VA eWIC Retailer
Workgroup
December 6 and 8, 2011
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Retailer
Enablement
Jerry Owens
Program Manager
ACS, a Xerox Company
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Retail Integration
High Level Overview – eWIC Integration
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Requirements
• ECR must have eWIC processing functionality (most platforms already
have available or are under development)
• FNS must certify system as approved for eWIC transaction processing
Certification Process
• Third party processors (TPP), ECR service providers, retailer IT
departments make software modifications based on ACS-provided
integrated retailer specifications
• ECR service providers and TPPs perform integration testing
• ECR service providers and TPPs use ACS test environment to perform precertifications
• FNS and the state oversee execution of approved certification test scripts
and if executed successfully, approve system for integration
In Store
• A final certification, generally completed by the retailer, is performed at the
store level
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Stand-Beside POS Enablement
High Level Overview – Stand-Beside POS Deployment
Requirements
• Power must be available at lane location where POS device will be installed
(1 outlet for scanner and 1 outlet for POS)
• Either broadband internet or analog dial-up connectivity must be available
at the lane location where POS device will be installed
• Setup Process
• ACS sets up WIC authorized retailers in the National Retail Management
Center (NRMC) database, sends/receives retailer agreement, and creates
work order
• ACS NRMC builds profile and enters retailer banking information in EPPIC
• ACS Retail Manager manages installation contractor as retailers are
scheduled for installation and training during pilot and statewide rollout
• Training
• Retailer training is performed at the retailer location after successful
installation
• Retailer POS operations manual, quick reference guide and helpdesk
Page 4 information is also provided at this time.
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Retailer Enablement Summary
ACS works with retailers to provide a solution that best meets their needs
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Coordinated efforts by ACS with retail service providers and third
party processors provide most retailers with the option of integrating
with their existing system
For those retailers that do not have integration capabilities, standbeside POS devices provide a safe and reliable method of eWIC
transaction processing
Experienced ACS retail enablement team coordinates deployment
and integration efforts providing strong support for retailers
The Vendor Portal provides instant access to transaction and
settlement reports
24/7 retailer helpline is provided to answer questions and/or
troubleshoot issues
Retailer Assessment
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Retailer Assessment Overview
Retailer Survey
• ECR Platform
• ECR Service Provider
• Third Party Processor (TPP)
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Retailer Enablement Category
• Stand Beside
• Integrated
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Integration Requirements
• Full Certification
• Unattended Certification
• Abbreviated Certification
• Deployment – No Certification Required
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Step 1: Gather Information
Survey
• Retailer Survey provided to retailers to gather information that
helps determine what type of enablement best suits retailer
environment.
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Outreach
• Additional correspondence and phone calls to vendor utilized
to gain additional information and fill in gaps from survey.
This is the information used to
assess a retailer’s environment and
slot the retailer in the appropriate
enablement category.
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Step 2: Categorize Retailers
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Stand-Beside
• Retailers that do not have an eWIC capable ECR configuration
or do not want to integrate, will be slotted in this category.
Integrated
• Retailers with an eWIC capable ECR configuration will be
further slotted based on the requirements for certification of
their particular ECR configuration.
An eWIC capable ECR configuration
consists of an ECR payment platform that
has eWIC functionality and a connection
path, Direct or TPP, for processing
transactions
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eWIC Capable ECR Configurations
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Retailer/System
Provider
Third Party
Processor
POS Software
Wal-Mart
Firstdata
Wal-Mart POS
StoreNext
5/3
ScanMaster V2
StoreNext
Firstdata
ISS45 V7 and V8
Meijer Stores
Direct Connect
Meijer POS
Kroger
Vantiv
IBM SurePOS ACE
Save-a-Lot
First Data
ISS45
Base IBM Platform
First Data
IBM SurePOS ACE
Base IBM Platform
5/3
IBM SurePOS ACE
Retalix
First Data
ISS45 V7 and V8
Retalix
5/3
ISS45 V7 and V8
Step 3: Assess Certification Requirements
Full Certification
• FNS and Commonwealth attended testing in a lab setting.
• Certification test scripts are followed and results recorded.
• Requires 3-5 days onsite.
• Required for configurations where one or more parts of the
configuration has not been certified.
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Unattended Certification
• Certification test scripts are followed and results recorded.
• Documentation of test results provided to FNS and
Commonwealth.
• Testing performed offsite by ECR provider and/or retailer IT
group.
• Required for configurations that have been previously certified,
but not with the current eWIC processor
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Step 3: Assess Certification Requirements
Continued
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Abbreviated Certification
• Testing of a new component or minor changes in ECR eWIC
processing technology.
• Test scripts specific to change or enhancement are followed
and results recorded.
• Testing performed offsite by ECR provider and/or retailer IT
group.
• Required for previously certified configurations where changes
have been made specific to eWIC.
Deployment – No Certification Required
• Functionality is deployed to store and test purchase
performed.
• Commonwealth and FNS notified of successful deployment.
• Appropriate for configurations that have been previously
certified with eWIC processor.
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ECR Configurations and
Certification Categories
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Certification Components
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Electronic Cash Register
• The cash register system that processes in lane transaction.
• Many currently have eWIC functionality available or under
development.
POS Software
• This is generally considered part of the ECR system and may
be referred to as payment platform.
• This is where the eWIC functionality for the ECR resides.
Third Party Processor
• This is the entity that processes payments for a particular
retailer.
• Most have been certified, but not all.
eWIC Processor
• Commonwealth partner that manages and processes eWIC
transactions.
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Full Certification Configurations
System Provider
POS Software
IBM
Third Party
Processor
First Data
Any system
RBS Lynk Worldpay
Any POS
Any system
Chase/FiServ
Any POS
Any system
Direct Connect
Any POS
Any system
Citi Merchant Services Any POS
IBM
First Data
TEC
RORS
IT Retail
Any TPP
Any TPP
First Data
Food Lion POS
NCR ACS V6.2
Generally, a single certification is
performed, with an ECR service provider,
for a particular configuration and then
simply deployed at the store level.
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Unattended Certification Configurations
System Provider
POS Software
RORC
Third Party
Processor
First Data
RORC
Fifth Third
ISS45
ISS45
Please Note
• Unattended Certifications are
expected to be required for
previously certified ECR
systems that have not been
certified to ACS.
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• As with all Certifications,
approval for unattended
certifications come from FNS
Abbreviated Certification Configurations
System Provider
Any System
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Third Party
Processor
Any TPP
POS Software
Any POS
Examples of Abbreviated
Certificationscapability
Adding self-checkout
for eWIC customers on a
previously certified system
• Changing the loyalty engine so
that the manner in which
discounts are applied is
Abbreviated Certifications are generally
modified
performed in a lab
environment and only
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tests the areas of potential impact.
Deployment Configurations
System Provider
POS Software
IBM
Third Party
Processor
First Data
IBM
First Data
ACE
IBM
Fifth Third
ACE
StoreNext
Fifth Third
ScanMaster V2
StoreNext
First Data
ISS45 V7 and V8
IBM
Vantiv
Kroger Custom
ACE
NEC, Fujitsu, other
First Data/Fifth Third
ISS45 V7 and V8
Walmart Custom
IBM ACE and ISS45 payment platforms have
been certified in multiple
configurations and is expected to be
approved for deployment with any
certified TPP.
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Joint Certification Efforts
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Collaboration Update
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Certification Workgroup
• ACS and the Commonwealth is participating in an FNS-led
workgroup to streamline the process and leverage certification
efforts for multiple agencies.
• Standardizing test scripts.
• Collaborative planning efforts.
Leveraging Previous Certifications
• ACS is working with FNS and other eWIC processers to
leverage previous certifications.
• Certifications performed for other states often can be used
as verification that the system works properly and allow a
system to be deployed rather than certified.
Multi-agency Certifications
• Certification of multiple agencies and eWIC processers with a
single effort.
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Questions?
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