Customers of SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. may now enjoy more savings, convenience and faster transactions made possible with the new e-Plus Tap to Pay, a solution that uses a stored value-based contactless smart card payment application that serves as an integrated e-wallet for retail, transport, parking, dining and entertainment, and vending.
With one tap of a card, an e-Plus Tap to Pay member can enjoy perks in various restaurants, shops, theaters, and concerts. Not only that, it also gives convenience to travelers, shoppers, movie patrons and event goers, as it works even while inside the wallet through contactless smart card technology. As a matter of fact, it allows faster transactions without the needed online authorization, where payment can be done in as fast as three seconds.
e-Plus Tap to Pay terminal. Photo by Lanie De Leon.
Considered as the card of the century, e-Plus has a secure and scalable system design which provides not only payment and loyalty solutions but other applications of varying requirements. It can store up to 32 loyalty programs memberships in different establishments and features safe reloadable cash in a multi-purpose multi-platform card.
The cards, readers, systems and even the retail modules used by e-Plus Tap to Pay are supplied by Advanced Card Systems Ltd., a Hong Kong-based publicly listed company which is engaged in the manufacture and supply of Tap to Pay cards, systems and hardware.
Now in operation, e-Plus Tap to Pay has 48 booths located in SM Cinema branches nationwide. Once SMLEI has able to do a nationwide rollout in SM’s retail and food retail branches, they will expand in all SM malls.
The e-Plus Tap to Pay reload partners include over 2,100 BDO automated teller machines nationwide, more than 170,000 V-Mobile retailers, e-Plus booth in SM Malls, SM Cinema, IMAX Theaters, Director’s Club Cinemas, Snack Time counters, SM Educational and Leisure Centers, SM Business Centers, bills payment and prepaid kiosks, SM Tickets, Mall of Asia Arena, select school cafeterias, and more upcoming reload partners.
The following establishments accept e-Plus Tap to Pay: SM Cinema branches, Director’s Club Cinemas, IMAX Theaters, Snack Time, SM Tickets, Mall of Asia Arena, SM South Mall Food Court, SM Bowling Center, SM Ice Skating Rink, SM Storyland, MOA Eye, Science Discovery Center, select SM Mall Parking Buildings, select SM UV Terminals, and other partners/establishments nationwide.
Another IT-related brand that offers services to outside clients is the e-Plus Digital. Originally created to service digital sites of SM Cinema and e-Plus, e-Plus Digital was formed into a Web service brand which collaborates in planning, conceptualization, implementation, and assessment of digital marketing strategies along the line of media, e-commerce, mobile marketing, Web development and other related areas.
The services offered by e-Plus digital include social media content management, Web design and development, Web hosting and maintenance, and e-mail marketing.
e-Plus Tap to Pay and e-Plus Digital are just two of the 12 business units which were consolidated into one entity, the SMLEI that offers clients the best in movies, events, leisure and technology. Started as West Avenue Theatres Corporation with only SM Cinema at its helm, the SMLEI also carries the following brands: SM Cinema, IMAX, Director’s Cut Cinema, WM Cinema, Snack Time, SM Tickets, Mall of Asia Arena, SM Science Center, SM Bowling Center, and SM Skating Rink.
Edgar C. Tejerero, President of SMLEI, said that the new name is more fitting to the company’s current structure which aims to become the biggest lifestyle entertainment solution in Southeast Asia. “We have the solutions and we guarantee our partners, patrons and even our customers that they will get the power of synergy of all the business units under SMLEI, Tejerero said. “Our world-class recreational facilities, products and services aim to provide Filipinos more venues to create wonderful memories with their families, friends and loved ones,” he added.
SMLEI has various POS system-partners depending on the kind of applications. For cinema and educational and leisure business units, the system comes from Mobile Group, Inc.; EZ Sistemo POS system is used in parking unit; while for food courts, the system used are from CyberPOS and ePOS. There are also upcoming POS partners as it rolls out the systems in various partner-merchants.
Meanwhile, the parking autopay and reload kiosk is produced by EZ Sistemo while the kiosks for cinema’s self-service seat reservations and movie ticket purchase, the providers are Mobile Group, Inc. and ACSL.
Regarding SMLEI’s plans, Tejerero revealed that each of the firm’s business units has its own launching this year. “We’re looking at launching our 4D theater which is just one of the many upcoming ventures that SMLEI will be offering to the public. 4D cinema will give you a different experience compared with our current brands, like IMAX,” Tejerero said.
According to Tejerero, they will be converting a part of the IMAX theater in the SM Mall of Asia to create the 4D cinema. “SMLEI will be the first to offer such in the country that will show commercial films, particularly Hollywood titles,” he said.
For other business brands like Mall of Asia Arena, Arnel Gonzales, AVP of Mall of Asia Arena, claims that the venue for international sports and entertainment, known as the architectural “eyecon” is hoping to be replicated in Cebu.
Asheeh Mandhyan, Senior Manager of e-Plus Digital revealed that SMLEI has plans of opening an online mall.
SMLEI is the educational, sports, and recreational arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. With its enhancements and steadfast vision, it can be a leader in innovation, technology, and creativity purposed to enhance a lifestyle created for Filipinos.
