Replacement full 32-bit Windows products

Replacement full 32-bit Windows WinTI product

The DOS credit card processing software referred to here has been replaced by a full 32-bit Windows server and client. The integration method retains the simplicity of the DOS integration, supports ALL platforms and includes many improvements.

SoftEFT DOS Real Time - Description of Software

General

Soft-EFT Real Time is a suite of programs that enable processing of payments by Visa, MasterCard (Access), Switch, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Style cards from a PC. The programs have been designed for quick and easy integration with retail, hospitality, telephone order systems, and any other software based system that requires real-time authorisation of card schemes. Soft-EFT has been independently tested by the major acquirers and conforms to APACS (Association for Payment Clearing Services) standards 30 and 50. These standards define "predominantly offline" processing where low value transactions are authorised locally (by scanning a "hot card list"); higher value transactions (which exceed a designated floor limit) are authorised with the aid of a call to the relevant acquirer. Payments and hot card list updates are then performed overnight when Soft-EFT is "polled". It is possible to replace the polling process with a "direct transmission" system for retail chains or sites with very high transaction volumes.

Floor Limits

When accepting a plastic card as a means of payment it is necessary to seek approval (from the relevant acquirer) for high value transactions. The threshold above which this must be done is called the "floor limit". Most retail floor limits are in the range 25 - 150, although they may be as low as zero (all transactions must be approved) or may be much higher. Soft-EFT automatically maintains floor limit values for each card scheme so that it is not necessary for operators to remember them. When a transaction is tendered above the floor limit Soft-EFT will dial the acquirer and automatically seek approval for the transaction.

APACS 30/50 Standards

APACS is the Association for Payment Clearing Services; an association of acquiring banks and EFTPoS system suppliers. APACS maintain and distribute a series of standards relating to (amongst other things) electronic acceptance of credit cards at the point of sale. Soft-EFT conforms to two APACS standards:

APACS 30 defines the method used to electronically approve credit card transactions. Transactions for values below a floor limit are authorised without a call to the bank by scanning a hot card file; higher values are communicated in a manner defined by the standard. No funds are debited from the card holder or credited to the merchant during this process. This mode of operation is said to be "predominantly offline".

A second standard, APACS 50, defines the operation of a second part of the system. The APACS 50 compliant terminal (in this case a PC running Soft-EFT) is called overnight by the acquiring bank (or a polling bureau) to retrieve transactions and update the hot card file. This process is known as "polling". The information collected by the bank at this time is used to transfer funds within a few days.

Bank Accreditations

SoftEFT has been approved for use by the following:

Communication methods

Soft-EFT can use the following methods in order to obtain credit card authorisation from the relevant acquirer.

For polling of credit card transactions by the bank it is necessary to use a modem as polling via other methods has not been employed by the acquirers yet.

Implementation

SoftEFT can be implemented on either of the following configurations

In most cases Soft-EFT requires a dedicated PC to carry out the authorisation and processing of credit card transactions. The reqirements for this PC are as follows:

The front end software which communicates with the authorisation PC above is available for MS-DOS, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Alternatively the front end software may be replaced by own developed software.

SoftEFT Technical Specifications