Bringing together two technology leaders has resulted in a unique collaboration between electronic point of sale specialists, MCR Systems and proven cashless payment experts, VMC.
Taking the first steps in bringing together the groundbreaking technology to create Metro Symphony, their flagship product, has meant MCR and VMC creating a new team working across both organisations, to be headed up by the high profile EPOS and cashless expert David Naylor.
The new team will specifically target the higher education sector. Both companies have collaborated before to successfully implement best of breed solutions on a number of HE sites including the award winning technology deployed at Loughborough University.
David who joins the organisations from Counter Solutions where he spent seven years, latterly as Sales Director comments on the initiative: “MCR/VMC systems were already being used in a number of universities and colleges across the UK, and it makes sense to launch a team to promote those services cohesively.
“Boasting an extensive list of HE clients including Loughborough University, Hertfordshire University, Nottingham Trent University and University College of London, to name but a few, they really are at the forefront of delivering solutions that best fit the sector.
“Challenges that now face the team are to build on the existing success of the two companies and whilst we have a primary focus on HE, we will also focus on business and industry, leisure, and hospitality sectors.
“I have been working with the HE sector for over 10 years, and in that time there has been a tremendous amount of change in technology. There was a time when cashless merely covered vending and catering operations, however in today’s environment integration is key and that includes covering functions such as laundry, library, printing, transport, sports and recreation. Having the tools to not only react but to pre-empt those challenges means we can really help our clients achieve their goals in a business environment.”
Quicker, easier and cheaper
Metro Symphony incorporates MCR’s Symphony Enterprise, and VMC’s Metro cashless payment system. Put simply, Symphony offers complete web enabled central EPoS management and real-time reporting software that allows customers to implement tighter controls and ease administrative tasks. Its availability as an internet-based service via a web browser, makes it quicker, easier and cheaper to deploy than traditional software. One of the key benefits of Metro Symphony is the ability to integrate with other third party products such as finance, stock and catering management applications and conference and event booking systems.
Metro is a third generation cashless payment solution combining multiple ‘electronic purses’, hospitality, loyalty and subsidy management capabilities in one integrated system. Metro allows for controlled differential pricing and can be used as the central point for all funds for other facilities such as laundry, library, printing/photocopying, sports and recreation, and transport.
One of the key advantages of Metro Symphony is that the POS terminals can operate as stand-alone although they are fully networked, which is important should there ever be a network or server problem. The Metro cashless payment system is easily integrated with existing internet payment portals to allow students and parents to top up cards through the web.
These two elements consolidate data in the back office management reporting system, updating user’s unique on-line pages, which can provide nutritional data on each meal purchased.
David concluded: “Metro Symphony gives us a springboard into the HE market and underpins our commitment to developing systems to specifically address the unique nature of the HE market. Working as one entity we can pass on the benefits of our expertise and quality on to our customers. Exciting times lie ahead, and I’m relishing the opportunity to take this out to market.”
http://www.mcr-systems.com/
http://www.vmcltd.co.uk/
