Visa launches contactless payment wristbands at Eurovision Song Contest
Gemalto, a leading provider of digital security solutions based in Meudon, France, has collaborated with Visa, one of the world's largest payment providers, to equip visitors at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest with contactless payment wristbands. Gemalto's solution for Visa encompasses personalisation, packaging and fulfilment of the contactless wristbands, and utilises its Allynis Smart Event Platform for the prepaid payment programme and event management.
The Visa contactless wristbands is part of Visa Europe's official ESC sponsorship, which has been made available for purchase at the Eurovision Village in Stockholm, Sweden, in the week leading up to the Contest. Eurovision Song Contest attracts up to 65 000 visitors and culminates in a Grand Finale at the Globe Arena on 14 May drawing an estimated TV audience of 200 million.
Gemalto's integrated solution ensures that Visa is able to showcase contactless experiences, including shopping without carrying cash or payment cards. Gemalto has provided a responsive website that enables access to real-time account information including prepaid balances and history. The wristbands can be used to make payments at any Visa ready contactless POS terminal in the world and continue to be active after the show is over until 31 October 2016.
The Allynis Smart Event Platform can be employed in conjunction with any payment form factor, including wearables and mobile NFC, and provides off-the-shelf management of payment, data and access rights as well as an extensive portfolio of white label applications. The full solution supports a rich array of features including 'tap and go' payments, seamless access management to venues and hospitality areas, and many other value-added applications. It improves and secures the visitor experience, and enables organizers and other stakeholders to implement intelligent communication, marketing and loyalty programs that run before, during and after live events.
"At this year's event, Visa is creating a new contactless payments experience for fans and visitors of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016," said Christina Lind, Country Manager Visa Europe Sweden. "Together with Gemalto we are taking a big step into the future of payments and the launch of contactless in Sweden."