IT'S A NEW ERA WITH FAMILIAR USE CASES

Martin Oesterle , Head of Software Solutions & Innovations at ALMEX GmbH , told us about his search for new technological challenges to offer ALMEX customers better solutions.

TRI STAR: ALMEX is a leader in offering innovative ticketing technologies in public transport and retail solutions. What makes the company unique in your eyes, Martin?

Martin: Well, first of all, we are a flexible medium-sized company. Our roots go back to the 1970s. Back then – mobile devices were something totally new on the retail market and we were one of the first to deliver such systems. Nowadays we see us as a start-up-minded company for intelligent devices with the right software for it.

We have many years of experience for small transport companies and state railways as well. We supply pretty much everything from standard applications to customized special solutions - software and hardware wise. One of our strengths is that we provide everything from a one single source. We don't just build the solution - we also design and operate. We write backend and frontend software. From SAP interfaces to IoT-based device management cloud-based or on premise, depending on our customer’s needs. I think that's a special feature at ALMEX.

TRI STAR: In 2021/2022, ALMEX launched many innovative products and solutions: the new CASCARA software for Deutsche Bahn, the robots BellaBot and KettyBot and the AUTO ID smartwatch 2.0. Is a new era dawning for ALMEX?

Martin: We have always built self-service systems. Systems that help our customer. Now we let our systems drive automotive – like our Robots BellaBot and KettyBot. For catering, for retail and maybe one day also for public transport. We could think of robots driving in trains or in customer centers. In the end, it's still a self-service system, not only flexible, but more customer-facing. It's a new era with familiar use cases.

We always try to do what is currently technologically feasible. We have now gone to robots, but we are always looking for new technological challenges to offer our customers better solutions. It can be an AI for cash systems, new generations of handheld devices for retailers or smart watches. We are currently investigating smart glasses for retail and public transport sector. We develop technology more and more as intelligent supporters in the daily use of customers. Especially in public transport we are constantly updating our technology to stay at the forefront of technological progress.

TRI STAR: Smart glasses - sounds amazing!

Martin: That's a new area we're looking at and asking ourselves what we can do with it. A couple of years ago the timing wasn’t right – the market wasn't ready. But maybe now it’s the right time to bring it on.

TRI STAR: At the InnoTrans in September 2022, ALMEX presented the new RTP/instant payment solution in our payment terminals. What does the new payment method entail and what advantages does it bring?

We have now some new standardized payment methods in the European payment area. If you pay with a card nowadays, it's quick and easy. It's exactly the same with RTP (Request To Pay) and instant payment, but the operators must pay some high fees. The customers don't notice that so much, but the companies do. Especially right now when every euro counts. With these new procedures, the fee can be kept extremely low. The number of involved parties is lower, so we can ensure a direct transfer from bank to bank. That’s how everyone has an advantage - the customer can use his own banking app, which is a common practice among digital natives. The retailer has much lower fee than with classic credit or bit card payments.

TRI STAR: Making a career in your company means...

Martin:…to start as a working student and now to work with the companies management on our technological future - ?that's a career for me.

TRI STAR: ALMEX GmbH is also part of a strong group. What are the most important advantages resulting from this for your company?

Martin: That’s easy to answer. We have access to knowledge from a wide variety of sectors. TSI group covers a broad technological spectrum of excellent solutions. We meet and exchange regularly about new trends and paths we can go. For example, the RTP-project was one of the results of our innovation meetings. RTP received a big support from the group. ALMEX wouldn't have been able to find the right partner for this project without great support of the group.

TRI STAR: Thank you so much for your time and take care, Martin! :-)