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Editorial
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Dear Readers,
There are two things you might notice about this edition of THE INSIGHT: First, the new layout and second the broadened scope. We have introduced those changes to our newsletter to adequately reflect those on our corporate level. This year has been filled with successes and changes, one of the most important being the creation of the Austria Card AG, a legal entity headquartered in Vienna and comprising two divisions, namely digital security (Austria Card), and information management (Inform). Besides allowing us to continue with our growth, this step will help us to maximize the synergies between the two divisions and thus bring more value to our customers. I am glad that from now on our newsletter will keep you updated on both branches.
Enjoy reading THE INSIGHT!
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Photo:
Panagiotis Spyropoulos
Group CEO
Austria Card
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Austria Card wins Austrian Export Award 2015
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As part of Lykos, Austria Card has grown to a truly international company in recent years. Today, it is a global player and a leader in the CEE markets and has succeeded in exporting Austrian technology to a vast array of regions.
Its achievement has now been rewarded by the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy (BMWFW) and the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) with the Austrian Export Award in the category “Information and Consulting”.
Each year, the Austrian Export Award honors national companies that operate successfully in foreign markets and promotes Austria’s growth internationally. It was presented by the Federal Minister of Economy, Reinhold Mitterlehner and WKÖ President Christoph Leitl in June.
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Photo: Frank Helmrich
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First JCB cards in Europe produced by Austria Card
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With JCB (Japan Credit Bureau), Austria Card has another market leader placing its trust in its know-how, while enabling the clients to broaden their portfolio and offer a new product to their end-customers.
JCB is seen as a pioneer in the Japanese credit card business and has established itself as a vital and global brand within the payments industry. About 90 million people worldwide already use JCB-cards. For the Austrian issuer card complete, Austria Card now supplies the first JCB credit cards for the European market.
The new “JCB Balance”-cards incorporate product features, which complement each owner’s lifestyle balance. The card includes rebates on holidays, adventure- and lifestyle products, travel and shopping insurances, access to airport lounges as well as several advantages with rental car reservations among others. Austria Card has already delivered the first tranches of these cards to clients.
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ICMA Èlan Award of Excellence goes to Austria Card’s “ACE Mobile Tag”
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Austria Card provides its clients with a customized and viable service, no matter how complex, challenging or diverse their needs. For Czech bank Česká spořitelna, it has developed a leading-edge NFC solution, which has received the prestigious Élan Award of Excellence by the International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA).
The “ACE Mobile Tag” is as a bridging technology between payment cards and mobile payments. Ready to be attached to any mobile phone, the sticker is the ideal alternative or complement to contactless cards. In addition to contactless payment, other applications such as loyalty programs, ticketing, or access authorization can be integrated.
Selected from over 60 entries, the “ACE Mobile Tag” has won the People’s Choice-category in the 25th anniversary year of the ICMA in Phoenix, Arizona (USA). Austria Card thanks Česká spořitelna for believing in this new product from the very beginning and our partner Schreiner Printrust for the excellent cooperation.
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Photo: Schreiner
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Austria Card among the largest exhibitors at Cartes America
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Austria Card is currently evaluating options to enter the US market. The US is the last major market to use predominantly the swipe-and-sign-system, but the migration to EMV chip technology is under way. This offers significant growth potential for the company.
Austria Card exhibited at this year’s Cartes Secure Connexions America conference and showcased, among other things, its capabilities in the production and personalization of dual interface cards. Austria Card is among the world’s ten largest dual interface card manufacturers and has delivered millions of these card products across the European continent since 2007.
The trade-show is a top-quality, three-day event concentrated on North- and Latin-America. It took place in May 2015 in Washington, DC.
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Photo: Austria Card
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Photo: Fotolia
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Excellent 2015 year opening in Poland
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Austria Card has made another significant step ahead on the Polish market in 2015. The first quarter brought a perfect achievement - Deutsche Bank Polska S.A. has put its trust in Austria Card and extended the fruitful cooperation on personalization services.
Since February 2015, Austria Card Polska has been a successful personalization center for the bank, offering a large scope of comprehensive services, which in combination with modern card products that further strengthen the leading role on the Polish banking market.
The second quarter was also very successful. New banks: SGB Bank, SK Bank and IKANO Bank decided to expand their cooperation with Austria Card by personalization services in our Polish personalization facility near Krakow.
All these achievements prove high acknowledgement of Austria Card as a reliable company for complex and fruitful partnership.
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Inform gains the Global Amex certification
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Inform’s card personalization center in Athens has been certified by the American Express Global Certification Program and thus increases the number of services it can offer to its banking customers. The certification is valid until December 31, 2015 and has added to the significant increase in the volume of card personalization. This year Inform in Athens expects to break the 10m cards barrier.
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Photo: Shutterstock
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Opening up the loyalty sector
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Earlier this year Inform Lykos has entered an exclusive partnership with Cloudbiz, an expert in loyalty and web applications. Now the first loyalty scheme of the Lykos-Cloudbiz cooperation was implemented for Viva Fresh in the Kosovo. After the completion of this strategic plan, Inform took over the entire project. Moreover, Inform undertakes the strategy business plan for Neptun Albania, who is the largest retailer for electric devices, as well as for Carrefour Albania, who since recently is owned by the same group (Balfin Group).
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Inform first to receive the FSC Chain of Custody Certification in Greece and Romania
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As the first company in the transactional printing industry, Inform earns the FSC Chain of Custody Certification in Greece and Romania, thereby joining the global family of certified organizations that are striving to protect the environment and to create even more business value for their clients. Buying FSC products shows the commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Consumers aren’t just buying a product; they are fulfilling a promise today and for generations to come. Inform’s clients can make that choice now.
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New members on board
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We would like to welcome on board Marcos Reichert, a very experienced industry professional that will definitely strengthen our sales team.
Marcos has a very strong background in the smart cards and electronic transactions industry as a marketing, sales and business development manager.
He has worked many years for companies such as ASK, Motorola and Schlumberger and gained significant international experience in multiple countries
across Europe, Asia, and North & South America. Marcos is trilingual in English, French and Portuguese and fluent in German and Spanish, thus he will
be able to cover new markets for Austria Card. His responsibilities comprise the public transportation market, as well as Business Development in the
banking and non-banking sector in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Israel, and North & South America. Marcos will be based in Nice, France.
We wish him all the best for a successful career at Austria Card.
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