What To Consider
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      Product Level Blocking (PLB)

      Touch

       

      Subjects      ▼

       

      About      ▲ ▼

       

      Terms & Concepts      ▲ ▼

      • DXC - Services Australia partner to deliver PLB. Refer HERE for more information.
      • eIM - enhanced Income Management. The enhanced Income Management (eIM) program is an initiative of the Australian Commonwealth Government administered by Services Australia. Refer HERE for more information.
      • Product Level Blocking (PLB) - A feature that can be implemented in swiftpos to detect eIM restricted Items purchased with a SmartCard. Refer HERE for more information.
      • Restricted Items - Items that are prohibited from being purchased with an eIM SmartCard. Refer HERE for more information.
      • Services Australia - An Australian Government department to deliver government payments and services. Refer HERE for more information.
      • SmartCard - A card issued by Services Australia providing enhanced Income Management (eIM) to customers when spending their money online, and in approved stores and businesses. Refer HERE for more information.

      What Is It?      ▲ ▼

      Product Level Blocking (PLB) is a Services Australia implementable feature on point-of-sale (POS) systems that prevents the sale of eIM restricted Items using a SmartCard or other payment method. It's designed to ensure eIM restricted Items are not purchased by individuals using Services Australia SmartCards as payment. Refer HERE for more information.

      The swiftpos PLB solution makes use of the PLB Sales API and the Central Platform Communications API. 

       

      Automatic Detection

      PLB identifies eIM restricted Items in a Product range and automatically alerts the POS system.

       

      Payment Options

      If an eIM restricted Item is detected, the system can:

      • Cancel the payment.
      • Allow the operator to remove the eIM restricted Item from the basket.
      • Allow the customer to choose alternative payment methods.

       

      Example
      If a customer tries to use a SmartCard to buy alcohol, PLB will prevent the transaction and offer alternative options like paying with cash or a different card.

       

      Purpose
      PLB aims to simplify operations for merchants and provide more choice for participants when using Services Australia SmartCards as payment.

       

      What Is Not Supported?      ▲ ▼

      • Over Tendering when paying with a SmartCard. Hence, it is recommended that the Allow Over Tender option is NOT selected in the Main Settings tab in the settings of the EFTPOS (#2) POS Key.
      • There is no process in swiftpos to validate the original SmartCard when processing a refund. This would need to be a manual process managed by the Venue.
      • Venues should NOT issue (trigger) free Vouchers that allow for the redemption of eIM restricted Items.
      • Pre-authorised payments against Tables and Tabs will NOT be available to SmartCards.

       

      What Is Required?      ▲ ▼

      • swiftpos v10.77+

       

      Notes ...

       

      When coming from a swiftpos version prior to 10.77, the DXC Sales Interface settings in Touch will need to be configured to include new URLs and Tenant ID, which is provided by DXC.

       

      • swiftpos Touch MUST be scheduled to restart daily to ensure a Client Secret expiry check is done. 
      • Venues will need to onboard as a PLB merchant. It is recommended that Venues contact ProductLevelBlocking@dxc.com for advice as to how this can be achieved and to also gain access to the PLB Portal.
      • Refer to GET STARTED for more information.

       

      What Items Are Restricted?     ▲ ▼

      The Items that are considered restricted under eIM Product Level Blocking (PLB), are:

      • Alcohol
      • Cash-like Products
      • Gambling Services
      • Pornographic Material
      • Tobacco Products

      Refer HERE for more information.

       

      What Is New?      ▲ ▼

      • swiftpos will integrate with the PLB Sale API and Central Platform Communications API. This replaces integration with the PLB Transaction API.

      • When coming from a swiftpos version prior to 10.77, the DXC Sales Interface settings in Touch will need to be configured to include new URLs and Tenant ID, which is provided by DXC.

      • If a barcode is scanned, that barcode is sent to Central Platform. Otherwise, the barcode in the database is used (If there is more than one barcode in the database it seems to use the first (oldest). Otherwise, the PLU is used.

      • Venues should NOT issue (trigger) free Vouchers that allow for the redemption of eIM restricted Items.
      • swiftpos does NOT permit the sale of combos that include one or more eIM restricted Items.
      • swiftpos does NOT permit the sale of reciped items that include one or more eIM restricted Items.

       

      What To Consider?      ▲ ▼

       

      Notes ...

       

      Once the EFTPOS POS Key is used in a sale, price changes as a result of Campaigns, Discounts, Members Prices, Mix n Matches, etc will be blocked. Once a sale has been partially finalised using a SmartCard, then any subsequent attempt to do one of the following will be blocked:
       

      • Apply a Discount

      • Apply a Surcharge

      • Change Price Levels

      • Sell at Members Price

      • Splitting Balances

      • Top ups of Gift Cards, etc.

      • Transferring Table Items

      • Trigger Campaigns

      • Trigger a Mix n Match

       

      • swiftpos allows a payment to be made to a TAB/Table before any Items/Products are sold. However, this EFTPOS payment is NOT integrated EFTPOS, therefore this process would need to be enforced manually by the Venue. That is, not to process a manual payment via SmartCard at the EFTPOS terminal when it is NOT integrated to swiftpos Touch.

      • A Cash Out will NOT be listed as an eIM restricted Item in the Restricted Items Processing screen in Touch. Instead, a Complete Transaction option will be displayed. Refer HERE for more information.
      • What Venues Need To Know?
        • swiftpos Touch MUST be scheduled to restart daily to ensure a Client Secret expiry check is done.  
        • Venues MUST not allow the ability to over tender when a Services Australia SmartCard is offered as tender. Instead, it is recommended to use the Cash Out option.

         

        Notes ...

         

        swiftpos Touch does NOT show the Cash Out as an eIM restricted Item but instead shows the Restricted Items Processing screen. Selecting the Complete Transaction option prompts staff to enter the Cash Out again or select the Cancel option to return to Touch to finalise the sale. Refer HERE for more information.

         

        • What Venues Need To Know continued ...
          • Venues MUST ensure that any Combos, that include one or more eIM restricted Items, must be assigned to the PLB Restricted Family. 
          • Venues MUST ensure that any Reciped items that include one or more eIM restricted Items, must be assigned to the PLB Restricted Family. 
          • Venues MUST manually validate the card, used in the original sale, when issuing a store credit.
          • Venues may want to consider making weekly backups of logs to allow for the potential post interrogation of Central Platform API and bearer token endpoint error responses for at least the previous 30 days.

         

        When Is It Used?      ▲ ▼

        When a Venue sells eIM restricted Items and wants to ensure payment for these are blocked when a Services Australia SmartCard is offered as tender, and instead alternative payment options are offered to the patrons instead. For example, Cash or other media such as Discounts, Vouchers, Account payments etc. 

         

        How To?      ▲ ▼

         

        How To GET STARTED?      ▲ ▼

        Currently the latest version of the PLB feature is supported in swiftpos. However, it is currently limited to the EFT33 - Linkly (Food and Bev) EFTPOS peripheral. Refer HERE for more information.

         

        IMPORTANT

         

        Previously Product Level Blocking (PLB), was supported in swiftpos using the EFT14 - PC-EFTPOS peripheral. However, it is recommended that Venues switch over to using the EFT33 - Linkly (Food and Bev) EFTPOS peripheral instead, as EFT14 - PC-EFTPOS is no longer supported.

         

         

        Back Office      ▲ ▼

        • Ensure the Linkly Client service is running. Refer HERE for more information.
        • Ensure a Family is created that contains all Items, that can be sold at a Touch terminal, and which are considered eIM restricted Items. Refer HERE for more information.


        eft33-linkly-food-and-bev-6


        • Ensure the Family created above is selected in the PLB Restricted Family drop-down list in Global Preferences in Back Office. Refer HERE for more information.
        • Ensure a Full Update is sent to all Touch terminals that need to cater for the processing of a Services Australia SmartCard.

         

        Touch      ▲ ▼

         

        IMPORTANT

         

        swiftpos Touch MUST be scheduled to restart daily to ensure a Client Secret expiry check is done.

         

         

        Notes ...

         

        It is recommended that the Enable Cash Out option is used, rather than allowing customers to over tender by selecting the Allow Over Tender option. However, it must be noted that amounts entered as Cash Out will not be listed as a Restricted Item and CANNOT be processed using a SmartCard. They will need to be processed using an alternate Media.

         

        • Ensure the EFT33 - Linkly (Food and Bev) EFTPOS peripheral is added to Touch. Refer HERE for more information.
        • Ensure the DXC Interface is added to Touch and configured appropriately. Refer HERE for more information.

         

        How To Add The DXC Interface?      ▲ ▼

        • Add an interface to the Interface List.
          • Enter an appropriate description for the Interface being added in the Description setting.
          • Select the Sales Export option from the Interface Type drop-down list.
          • Select the DXC option from the Available drop-down list.
          • Select OK to save and open the Sales Interface screen.
          • Select the DXC option from the Type drop-down list to display it's configurations settings
          • Configure the settings as follows:
            • Ensure the Enabled option is selected.
            • Configure the remaining settings with the details provided, or use the settings for testing found HERE.
          • Select the Test option to ensure the configuration is successful.
          • Select OK to save and exit the DXC screen.
          • Select Save to save and exit the POS Interfaces screen.

         

          Sell Both Restricted And Non-Restricted Items?     ▲ ▼

           

          Notes ...

           

          If testing using the, Linkly Virtual Pinpad, ensure either the VISA PLB or VISA PLB2 option is selected in the Swipe Card drop-down list.
          Also, amounts entered as Cash Out will not be listed as a Restricted Item and CANNOT be processed using a SmartCard. They will need to be processed using an alternate Media.

           

          • In Touch, add both eIM restricted Items and non-restricted Items to a sale.
          • Select the EFTPOS POS Key.
          • Enter an amount when prompted for Cash Out.
          • Swipe with the SmartCard.
          • The transaction will be declined. When the Restricted Items Processing screen is displayed, the Cash Out amount entered will NOT be listed as a Restricted Item. select either the:
            • Clear Remaining Restricted Items From Sale option - To remove the restricted Items from the sale and proceed to finalise the sale (non-restricted Items only) using the SmartCard.

              product-level-blocking-5
              OR
            • Move Remaining Restricted Items to a Separate Sale option - To move the restricted Items to a separate sale and proceed with finalising the sale (non-restricted Items only) using the SmartCard. and then the separated sale (restricted Items) using an alternate Media. For example, Cash.

              product-level-blocking-4

            • Complete the sale.

           

            Sell Non-Restricted Items Only?     ▲ ▼

             

            Notes ...

             

            If testing using the, Linkly Virtual Pinpad, ensure either the VISA PLB or VISA PLB2 option is selected in the Swipe Card drop-down list.

            Also, amounts entered as Cash Out will not be listed as a Restricted Item and CANNOT be processed using a SmartCard. They will need to be processed using an alternate Media.

             

             

              With Cash Out?     ▲ ▼

              • In Touch, add non-restricted Items to a sale.
              • Select the EFTPOS POS Key.
              • Enter an amount when the Enter Cash Out prompt is displayed.
              • Swipe with the SmartCard.
              • The transaction is declined and the Restricted Items Processing screen is displayed with a Complete Transaction option.
              • Select the Complete Transaction option in the Restricted Items Processing screen to complete the sale.
                • Select Enter when the Enter Cash Out prompt is displayed.
                • Complete sale.

                 

                product-level-blocking-6

                OR

                • Select the Cancel option in the Restricted Items Processing screen to complete the sale.
                  • Enter an amount when the Enter Cash Out prompt is displayed.
                  • Swipe with an alternate payment card. For example, Master Card, Visa, etc.
                  • Complete the sale.

                 

                product-level-blocking-7

                 

                Without Cash Out?     ▲ ▼

                • In Touch, add non-restricted Items to a sale.
                • Select the EFTPOS POS Key.
                • Swipe with the SmartCard.
                • Select Enter when the Enter Cash Out prompt is displayed.
                • Complete the sale.

                 

                product-level-blocking-5-1

                 

                Sell Restricted Items Only?      ▲ ▼

                 

                Notes ...

                 

                If testing using the, Linkly Virtual Pinpad, ensure either the VISA PLB or VISA PLB2 option is selected in the Swipe Card drop-down list.
                Also, amounts entered as Cash Out will not be listed as a Restricted Item and CANNOT be processed using a SmartCard. They will need to be processed using an alternate Media.


                • In Touch, add only eIM restricted Items to a sale.
                • Select the EFTPOS POS Key.
                • Swipe with the SmartCard.
                • When the Restricted Items Processing screen is displayed select either the:
                  • Clear Remaining Restricted Items From Sale option - To remove the eIM restricted Items from the sale and proceed to finalise the sale using the SmartCard.

                    product-level-blocking-2

                    OR

                  • Move Remaining Restricted Items to a Separate Sale option - To move the eIM restricted Items to a separate sale and proceed with finalising the sale using an alternate Media. For example, Cash.

                    product-level-blocking-1

                  • Complete the sale.

                 

                Screens     ▲ ▼

                 

                Restricted Items Processing Screen     ▲ ▼

                 

                product-level-blocking-1

                To access, add an eIM restricted Item to a sale, and then attempt to pay for it using a SmartCard. Used to manage the selling of eIM restricted Items in Touch.

                • Not Restricted Items - Lists the Items that CAN be purchased with a SmartCard.
                • Restricted Items - Lists the Items that CANNOT be purchased with a SmartCard.
                • Clear Remaining Restricted Items From Sale - Select to clear the Items listed in the Restricted Items column from the sale.
                • Move Remaining Restricted Items to a Separate Sale - Select to move the Items listed in the Restricted Items column to a separate sale, so these can be paid for using a Media other than the SmartCard.

                 

                End of Article      ▲