The technology is now easier to install, features upgraded reporting capabilities and allows laundry operators to manage their facilities online, from a remote location.

Similar to a card reader at a gas pump, WaveRider card readers are attached to each washing machine and clothes dryer - providing a quick, easy and secure payment process. Meeting Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standards, the system is designed to protect sensitive payment card data. Convenient and user-friendly, WaveRider eliminates the need for quarters or reliance on closed-loop laundry cards; instead, customers can pay for laundry services using any major credit or debit card in their wallet.

"As plastic continues to become the preferred method of payment and debit cards replace cash for small-ticket transactions, it should come as no surprise that using quarters to do laundry can be viewed as an inconvenience," said Ron Farmer, Heartland's executive director of MicroPayments. "As we move toward becoming a 'cashless' society, Heartland's WaveRider solution makes it easy for laundry facility operators to adapt to this growing trend. An affordable, reliable, convenient and secure method of accepting credit and debit cards, WaveRider is also vertically integrated - Heartland provides the hardware, software and card processing, resulting in significant cost-savings to the operator."

WaveRider streamlines workflow for laundry operators, allowing them to remotely manage multiple facilities through a secure, Web-based account management portal called WaveCentral. In this centralized, easy-to-use system, laundry operators can review revenue generated at a property in real-time, as well as adjust or change prices - in non-quarter increments. They can also minimize downtime and potential loss of revenue by receiving alerts the moment a machine goes down.

"Because it is completely wireless, WaveRider is simple and affordable to install and eliminates costly hours of labor associated with running wires throughout a facility for a system upgrade," added Farmer.

With the WaveRider system, laundry operators are able to offer unique, value-added services differentiating their facilities from other properties - including WaveVision, a Web-based portal customers can access to view the status of washers and dryers before they make the trip to the laundry facility. Through this same online portal, customers can register to receive text messages, alerting them when their laundry cycles are complete - helping to reduce congestion in the laundry room and further enhancing the customer experience.

For laundry operators still interested in providing cash options, WaveRider can support the acceptance of both coins and cards on the same machine. Sales reports can be generated based on transaction type, providing insight to operators accepting multiple payment methods on when to collect - saving both time and money in gas and collection services.