 |
|
|
Amsterdam Harbor Ships
|
|
.NET Web Services Solution for Mobile Payment via SMS for Amsterdam Harbor Ships
|
Seeking a solution for those not always in front of the computer.
In many industries, work is not completed sitting behind the desktop and mobility is a daily fact of life. No where is this more true than for skippers on ships, who transact all their business from the bow of a boat. After hundreds of years of "conducting business as usual," shippers entering the Amsterdam harbor now have a new means of transacting business. The "Dienst Binnenwaterbeheer Amsterdam" is a regulator of shipping waters, responsible not only for water supervision, operation of bridges and locks but also the of harbor fees from ships on the move. The BBA recognized the need for payment technology that would support their mobile customers and also sought means to improve their own operational efficiency - a key driver to increase revenue. As a result, the BBA approached their technology consultants Inter Access to find a viable solution.
Imagine the inefficiency that the BBA was faced with in managing this important process. Ships enter regulated waters, need to be controlled and are required to pay their entrance and docking fees. Traditionally, this meant that the skipper needed to dock, disembark and speak with someone from the BBA to then process paperwork, thus leaving boats idle in the water, which not only create revenue loss and costs for the shipper, but for the harbor as well. Furthermore, the traditional transaction required a good deal of human interaction and cumbersome paper exchange in all weather conditions. In addition to solving this challenging business issue, Inter Access also discovered that the BBA was using outdated technology including a Clipper application that still ran on DOS for the collection and registration of fees.
Half way there...
With the wave of enthusiasm for technology that the Internet boom brought, BBA had previously piloted an Internet based solution. A new application was built based on the .NET technology, due to its suitability for applications with online functionalities. .NET also integrates, via XML, with most existing platforms, which makes it easier to make connections between the .NET application and external systems. BBA decided to develop a new application that could centrally store all online data, with links to a Web based registration system for professional shippers.
The newly developed Web application offered ships the ability to register in advance of trips. The system required ships to have an Internet connection and it became clear that, in reality, few ships had Internet connectivity on board. Nearly 100% of all ships, however, do have a mobile phone.
Fenestrae's Web service for SMS messaging and Mobile Payment is Born
The challenge to enable electronic payment via mobility for the shippers drove innovation. Upon learning of Fenestrae's .NET Connected certified solution providing out-of-the-box connectivity for SMS messaging, Inter Access determined that Fenestrae Communication Server could make it possible to connect GSM users to BBA's newly developed application. Additionally, since the Fenestrae Communication Server platform is XML-based, establishing a connection to the new BBA application via the .NET interface would prove to be simple.
The implementation was rapid and easy. BBA was able to roll the solution out to its customers within weeks. Now, when ships enter the Amsterdam harbor, regardless of which mobile device they use on board, the solution provides shippers with a streamlined process for registration and payment with the authorities.
How it works
To initiate payment, skippers first send an SMS-message with a pin code to a designated BBA phone number. Fenestrae software recognizes the number of the mobile user that is sending an SMS for payment. Based on the number, the .NET application identifies the user and the contract associated with the sender. The .NET application then sends the corresponding fee to the skipper via SMS. The fee is then paid by the mobile user by authorizing the fee requested as an SMS. Finally, the system generates a paper bill which is sent by post to the designated billing address.
The Fenestrae Communication Server enables BBA to offer all its customers an efficient, and effective a way to register and pay docking and entry fees via their mobile devices - Not only making BBA a more efficient company, but also simultaneously giving customers the easy access that is needed in this fast and mobile world.
Win-win for Harbor Regulators and Shipping Customers
The joint solution has provided the BBA with a solid solution that has greatly streamlined processes. The functionality of the solution is suited to meet the real-world needs of their mobile customers while delivering on the BBA's operational requirements. BBA has not only simplified the process of administering and collecting harbor fees but has created new harbor capacity for revenue gains. In doing so, BBA has also provided their mobile customers with improved service for improved productivity for the shippers themselves, thus helping drive their customer's profitability as well.
"With over 1.5 billion mobile phones in use today, organizations are beginning to recognize the business value mobility solutions such as Fenestrae's can provide for productivity and efficiency," said Eric van Beek, Fenestrae Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "BBA is an innovative example of making use of the mobile devices in the pockets of people today to help do better business. We are pleased to be part of the BBA solution."
|
|
|
 |
|
|
