ThinkSmart

allpay.net is working in partnership with SmartCitizen to raise awareness and highlight the benefits of smart card technology to local authorities and housing clients.

allpay.net is a pioneer of technology which enables people to pay their bills such as rent and council tax using a swipe card identifier. It works closely with its predominantly local authority and housing clients to improve service accessibility to their customers. Together with SmartCitizen, allpay.net has designed ThinkSmart, a new smart card proposition which:

• supports local authorities in moving towards improved accessibility to citizens
• enables local authorities to offer citizens multiple functionality through a single card, for example:
  • ID/proof of age
  • Leisure: access to facilities, health incentives
  • Library membership
  • Parking meter payments
  • Travel: concessions, contactless ticketing
  • Bill payment/payment authentication
• meets the nationally recognised standard for smart card projects

Through ThinkSmart, allpay.net and SmartCitizen not only look to raise awareness of the benefits of smart cards but are also working to incorporate payment functionality into a single multi-application card delivering the benefits highlighted above. This new advance in smart card capability will reduce the need for citizens to manage budgets and prioritise funds over a number of cards.

Along with its swipe card schemes, used by over 750 clients, allpay.net was one of the first companies to enable its clients’ customers to have multiple payment schemes on a single card. This has given allpay.net a unique understanding of the many difficulties local authorities and similar organisations face in delivering a multi-functional smart card to citizens.

Some of the difficulties faced when delivering smart card solutions include:

• limited network availability
• defining a suitable specification for the functionality of the smart card
• suitable points of contact in both supply and delivery of smart card projects

ThinkSmart, allpay.net’s partnership with SmartCitizen - specialists in delivery and management of local authority smart card solutions - will look to raise awareness about the technology and address some of the difficulties faced in delivering a solution which has the possibility to help reduce costs whilst being of great benefit to citizens.