XLink Enables Secure E-Payment for Retail Outlets in South Africa

XLink is the largest provider of wireless-enabled payment solutions in South Africa, with more than 30% market share. Through a secure managed service, XLink provides retail outlets with a plug-and-play solution linking credit card payment devices to the corresponding banks via cellular networks. Typical customers are big retail chains, fuel companies and service stations as well as travel and leisure companies.

Challenges

The business idea behind XLink was to provide a fast, cost-effective and reliable solution for connecting card payment devices to banks, based on cellular technologies able to meet the needs of the diverse and widespread points of presence within South Africa.

To compete effectively with the existing monopoly fixed-line service, however, it was vital for XLink to be able to monitor and proactively diagnose any problems with its terminals, in order to prevent outages and maintain customer satisfaction.

Solution

AirPrime Embedded Solutions

The AirPrime SL Series of wireless modules provided XLink with highly reliable, smart and high-speed connectivity. The integration between hardware, software and services delivered by the AirPrime modules helped XLink benefit from a simplified and accelerated path to the development of its payment applications, allowing it to launch to market rapidly.

The Open AT Application Framework provided XLink with a complete software package for embedded M2M application development including an operating system, a large set of libraries and a powerful development tool.

XLink then extended the capabilities of their communication device by subscribing to Management Services, a cloud-based device management solution, in partnership with the Sierra Wireless local distributor, Trinity Telecoms, which hosts the AirVantage M2M Cloud Platform in South Africa.

Thanks to the AirPrime embedded solutions, XLink was able to deliver fast and reliable electronic funds transfer from credit card terminals to banks across South Africa, including rural areas which previously didn’t have access to electronic payment facilities, and was provided with the following benefits: 

• Secure and reliable wireless connectivity
• Fast deployment and cost-effective maintenance and support
• Accelerated business expansion

Hymie Marnewick, Chief Commercial Officer at Xlink, commented: “Sierra Wireless has provided us with just the sort of monitoring control we need to guarantee uptime for our customers. Its robust wireless modules have also allowed us to deploy systems into areas which previously could not benefit from e-payment. Our customers could grow their services while helping in the wider development of the South African banking industry.”

With its unique offering, XLink is poised to use the competencies and technology experience it has gained from its experience with connected card payment devices in other vertical and geographical markets, and to continue to expand its business. 

To find out more about Sierra Wireless Sales and Payment Solutions, please visit www.sierrawireless.com/sales_payment.