“TransAct believes success emanates from customers and employees”

(Exclusive interview).- TransAct has been developing excellent targets since the beginning of the year and is ready to conquer more.

TransAct, a global leader in software-driven technology and printing solutions for high-growth markets, spoke with Focus Gaming News about this year’s development and the customers and partners’ response on the company’s performance. The gaming company, represented by Tracey Chernay, TransAct’s Senior Vice President, Global Casino, Gaming and Lottery, highlighted the importance of local agreements in the authorised markets where they deliver the innovative technology, as well as the employee’s reinforcement of the brand.

After a successful participation at international gaming events, TransAct is reinforcing its business globally. What are the future plans of the company to keep growing?

TransAct Casino, Gaming and Lottery division has a number of key initiatives for 2017 but I will focus on just two of them here. We will expand on our Epicentral capabilities with the launch of Epicentral SE and we will continue our launch plans with the new printer, Epic Edge.

Epicentral Systems Edition (SE) will allow a Casino Marketing Team to create promotional programs that will be presented to players via a printed coupon while they play at the slot. Leveraging their existing marketing modules within the Casino Management System such as Scientific Games CMP or Aristocrat Oasis Encompass, Epicentral SE manages the printing of those system generated offers. The solution uses several of Epicentral’s unique software modules – Design Center and Print Manager – to design, print and deliver offers directly to the slot player at the gaming machine they are playing, and System Center, for management and configuration of the slot machines to accept notification of a coupon or promotion.  Casino operators running Epicentral SE will be able to fully track and report on all promotions, giving marketing teams and slot floor managers a true all-in-one view of the player environment.

The second key initiative for TransAct Casino Gaming and Lottery is the introduction and launch of the Epic Edge printer. Epic Edge, the Company’s new next-generation casino ticket printer, builds on the proven performance of TransAct’s Epic 950 and brings to casinos a host of technological advances that will no doubt serve to make it the ticket printing solution of choice.  Epic Edge introduces a new print resolution standard for the market – 300 dpi – that represents a 50 percent improvement over all current casino ticket printers. This new capability will enable it to deliver razor sharp barcodes, greatly improving bill validator acceptance and reducing attendant calls while allowing for clearer text and more attractive coupon artwork, thus helping to enhance Epicentral implementations in casinos deploying the Epic Edge.

Other key features for the new Epic Edge include a single outer chassis with Serial, USB and Netplex ports to allow the printer to work with any machine type, hot swap capability to eliminate game downtime, two high-speed interfaces – USB and Micro SD – that enable simple firmware and graphics updates, a faster ServerPort™ connection, color coded chassis rails that make identifying installed Epic Edge and Epic 950 printers easier for slot floor operations teams, and a rugged metal chassis design. The Epic Edge will be a drop-in replacement for the Epic 950, allowing operators to run both printers side-by-side on their casino floors.

The introduction of the Epic Edge continues TransAct’s technical, feature and performance leadership in the global casino and gaming market. This new printer stands on the proven reliability of the Epic 950 and takes our flagship gaming device printer to a whole new level.  We are confident that casino operators will come to appreciate the capabilities of the Epic Edge and seek to bring its high performance to their casino floors.

TransAct expressed its interest in expanding the products in the Philippines and Korea. How is the company implementing the strategies? Are there new target markets for TransAct?

The TransAct brand is very well represented in both the Philippines and in Korea. We value the local partnerships we have established in both countries and we are committed to the many wonderful direct relationships with OEM suppliers, casinos and gaming establishments that we have made in these regions. We see growth in these areas through expanded market share as a result of our brand recognition and acceptance paired with the elevated level of interest in Epicentral.

We look forward to establishing similar partnerships, customer relationships and presence in the developing Japanese casino market. TransAct is a participant and sponsor of the upcoming Japan Gaming Congress where we hope to learn a lot and to share our experiences at the same time.

The TransAct brand is very well represented in both the Philippines and in Korea. We value the local partnerships we have established in both countries and we are committed to the many wonderful direct relationships with OEM suppliers, casinos and gaming establishments that we have made in these regions.

What have been the biggest accomplishments of TransAct so far this year?

TransAct believes our success emanates from the success of our customers and our employees. I’ll provide you with an example of each type of success.

We are thrilled to participate in the new opening process with a major new casino in the US in Washington State, ilani, who will open this month with 100 percent Epic 950 printers powering their casino floor. We are proud to partner with this new casino which is both beautifully designed and features the newest, most innovative casino floor.

The second accomplishment I’d like to highlight is the success of one of our key employees in the Asia-Pacific region, Rashid Suliman. Rash moved with his family from Australia to Macau to represent TransAct in 2012 and they have never looked back. This year Rash earned a well-deserved promotion to Vice President, Sales, Asia-Pacific. Based in our international sales office located in Macau, Rash has been extremely effective in building TransAct’s reputation and stature in the market and consistently successful in winning new market share for the company across the region. We couldn’t be more pleased for Rashid and his family.