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Scheidt & Bachmann case study, Sitemaster - Integration of filling station functionality into a supermarket cash desk system



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Place: Gerlafingen, Switzerland
Client: SPAR Handels AG
Implementation: Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH and Schenk Systeme AG

Situation Analysis

The SPAR Handels AG also runs filling stations in Switzerland. These are located directly at the supermarkets and are an integrated component of the supermarket concept. Customers who fill their vehicles at the station pay for fuel and shop purchases together at the cashdesk in the supermarket. Until now, the filling station calculations have been carried out via a separate cashdesk system. This system prints a document with a barcode after the customer has filled up. This barcode contains the filling information and is then scanned by the supermarket cashdesk. This then books the data in the supermarket cashdesk system and the customer is charged accordingly. The administration of the filling station is also handled via the separate system.

Aim of the project

In order to reduce the costs and complexity of the system, a solution is required that enables filling to be charged using the existing supermarket cashdesk system whilst also cutting out the need for the separate cashdesk system for the filling station. The aim was to have a single system per supermarket workplace rather than the two current cashdesk systems and, at the same time, to include all filling station relevant data in the system for payment and further processing (picture 2 shows the initial situation with 2 systems). At the same time, the system must enable payment with cash, but also with traditional debit (MAESTRO) and credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, AMEX etc.), as well as filling station cards such as Tamoilcard, Bonuscard etc.

Concept and implementation

In conjunction with their partners Schenk Systeme AG, Scheidt & Bachmann have successfully implemented this challenging project. The system was installed and put into operation all completed within a day.

The Scheidt & Bachmann Sitemaster enables the pump data to be displayed and to be called up by the supermarket system. This enables both the Tamoil and the supermarket to be administered by a single system.

The standardised IFSF "FDC POS STANDARD" (Forecourt Device Controller Point Of Sale) interface is used to enable the Sitemaster to communicate with the supermarket cashdesks. A Java application enables calling and processing the functions of the filling station controller on the supermarket BOS. This means that switching workstations between the individual steps of the process is no longer necessary.

In order to make the best possible use of the potential of the Tamoil filling station, a Scheidt & Bachmann OPT 240 automated terminal was installed. This enables the operation of the filling station at night after the supermarket has closed. The automated terminal passes the sales data to the Sitemaster which then passes the data to the supermarket BOS. This makes all sales data available centrally at all times. In the event of excess cash being paid at the OPT 240 during automated operation, a credit note is generated. This credit note can subsequently be used either at the automated terminal or at the supermarket cashdesk.

This enables SPAR to keep their existing cashdesk system, to optimise the processes, to make the best of the sales potential of the filling stations and, last but not least, makes space at the workstations for additional "impulse purchase items close to the cashdesk". This is the first project of this kind to be implemented in Switzerland. This success sets the foundations for additional Sitemaster installations. The integration of the IFSF FDC POS interface in the supermarket environment enables the simple and flexible integration of filling station control into an existing cash desk system, as clearly demonstrated by this SPAR filling station example.

 

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