Xn Smart cards get smarter: the National Entitlement Card in Scotland

Thursday 14 May 2009

The National Entitlement Card (NEC) Programme is a new initiative to establish a unified approach to the access and delivery of services for Scottish citizens using one card (a smart card) to replace several other cards. Smart cards can hold far more information than their older counterparts, magnetic stripe cards, because they have an in-built microchip.

The main aim is to promote joint working across all thirty two Scottish Local Authorities in the development of the National Entitlement programme, whereby card holders gain concessions for travel, sports, leisure, transport, education and libraries.

Customer First

National Entitlement Cards are just one element in a wider Scottish Government sponsored programme called Customer First. This aims to encourage all local councils to share resources and create efficiencies to ensure that Scottish citizens have easier to access services and facilities at the first point of contact with their local council.

1.5 million already issued

A standard NEC Card is being introduced across Scotland and 1.5 million have already been issued. As a smart card, it will hold information about the citizen/holder's entitlement data for a range of different sectors including schools, libraries, transport and leisure, key to their entitlement to concessionary pricing, etc.

To maintain the pace, Xn Leisure has developed an interface between the Advantage Leisure Management System and the NEC Card. Card holders can scan their card at any leisure facility and be recognised instantly by the system and offered the correct pricing or concession rate. The module is designed to allow cross-authority discounting and also comes with 'smart purse' and loyalty card functionality.

Want to know more about Xn's smart card range?

Xn Leisure has a range of smart card solutions that can radically improve card reading rates compared to magnetic swipe. If you wish to deploy a smart card scheme, for example in conjunction with an Active lifestyle scheme, call Xn Leisure on 0870 80 30 700 or email info@xnleisure.com.