Datakey's Tracker Makes a Splash in the Car Wash Industry
20 December 1999
Datakey's Tracker Makes a Splash in the Car Wash Industry
Minnesota-based distributor Key Solutions, Inc. Increases Order Quantities for
Tracker Controllers and Memory Keys Due to High Demand from Self-Serve Car
Washes
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 17 -- Datakey, Inc.
( http://www.datakey.com ), an international supplier of rugged portable
memory products and systems, announced an order of $200,000 from its
Minnesota-based distributor, Key Solutions, Inc., for its recently announced
Tracker solution. The increased order resulted from high demand for Tracker
at self-serve car washes, which are integrating Tracker controllers and memory
keys into their coin-based payment receptacles at their car wash bays to
upgrade them to cashless vending systems.
Key Solutions, Inc. markets the cashless vending system as ExpressKEY.
Since launching ExpressKEY at the Northeastern Car Wash Association convention
and trade show in mid-October, the company has integrated 40 controllers in 12
car washes located across the United States and in Alberta, Canada. Key
Solutions expects to add approximately 200 additional ExpressKEY controllers
to 30 additional car wash sites within the next three months.
"We've received tremendous interest in ExpressKEY, and frankly, we're
struggling to keep up with demand from all of the car washes that want to
integrate this system into their equipment," said Shad Brand, owner of Key
Solutions, Inc. "We increased our order with Datakey because car washes are
moving quickly to adopt this technology to increase their business while
enhancing convenience for their customers."
How the ExpressKEY system works
Car wash owners add the ExpressKEY controller and Keyceptacle(R) (the
device that accepts the keys) to their existing payment receptacles within
each of their car wash bays, allowing these units to accept either coins or
rugged, portable memory keys for cashless vending. The car wash owners then
provide reusable memory keys to their customers by either:
1) Preprogramming the keys with credit and selling them to patrons; or,
2) Programming the keys with billing tables and distributing to customers
who prefer receiving a monthly invoice.
To begin washing their cars, customers simply insert their key into the
Keyceptacle device instead of using cash. The ExpressKEY controller debits
electronic money from the key or logs billing data for customers that receive
invoices. To download invoice data stored in the ExpressKEY controller, car
wash owners use an Export key that transfers it to their computer. Finally,
they can compile reports and invoices quickly using software provided as part
of the ExpressKEY system.
"ExpressKEY is ideal for car washes because of its rugged design, its ease
of integration into existing equipment in isolated locations and because it
represents a comprehensive and inexpensive cashless vending solution," said
Michael Sorensen, vice president and general manager of Datakey's Electronic
Products business unit. "Many car washes are turning to cashless vending
because it reduces coin collection time, eliminates shrinkage from lost coins,
and deters theft and vandalism because machines that don't hold money are less
attractive targets for petty thieves."
About Datakey
Datakey, Inc. provides rugged memory tokens and complete system solutions
that are easily programmed to store and manage data for a variety of
applications, including data logging, cashless vending, instrumentation
calibration, data security, process control, and fuel dispensing. Datakey
also provides products and systems that enable user authentication, secure
data exchange and information validation for information security.
Shares of Datakey's common stock are traded on Nasdaq under the symbol
DKEY. The Web address is http://www.datakey.com . Datakey press releases are
available by fax through Company News On-Call at 800-758-5804, ext. 231950 or
at http://www.prnewswire.com
About Key Solutions, Inc.
Key Solutions, Inc. is located in Dassel, Minn. Its recently announced
ExpressKEY product upgrades coin- and cash-operated payment receptacles at car
washes to automated cashless vending systems. Please visit their web site at
http://www.xpresskey.com or call toll-free at 800-665-1208 for more
information.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements
contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in the applicable statements. For
more information on the potential factors, which could affect the company's
financial results, refer to the Company's most recent SEC reports, including
the Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1998.