Custom-developed client-server application for barcode generation for PSC Systems Ltd

PSC Systems Ltd. are providers of a variety of plastic card solutions, including membership cards, loyalty cards and, in this instance, plastic payment cards and barcoding systems.

Project overview:

Annual (bulk) issuance of bar-coded plastic cards was already handled by existing in-house systems. However, during the course of a year, there was a need to fulfil a steady demand for "one-off" cards. With each plastic card being a low value item, it was important to ensure that the ad-hoc issuance of cards was handled as efficiently as possible, keeping costs down for the issuing authority and ensuring that small volumes were not loss-making for the client. Enter "New Horizons".

After in-depth discussion with the client a project specification was mutually agreed for "New Horizons" – a software application that would enable card issuing authorities to order plastic cards directly from their desktop PCs, and to issue temporary, printed barcodes on-the-spot. Basic client management enables the card issuer to handle new / changed card holders, issue replacement cards and track card orders with ease.

Above: The secure client-server application, "New Horizons", facilitates ad-hoc ordering of plastic payment cards, and on-the-spot issuance of barcoded customer references

At the PSC offices, an administration application allows card orders to be batched and fulfilled efficiently, saving a considerable amount of operator time. Users and authentication, print templates, billing and several other facets of the system are all managed with ease through a custom-developed administration portal. Left: Solid database design using ‘stored procedures’, ‘referential integrity’ and ‘transactions’ ensures the quality of the stored data.

The custom-developed software comprises a Microsoft .Net "winforms" client application installed on end-users computers.

This connects securely to a central MS SQL database hosted on a co-located server in a secure, professional data-house, with data being backed-up off site automatically.