ID cards to double up as electronic purses

Sun108 has created an application that allows its employees to use their identity cards to electronically buy from its convenience stores and its vending machines. The application can be customised to function online or offline.

Soon, office employees will be able to buy a can of soft drink or a cup of instant coffee from a vending machine with just their

company identity card, thanks to a new-generation vending machine by Sun108, a leading vending-machine provider.

Sun108 managing director Vathit Chokwatana said the application would utilise the advantage of radio-frequency identification (RFID) to enhance the functions of vending machines.

The machines will be embedded with an RFID reader to allow employees to use their company identity card - which will have an embedded RFID tag and function like an electronic purse - to purchase products quickly.

"The vending machine will dispense the desired product when an employee flashes an ID card instead of putting in coins. Our first customer has implemented six vending machines that enable the staff to buy products electronically," Vathit said.

Vathit said that with this model the company could conribute money as part of a welfare programme for its employees. He explained that when an employee flashed the card, the machine would verify the card before dispensing products. The verification process will be done instantly at the machine and the monetary transaction will take place at the company's server, simultaneously.

"The vending machines will be integrated and linked to the company's server, restricting access only to its employees," Vathit said.

ICC International implemented  RFID technology to link vending machines with identity cards for another customer earlier this year. However, this application worked offline.

"For an offline application, the staff has to top up the card with money first. We provide a top-up station at the office to allow employees to do that," Vathit said.

At ICC International, more than 1,000 staff members can use their identity cards to not only buy products from vending machines, but also from two 108 Shop convenience stores.

"This is proof-of-concept that the application works for vending machines as well as convenience stores," Vathit said.

The company plans to provide this kind of an alternative payment system to corporate customers, especially those manufacturers who have large plants.

"We have about 2,000 vending machines located in manufacturing plants and about 1,000 machines located in hospitals and other offices. These are our target customers. We can create an online or offline version depending on the customer's requirement," Vathit said. 

At a glance

-- The vending machine will be embedded with an RFID reader linked to RFID tags on identity cards.

-- The machine will verify the card and dispense a product.

-- The monetary transaction will take place at the company's server simultaneously.