Thursday, 15 November 2007
Additional questions asked by Ed
Questions / Issues Regarding Octopus Value Loading and Financial Collection:
1)Is the system completely standalone, or do they have linkage into their University's financial systems and/or the Innopac's fines/billing system (e.g. through an e-commerce module, etc.)?
-completely standalone, no linkage. Therefore in the case of collecting overdue fines, our staff has to perform two sets of procedures, one for Innopac, one for Octopus.
2)Cost tracking / audit trail
a)accuracy?
-very accurate, according to PolyU
b)method of access
-for cir counter, use one universal password to login machine because there is no value added function, just collecting fines.
-for adding value in photocopy centre, each individual staff has independent password.
c)are patron details tied to payments of fines etc - in what way?
-when collecting fines, the patron remaining balance will be printed on receipt, but PolyU gives all receipt to patrons and do not keep record of their information
d)data security, privacy, confidentiality
-according to PolyU, no record of users' information stored in the POS system
e)Reliability/Consistency of data at both ends - local records and Octopus' corporate records?
-PolyU claims that there is no discrepancy so far.
f)Experience with the model of cash register they use
g)reliability
-Yes, vendor is UCR
h)prompt availability of repair staff
- yes, usually within one day
i)ease of use / training
- upon installation, they will give a one-time training. Subsequently when there is problem, they will provide telephone help disk and teach their staff how to do programming of the POS on their own.
- for the time being, PolyU did the programming all by themselves. However when addinga totally different function, all the keys had to be re-programmed again.
j)would they recommend the one they use, or a different model?
- the current model of POS is just a 386 PC, very slow and costs very expensive, around $40,000 with 10% annual maitenance. Suggest us to buy touch screen and a faster machine.
k)Promotion/Awareness
how did/do they promote the existence of the service(s)?
- did not
l)what is the reaction of users, especially to any fines/bill payment use?
- no preference, because they have smart card, so far Octopus payment accounts for only 25% of transactions
m)Limitations on card loading - do they have times when the system will not permit them to add value to a card, e.g. because it is too early in the day/week and not enough money has been collected yet - or perhaps collection data has not yet been transferred to Octopus?
-yes, it depends on when the data are uploaded and when did Octopus transfer the money back to HKUST, has to workout with Octopus
n)Any issues of modifying procedures to ensure that collection uploads are done in the morning instead of the end of the day, etc?
- circulation counter- do uploading at 1:30 am
- Photocopy counter - do uploading in the morning
o)Physical security - what needs to be done when the Library closes to ensure that no one can use the system to add value to a card if they stay behind in the building or otherwise gain access to the system? Passwords, keylocks, campus smartcards, etc.?
- each users who can login has independent password
- they have no student assistants
- the POS can have a physical lock, so staff could go away for a while and others could not open the POS cash register.
- also even if thief got the password, there is a limit for each POS can add value to - only upto the amount of cash entered that day - and each Octopus card can only add value to $950.
Clara
1)Is the system completely standalone, or do they have linkage into their University's financial systems and/or the Innopac's fines/billing system (e.g. through an e-commerce module, etc.)?
-completely standalone, no linkage. Therefore in the case of collecting overdue fines, our staff has to perform two sets of procedures, one for Innopac, one for Octopus.
2)Cost tracking / audit trail
a)accuracy?
-very accurate, according to PolyU
b)method of access
-for cir counter, use one universal password to login machine because there is no value added function, just collecting fines.
-for adding value in photocopy centre, each individual staff has independent password.
c)are patron details tied to payments of fines etc - in what way?
-when collecting fines, the patron remaining balance will be printed on receipt, but PolyU gives all receipt to patrons and do not keep record of their information
d)data security, privacy, confidentiality
-according to PolyU, no record of users' information stored in the POS system
e)Reliability/Consistency of data at both ends - local records and Octopus' corporate records?
-PolyU claims that there is no discrepancy so far.
f)Experience with the model of cash register they use
g)reliability
-Yes, vendor is UCR
h)prompt availability of repair staff
- yes, usually within one day
i)ease of use / training
- upon installation, they will give a one-time training. Subsequently when there is problem, they will provide telephone help disk and teach their staff how to do programming of the POS on their own.
- for the time being, PolyU did the programming all by themselves. However when addinga totally different function, all the keys had to be re-programmed again.
j)would they recommend the one they use, or a different model?
- the current model of POS is just a 386 PC, very slow and costs very expensive, around $40,000 with 10% annual maitenance. Suggest us to buy touch screen and a faster machine.
k)Promotion/Awareness
how did/do they promote the existence of the service(s)?
- did not
l)what is the reaction of users, especially to any fines/bill payment use?
- no preference, because they have smart card, so far Octopus payment accounts for only 25% of transactions
m)Limitations on card loading - do they have times when the system will not permit them to add value to a card, e.g. because it is too early in the day/week and not enough money has been collected yet - or perhaps collection data has not yet been transferred to Octopus?
-yes, it depends on when the data are uploaded and when did Octopus transfer the money back to HKUST, has to workout with Octopus
n)Any issues of modifying procedures to ensure that collection uploads are done in the morning instead of the end of the day, etc?
- circulation counter- do uploading at 1:30 am
- Photocopy counter - do uploading in the morning
o)Physical security - what needs to be done when the Library closes to ensure that no one can use the system to add value to a card if they stay behind in the building or otherwise gain access to the system? Passwords, keylocks, campus smartcards, etc.?
- each users who can login has independent password
- they have no student assistants
- the POS can have a physical lock, so staff could go away for a while and others could not open the POS cash register.
- also even if thief got the password, there is a limit for each POS can add value to - only upto the amount of cash entered that day - and each Octopus card can only add value to $950.
Clara
Some questions we ask at HKPU
Study on the feasibility of installing a value added machine at the Circulation Counter
Questions asked:
Cash register
• Model type?
- Selected by FO of PolyU
• Purchase from which company?
- UCL
• Is it easy to operate?
- OK
• Amount of petty cash for money change?
- $500
• Any summary report for checking?
- Run Z-report
What functions provided by the POS system?
- All kinds of payments and add value
Add value
• Amount per card?
- $50-$750
• Maximum add value amount per day?
- Depend the amount of Octopus payment
• Will add value be possible throughout the year?
- Depend the amount of Octopus payment
• Is it possible to add value when the library opens?
- Normally not possible
• Any other locations for add value service?
- 7-Eleven on campus
General information
• Cost of the POS system?
- About $40,000 per set, including cash register, 9” monitor, receipt printer, display bar and MOP
• How long has the POS system been used?
- About 3 years
• How many copiers/printers accepting Octopus payment?
- Almost all
• How many add value machines and their locations?
- Only in Photocopying Centre
• Daily cash flow, payment and add value amount?
- No data provided
Daily operations
• When to do the closing of balance?
- End of the day (i.e. 11pm during weekday)
• How to handle if input a wrong amount for payment or add value?
- Cannot cancel or reset amount after Octopus payment. Cannot claim Octopus for the difference. Have to find a way to refund the patron. (seldom happened)
How is the charge paid for Octopus payment?
- 10% for photocopying charge; 1.5% for payments at counter; have rebate of 0.16% for add value from Octopus
How is the Octopus report?
- Same as our daily report
How to handle discrepancy?
- Any agreement made for such settlement? Up to now, no discrepancy???
Was there any system down?
- Yes
In case the system is down, any contingency plan?
- Call POS system vendor (cash register company) for repair
Any inconvenience or need further improvement?
- Add button for “cheque” payment
Questions asked:
Cash register
• Model type?
- Selected by FO of PolyU
• Purchase from which company?
- UCL
• Is it easy to operate?
- OK
• Amount of petty cash for money change?
- $500
• Any summary report for checking?
- Run Z-report
What functions provided by the POS system?
- All kinds of payments and add value
Add value
• Amount per card?
- $50-$750
• Maximum add value amount per day?
- Depend the amount of Octopus payment
• Will add value be possible throughout the year?
- Depend the amount of Octopus payment
• Is it possible to add value when the library opens?
- Normally not possible
• Any other locations for add value service?
- 7-Eleven on campus
General information
• Cost of the POS system?
- About $40,000 per set, including cash register, 9” monitor, receipt printer, display bar and MOP
• How long has the POS system been used?
- About 3 years
• How many copiers/printers accepting Octopus payment?
- Almost all
• How many add value machines and their locations?
- Only in Photocopying Centre
• Daily cash flow, payment and add value amount?
- No data provided
Daily operations
• When to do the closing of balance?
- End of the day (i.e. 11pm during weekday)
• How to handle if input a wrong amount for payment or add value?
- Cannot cancel or reset amount after Octopus payment. Cannot claim Octopus for the difference. Have to find a way to refund the patron. (seldom happened)
How is the charge paid for Octopus payment?
- 10% for photocopying charge; 1.5% for payments at counter; have rebate of 0.16% for add value from Octopus
How is the Octopus report?
- Same as our daily report
How to handle discrepancy?
- Any agreement made for such settlement? Up to now, no discrepancy???
Was there any system down?
- Yes
In case the system is down, any contingency plan?
- Call POS system vendor (cash register company) for repair
Any inconvenience or need further improvement?
- Add button for “cheque” payment
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