make virtual real…

Introducing Emerald Voucher

Emerald Voucher lets any mobile operator or dealer create, distribute and track prepaid vouchers. Subscribers can buy these vouchers and redeem them for airtime.

The Voucher Store is an integrated component of Emerald Airtime Management.

How it works

Dealers that own airtime in Emerald can use it in various ways. They can do PIN-less top-ups, transfer airtime to sub-dealers, or use the airtime to generate prepaid vouchers.

To convert airtime into vouchers, a dealer enters the number of vouchers required in the available denominations. The system deducts the total airtime value from the dealer's balance and converts it into virtual vouchers. Vouchers can be downloaded as an encrypted file, suitable for importing into a Point of Sale system or for printing.

Voucher Denominations

Emerald lets mobile operators create any number of denomination values. Voucher batches can be generated according to these denominations.

Voucher Batches

Emerald generates vouchers in an inactive state, only valid for redemption once activated. Vouchers have the following attributes: a unique voucher serial number, a PIN code (to redeem the voucher for airtime), an expiry date, and an airtime value. When the vouchers have been distributed, the dealer or operator can activate the vouchers; the vouchers are then ready to sell to subscribers.

Voucher Management

Emerald allows users a great deal of freedom in the way that they manage their vouchers. Sets of vouchers can be reorganised, combined or split as required. Action can be taken on any number of vouchers, from just a couple to all the vouchers owned by a dealer.

Voucher actions include the following:

• Activate, to make redemption possible.
• Quarantine, to protect vouchers that have been compromised in some way.
• Cancel, to make a voucher unusable.
• Enable for download by another party – for example, to print.

Voucher Redemption

Subscribers can redeem airtime vouchers by means of SMS, USSD or IVR, using the voucher PIN. Dealers can also use Emerald's CAP Web interface to redeem vouchers. Once a voucher has been redeemed, Emerald sends a notification SMS to the handset, showing the subscriber's new balance.

Voucher Tracking

Dealers can keep track of the status of vouchers with reports or by doing a custom search on a voucher's serial number. With Emerald's voucher reports dealers can check the status (inactive, active, cancelled, quarantined) of any of their vouchers.

Voucher Security

Emerald has a layer of security measures in place for the management of airtime vouchers:

• Encryption – voucher PINs are stored in the database in an encrypted form, to ensure the security of the PINs. Emerald also encrypts voucher batch files upon download; these files must be decrypted before the vouchers will be usable.
• Status Control – vouchers are initially in an inactive state; they cannot be used until an activation process has been completed. Compromised vouchers can be cancelled or temporarily deactivated (quarantined).
• Access Control – a voucher's PIN is never visible in any of Emerald's interfaces until after the voucher has been redeemed.

Why Emerald Voucher?

• An integrated solution

  The Voucher Store is a core, integrated component of the Emerald Airtime Management platform, which includes Emerald Realtime. This architecture reduces the system's complexity, while increasing throughput and reliability. To ensure the security and integrity of sensitive data, Emerald does not require external third-party databases.

• Electronic Voucher Distribution

  Emerald solves the problem of EVD by integrating the PIN-less top-up process with an extensive set of features that operators can use to expand the sale of airtime vouchers in the market. Dealers use the same airtime for creating prepaid vouchers as they would sell to subscribers or other dealers.

• Flexibility

  Dealers can choose whether to simply distribute vouchers on behalf of others, or to create their own airtime vouchers. Emerald's voucher management tools allow dealers a great deal of freedom in how they choose to manage their vouchers.

• Increased airtime availability

  The Voucher Store gives operators and dealers more tools and opportunities to sell airtime.

• Control

  Emerald Voucher includes extensive voucher management, reporting and search functions. The operator also has control over which of its dealers has access to voucher functions.