Unicard

Unicard Ltd is a leading provider of smart card management solutions and services to local authority and transport driven schemes in the UK. Our offering is built around a smart card scheme management software suite covering:

card management
transaction management
card production
smart card testing
3rd party application integration software.

Being web based, the software facilitates automated processes, which can be operated and managed locally, using the shared resources of a central system. Our card management back office manages these processes, thus reducing the requirement for extensive local tools and providing a scheme with scalability, control and greater flexibility (using distributed operations). It also automates manual processes - reducing the overall costs of the issuance and management of a scheme.

Unicard provides a full technical solution and support for schemes like Southampton (SmartCities multi-application and multi-issuer scheme), Sheffield (over 200,000 multi-application cards), Black Country (multi-issuer regional scheme) and Devon (school travel cards) and we are providing solutions for local authorities involved in SCASC and the National Smart Card Project as well as implementing ITSO. Further systems for Cornwall County and Edinburgh City Council are under implementation.

Our professional service team has significant experience of designing and implementing smart card schemes, covering all cases from simple single application cards to open, multi-issuer, multi-application schemes. We use an open scheme platform and flexible integration concepts like ITSO. Our deployments are offered as a managed or hosted service; or implemented and supported on the customer's premises.

We have a large R&D team of dedicated software and electronic engineers working to improve and support the products and a customer focussed sales and service team, expanding with our customer base. The solutions can therefore be tailored, through configuration or customization, to a scheme's individual requirements and include integration of existing applications (e.g. 3^rd party systems). Our innovative product technology and managed service enables staff to concentrate on local process activities - the key to the success of a scheme.

As an SME, and building on open and distributed architecture, we facilitate and work in partnership with others to ensure the application requirements can be covered to provide customers with comprehensive solutions. We have an extensive experience of working together with stakeholders within a smart card scheme and have implemented solutions adapted for a wide range of applications covering:

ITSO implementation

Unicard is adding full ITSO functionality across its product range and currently has the following products undergoing certification testing:

POST software module to be used for example in a PersoPOST, card testing tool or retailing software
Full HOPS

This functionality is used in our software product range which includes:

1. Cardholder and Card Management System

Front desk registration and authentication of the cardholder, which can be provided or integrated with image capture devices, an address lookup system, identity checks and document management systems. This module includes duplicate checking and identification of the card issuing local authority for data access rules;
Selection of the card profile to produce (i.e. printing layout, physical type etc..) and the products to load;
Management of the smart card and associated letter production which can be outsourced to an external bureau, delivered in batches by an internal bureau or completed as a single "on the spot" registration;
Helpdesk to manage calls, personal detail changes, card hot-listing and replacement, product hot-listing and replacement, letter generation, active tasks management etc…
Administration and reporting

The Unicard product is designed for local multi-application, multi-issuer smart card schemes and will manage the cards that will contain the ITSO application. It can as well manage ITSO cards as multi-application cards including an ITSO application.

2. ITSO Transactions Management System (HOPS)

Transport transactions providing detailed history of the transport card usage on the ETMs;
Messaging services to manage the communication with the terminals covered in the scheme and with the third party systems;
Reporting module to run periodic reports to enable reimbursement of concession travel for example
Administration and reporting
Asset Management System to manage the security of a scheme

The product is developed for customers like Southampton City Council, to enable the management of ITSO transactions in a local authority scheme as well as for transport focused schemes.

3. UNIPRINT: Card Production Software

Front desk printing software, integrated with the card management system, able to issue smart cards and associated letters on the spot: compatible with an extending range of smart card printers such as Fargo; Javelin; Evolis; Dai Nippon
Bureau printing software able to print cards and letters in batches for a middle size bureau

These products are local Windows packages linked to the central system and are undergoing ITSO certification to add PersoPOST functionality to their existing functionality.

4. Smart Card Tools

Card testing tool including ITSO applications;
Card reading middleware to integrate a card, including ITSO cards with a non transport application,