Gertec Makes Payment Process Easier for the Visually Impaired

Quick Facts

Company

Gertec
www.gertec.com.br

Customer Profile

In operation since 1989, Gertec designs high technology equipment and payment solutions, commercial and banking automation, research solutions, query terminals and point control used by well-known financial and retail institutions in Brazil and abroad.

Objectives

To provide a payment terminal that is mobile, compact, inexpensive, and meets the critical accessibility standards required for users with disabilities.

Results

Gertec’s mobile payment solution with built-in audio output makes the payment process much easier for the visually impaired in a compact form factor.

Sierra Wireless Products & Services

Gertec uses Sierra Wireless® HL Series embedded modules to connect their POS terminals and securely process transactions on global 3G and 2G networks

Challenge

The World Health Organization¹ estimates the world’s disability population to be over one billion people. At the same time, a National Disability Institute survey² on Banking Status and Financial Behaviors of Adults with Disabilities notes that consumers are more likely to be excluded from the banking system if they have a disability. Digital technology can help change this by offering “anytime, anyplace” financial service options for those facing travel barriers and time restrictions.

Gertec utilized this digital advantage when developing its latest mobile point-of-sales (POS) offering, which provides an alternative payment terminal for small-to-medium business (SMB) merchants looking for an inexpensive solution that can accommodate the needs of the visually impaired. In addition to considering accessibility standards, Gertec was also focused on the critical requirements of compact size for mobility and security at every level to guard financial transactions, all while maintaining a lower price point not found with the traditional POS terminal.

While touch-based solutions dominate the market, Gertec is focused on addressing an additional concern – accessibility. Touch-only devices are a barrier for the visually impaired. “By upgrading our current MP20 terminal to MP21, we wanted to incorporate audible output to assist the visually impaired during payment transactions”, explained Turuta, Marketing Director at Gertec.

Sierra Wireless offers a mature platform, and stability and reliability are important in financial applications.

Manoel Eci Ferreira, Jr.
Research and Development Manager for Hardware and Software, Gertec

Solution

After evaluating connectivity modules from three major vendors, Gertec selected the Sierra Wireless® HL Series IoT modules. Built on the compact, industrial-grade, common flexible form factor (CF3®) to provide a future-proof footprint across any LPWA, 4G, 3G, 2G mobile network, the HL Series offers pre-approved regulatory and carrier certifications to get designs to market faster. Along with the Sierra Wireless modules, Gertec relies on the free unlimited firmware-over-the-air updates available via Sierra Wireless’ AirVantage® FOTA Edition to keep their mobile POS terminals in the field updated and remain connected and secure.

“Sierra Wireless offers a mature platform, and stability and reliability are important in financial applications,” said Manoel Eci Ferreira, Jr., research and development manager for hardware and software at Gertec. “The design review process with Sierra was seamless and helped set our expectations for the strong partnership that we have developed. Having both technical and sales support available locally in Brazil was also a major factor in selecting the Sierra modules.”

The MP21, follow-up to MP20, is a lightweight and compact mobile payment terminal that can be used in a wide variety of solutions. It operates autonomously without the use of external devices often required for smartphones and tablets. It has a robust platform and easy-to-use development kit that facilitates the fast creation of applications. It supports the standard card technologies available in the market and wide connectivity (3G + Wi-Fi + Bluetooth®) options, making the terminal both flexible and versatile. In addition, the MP21 offers accessibility features to ease the digital payment process for blind and visually impaired users.

Results

The added accessibility features, as well as mobility offered by reliable connectivity and a small form factor, are key requirements for Gertec to move into additional markets in Latin America and globally, as well as increase their market share for mobile POS solutions.

“With the high performance wireless communication, high level of security protection for payment operations, and new accessibility payment features for the visually impaired, the MP21 mobile POS terminal can compete and surpass any mobile POS solution out there,” said Ferreira, Jr.

The design review process with Sierra was seamless and helped set our expectations for the strong partnership that we have developed. Having both technical and sales support available locally in Brazil was also a major factor in selecting the Sierra modules.

Manoel Eci Ferreira, Jr.
Research and Development Manager for Hardware and Software, Gertec