OctoGuard©

NFC mobile with identity verification function	Monthly tenants’ identity can be verified in a second	Monthly carpark tenants can prove their identity via Octopus cards

Monthly carpark tenants can prove their identity via Octopus cards

Problem Analysis

Two ifc is dedicated to provide customers with excellent services. In regard to car park management, for instance, we aim to provide safe and secure parking experience to our customers while balancing the need for quality customer service. Due to the physical constraints of the car park, monthly and hourly car park users have to share the same entrance and therefore it usually takes a longer time for them to queue up for entry during busy hours. Moreover, the existing process to perform access control at the entrance is not efficient enough at verifying the identity of users.

Improvement Methods

88 Circle+ has designed and built an Android app named OctoGuard© which is tailor-made for Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile devices and the Octopus access control system. The features of the app are highlighted

• Streamlined work process: Authorised staff can use a mobile device equipped with OctoGuard© to verify the identity of car park tenants with their Octopus cards.
• Computerised customer data: It can minimise human errors and make it easy to check the relevant records.
• Easy to carry around with encryption: It is user-friendly and ensures data privacy.
• Standardisation of application: It can be applied to different aspects of property management with its full benefits.
• Cost saving: It can save money for installing and maintaining non-portable Octopus readers as well as the administration cost for issuing parking tickets.

Summary of Achievements

Tangible Benefits

• Saving the expenses of installing extra non-portable Octopus readers, i.e. a total of approximately HKD221,600.
• Saving the extra manpower cost for access control at the park entrance, i.e. approximately HKD120,960 per year.
• Saving the extra manpower cost for access control at the park entrance, i.e. approximately HKD120,960 per year.

Intangible Benefits

• Enhancing the professional image of MTR Corporation.
• Streamlining the work process and minimising work stress of staff.
• Using the latest technology to improve the service standard.

OctoGuard© challenges traditional beliefs and enables the access security control devices mobile. Working on a smartphone, it significantly enhances the efficiency of business operation by making the identity validation process much easier and faster. OctoGuard© is the first cloud-based wireless mobile application in the market that is compatible to any NFC capable Android smart devices.