays and run its bespoke User Interface to massively enhance the customer purchasing experience.

“An innovation that we are very excited about is the ASK Pool Server or MIS,” added Fivos. “Due to the connectivity advancements in the telemetry devices that process the transaction, ASK Global has been able to make every Pool Table a “connected” product. With our low power battery solution and proprietary interface board we can push and pull data and price of play changes remotely. We retrieve a host of information about draw openings, battery life, coin in, card tap, sessions of play back to the ASK server.”

What can be simpler than tapping your phone to make a payment; something we take for granted in Retail and Food/Beverage outlets
– Fivos Polymniou, ASK Global Solutions

 Operators have seen significantly uplift in revenues when adding or using card readers on their equipment. Pool Tables, especially, have seen a resurgence in demand as many venues now allow customers to pay with their card or smartphone. Investing in product is now more viable as revenues increase.

Savings in operational costs from less coin, more information from connectivity (where once there was none) and proactive alerts are key benefits of contactless systems.

Customer convenience and ease of use is key to making the spending process as attractive as possible. “What can be simpler than tapping your phone to make a payment; something we take for granted in Retail and Food/Beverage outlets,” said Fivos. All card spend is trackable allowing customers to be aware of where and what they spend. Families especially can budget accordingly when on holiday or visiting entertainment locations.

ASK Global also recently announced its move into the Open Banking sphere; where almost every bank is now available to a customer to make a payment. ASK Global will add Open Banking to many of its payment solutions that need higher transaction values. Open Banking is future proof, requires much less investment in devices and gives choice back to the operator and ultimately the customer.

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