As part of their enthusiasm for integrated security solutions, companies and organisations are increasingly adopting cashless payment systems. Cashless payments work in an ingeniously simple way, and can bring instant benefits to both employers and employees.
In a cashless payment setup, a smart card, often an ID card, is topped up with a certain amount of money. The top-up levels and system will be set in advance by the employer; the prepayments can, for instance, be linked to payroll, or maybe an employee’s debit card. When the employee makes use of a vending machine, or queues up at a till in the staff restaurant they simply have to wave their card across the appropriate reader, and the whole payment is done and dusted.
There are a number of benefits stemming from cashless payment systems, especially when they form part of integrated security systems.
First and foremost, employees are saved the considerable hassle of always ensuring they have cash in their pockets for using the canteen. In some situations the nearest ATM machine might be a long walk from the office, with the walk taking longer than the lunch hour. Cashless payments resolve that problem immediately.
Second, coinage can contribute to the spread of infection, making cashless payments particularly useful in buildings where hygiene is a priority: Hospitals spring to mind, as well as medical testing labs.
Finally, cashless payments offer a security boost, since carrying around loose changes makes employees more vulnerable to losing money or, in certain unfortunate cases, theft.
