G7 OPT System.
Client: Invenco Group Ltd.
The Invenco G7 OPT family of products (Outdoor Payment Terminals) is a modularised system of components which collectively are used to make secure outdoor transactions. Used primarily at gas stations, the modules allow Invenco to offer a complete solution, extending from the POS hardware, through to the secure back office system and then through to the banking systems, a complete end to end offering for customers. The big point of difference in this industry was that Invenco allowed a fuel brand to have a single cohesive user experience at the pumps, irrespective of pump type. To ensure this, Invenco has also taken an open platform approach to give customers complete control of content. This is something our competitors did not permit. This unique open approach allowed Invenco to secure a deployment partnership in the USA with NCR.
Invenco G7 (OPTIC 12) modules.
G7 modules and retrofit kit.
Challenges for the hardware team included meeting security standards (which actually exceed those for ATMs) and safety standards around working in close proximity to petro-chemicals. Having the modules on a range of different pump types made ergonomic criteria challenging, especially meeting compliance with ADA (American Disability Act) criteria. The existing pumps constrained footprints for the modules, which in turn created significant design challenges as one of the objectives was to provide a large 12″ HD touch screen LCD onto panels usually designed to fit 10″ screens.
12″ HD LCD Touch Screen in an Ovation series pump.
The retrofit kits in particular absorbed much more effort than expected to allow the Invenco modules to be mounted into any pump. This included solving the problem of coming up with a single printer design which could go into any of the Encore range of fuel dispensers (something even the manufacturer of those pumps doesn’t attempt), while also permitting the use of the existing printer if the customer so chooses. Several intensive trips to the USA were required to achieve success. The retrofit kits themselves have now contributed a significant proportion to the commercial success of the project.
G7 modules and retrofit kit, with printer, in an Encore series pump.
G7 modules in retrofit kit, with the APC media module on the back.
G7 modules mounted in an Ovation series retrofit kit.
Role: Senior Industrial Designer.
Tasks: Overall definition of module form factors including ergonomics (2015 – 2016), general contributing industrial designer (2015 – 2017), industrial design on card reader/PIN entry UPC module (2016), lead designer and engineer on the retrofit kits(2016 – 2017).