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Juice Card Life Cycle

Juice Cards provide functionality similar to prepaid phone scratch-off cards used around the world. This article does not describe the business process of ordering Juice Cards in detail as that may vary. Generally, Utiliflex will receive a purchase order for Juice cards and will generate a unique Juice card entries. This batched information is sent to a trusted printer along with card art. The physical cards are then delivered to the utility ready to be distributed locally.

Overview

Overview
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Juice Cards have two important components:

  • A visible incremental serial number in both plain text and bar code formats.
  • A hidden random 12-24 long alphanumeric string in plain text revealed by scratching off or otherwise revealing the number. Juice will not use a 20-digit number to avoid confusion with the STS meter token numbers that are also 20 digits. Numeric only strings are often generated to facilitate IVR redemption, alphanumeric can be redeemed via the web and text messaging.

Juice Cards are a closed-loop system; the card itself has no intrinsic value encoded in the card. The scratch-off numbers are very random, unique numbers. The record in the system denotes the value of the card. It is not encoded in the number or an encrypted value. Due to the nature of the closed loop system, the number MUST be verified before an account is credited. Each Juice Card can only be used once. Juice Cards can be printed by any trusted supplier, using information generated by Juice for the serial number, juice card number, and denomination value.

Juice Card States

Juice Cards have THREE major states:

  • Available: The number has been generated by Juice, the cards are in storage and no money has been received for them. The cards have no value at this stage and cannot be used by anyone.
  • Activated: The card must be initialized, this is essentially “selling” the card or turning it into cash. The person that does this is typically the Commercial Manager or a trusted cashier supervisor. Once activated, the cards are essentially “cash”.
  • Redeemed: The card has been used by someone, which has either generated a token (STS meters) or transferred the cards monetary value into their Juice Wallet (AMI Meters). The card has no further monetary value.

The system has no default

Common Activation Scenarios

Common Activation Scenarios
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There are options for how and when cards are activated. This is an example that can be adapted as needed at the utilities discretion:

The utility has a supply of available Juice Cards in a secure place (like a safe, locked cabinet) and would like to use them. They are typically packed in batches and issued in batches of 10 to 100 cards to a senior cashier or customer service representative. These cards are not activated yet.

  • Customer scenario: A customer wishes to purchase a Juice Card as a present for a family member. Approaching a cashier, the customer asks for a $50 Juice Card. The cashier removes an available Juice Card from the drawer and goes to “Cogs” → “Activate Juice Cards” in Juice to activate it and sell it to the customer. The Cashier received $50 from the customer, enters/scans the cards serial number into the interface, and the customers name (or “cash”) into Juice and clicks [Verify], and then [Activate]. That card is now activated and is usable as cash by any utility customer using Juice.
  • Vendor scenario: A vendor wishes to resell Juice Cards. They go through the exact same procedure as a customer, but there is an option in the “Activate Juice Card” interface to activate large bundles of them at once. Click the “Batch Activation” check box, and enter (or scan) the first and last serial number of the batch of cards being sold. Again, choose [Verify Cards] to verify the cards and calculate a total. Then click [Activate] to activate them. Those cards are now activated and are usable as cash by any utility customer using Juice.

In all cases, once activated the Juice Cards are “cash” to the utility and transferable outside of the utility without any utility or Juice system interaction.

Juice Card Redemption

Juice Card Redemption
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An activated Juice Card can be used by anyone for any account or meter. It is seen as cash to Juice, which was previously collected. It can be used, converted, or redeemed for power or a credit to a wallet balance via:

  • Text messaging Gateway
  • IVR Gateway
  • Web Interfaces
  • Any vendor or utility Cashier.

STS example: Customer has an STS style meter and was given a $50 Juice Card as a promotional prize at her local grocery store. She scratches off the number on the back of the card and texts it to the cell number on the card using a format of: [METER_SERIAL_NUMBER]*[JUICE_CARD_NUMBER] which is her meter number, and her Juice Card number she scratched off. The system replies with an STS token that she puts into her meter using it's keypad and it increments 75 kWh of electricity on her balance display.

AMI example: Customer has an AMI meter and forgot to buy power. His power goes out just as he starts to do some work. He runs to a local store and buys a Juice Card for $20. He calls the utility IVR system, selects his account, and enters in his Juice Card number. His power is on by the time he gets home.

The concept is: a Juice Card is cash the utility has already accepted cash for, but did not know which customer/meter to apply it to at that time.