Monkey Awards 2010

The Winners for the third annual Contactless Intelligence Monkey Awards were announced on 29th April – sponsored once again by VISA Europe. 

The Monkey Awards are presented to those companies, organizations and retailers who have done the most to embrace and implement contactless technology into their day-to-day operating practices. These awards represent a real promotional springboard and give the winners a reputation and credibility for their efforts within the industry.

The competition was open to all implemented contactless applications within the relevant sectors, regardless of geographic region or size of corporation. 

The Winners for each Category

1. In Restaurant Dining. 

Awarded to the dining establishment that has done the most to incorporate contactless into their service and payment structure and had the most success from doing so.

• YO! Sushi (UK)
• Aramark (UK)
• Baxter Storey (UK) ***WINNER***
• EAT (UK)

Mark Austin (Visa Europe), Laurence Morley (Baxter Storey), Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence)*

2. High Throughput Beverage. 

Awarded to the convenience drinks establishment that has done the most to incorporate contactless into their service and payment structure and had the most success from doing so.

• Pret a Manger (UK)
• Caffe Nero (UK)
• AMT Coffee (UK)
• Coca Cola vending for Winter Olympics (Canada) ***WINNER***

Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence), Jason Burkinshaw (Coca Cola), Mark Austin (Visa Europe)*

3. High Throughput Food. 

Awarded to the convenience food establishment that has done the most to incorporate contactless into their service and payment structure and had the most success from doing so.

• EAT (UK)
• Subway (UK) ***WINNER***
• Pret a Manger (UK)
• CRUSSH (UK)

Mark Austine (Visa Europe), Elvira Lautenschlager (Subway), Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence)*

4. Competitive advantage through technology; 

Awarded to any company or organisation who has gained an advantage in business by implementing contactless technology.

• AMT Coffee (UK)
• Wright Express - Sheetz NFC trial in petrol stations (US)
  [project partners: Wright Express, ViVOtech, Sheetz]
• ViVOtech - Citibank NFC trial in Bangalore (India) ***WINNER***
  [project partners: Citibank, ViVOtech, Nokia, Vodafone, MasterCard]
• Morehead State University - Eagle Cards (US)
  [project partners: MS University, CBORD Group, HID Global]

Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence), John Harvey (ViVOtech), Mark Austin (Visa Europe)*

5. NFC in the High Street 

Awarded to the company/retailer that has done the most to incorporate NFC into their service and payment structure and had the most success from doing so.

• Zapa Technology - NFC loyalty stickers (Ireland)
  [project partners: ZAPA Technology, Insomnia Coffee]
• e24 - NFC trial in a Farm shop (Switzerland)
  [project partners: e24, SIX Multi Solution, Winter, Alliera, LEGIC, SEA, Transformer, NEXPERTS]
• LaCaixa - NFC trial in Sitges (Spain) ***WINNER***
  [project partners: La Caixa, Sermepa, Samsung, Visa, Ingenico, Telefonica, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient]
• ViVOtech - Citibank NFC trial in Bangalore (India)
  [project partners: Citibank, ViVOtech, Nokia, Vodafone, MasterCard]

Mark Austin (Visa Europe), Jordi Guaus (la Caixa), Karen Brindley (Contactess Intelligence)*

6. Health / Lifestyle / Entertainment 

Awarded to those events, venues or establishments that have incorporated contactless technology into their offering and structure and in doing so have contributed towards customer support and service.

• Austrian Institute of Technology - NFC health monitoring (Austria)
  [project partners: AIT, NXP, A&D Medical, Medical University of Graz]
• City of Oulu - NFC meals for the elderly (Finland)
  [project partners: City of Oulu, Oulun Ateria, Oulun Logistiikka, Oulun sosiaali-ja terveystoimi, Top-Tunniste, Nokia, VTT]
• Ricoh Arena - contactless for Coventry City FC (UK) ***WINNER***
  [project partners: Arena Coventry, Coventry City FC, Compass Group, payment solution]
• Caffe Nero (UK)

Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence), Angus Houston (Ricoh Arena), Mark Austin (Visa Europe)*

7. Public Concern  

Awarded to any public concern that has incorporated contactless technology into their local or public infrastructure for the betterment of local citizens.

• Metric Group - HillingdonFirst Card (UK)
  [project partners: Metric, Hillingdon Council, SmartTran, Smart Citizen, Burall Infosmart]
• City of Oulu - NFC attendance at schools (Finland)
  [project partners: MSG Software, Fara, Oulu Information Technology, VTT]
• City of Oulu - NFC timetabling for students (Finland) ***WINNER***
  [project partners: City of Oulu, Department of Education, MSG Software, AavaVisual, Nextime Solutions, TeliaSonera, VTT, Oulu University Department of electrical and Information Engineering]
• Bracknell Forest - e+ Citizen card (UK)
  [project partners: Bracknell Forest Council, SmartCitizen]

Mark Austin (Visa Europe), Outi Rouru-Kuivala (City of Oulu), Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence)*

8. Transportation 

Awarded to those companies or organizations that have incorporated contactless technology into their offering and structure and in doing so have contributed towards customer support and service.

• Translink - contactless ticketing (N.Ireland)
  [project partners: Translink, Parkeon Wayfarer, Payne Security]
• RBS - open contactless EMV payments on busus (UK)
  [project partners: RBS, Commidea, Miura, Stagecoach, MasterCard]
• O2 - NFC ticketing in Pilsen (Czech Republic) ***WINNER***
  [project partners: O2, NXP, PMDP, Factum invenio]
• mBlox - mobile ticketing on Arriva buses (UK)
  [project partners: mBlox, Arriva, Concept Data Technologies]

Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence), Claire Maslen (O2), Mark Austin (Visa Europe)*

9. Trailblazing & Innovation 

Awarded to those companies who have done to most to further the boundaries of contactless technology either through technology introduction or pilot programs.

• RFinity - NFC trial using microSD cards at BY University, Idaho (US) ***WINNER***
  [project partners: RFinity, G&D, BY University]
• Monext - SmartPark NFC parking application (France)
  [project partners: Monext, VinciPark, Orange Business Services, Inside Contactless, Eurodemat, Famoco, MobiNear, Digital Airways, Laboratoire de Recherche CRIS, ENSICaen, Universite de Nice Sophia Antipolis, Credit Agricole, Carrefour, regional local authorities]
• ITN International - SIM based NFC trial at Mobile World Congress (Spain)
  [project partners: ITN International, GSMA, Samsung, Telefonica, La Caixa, Visa, G&D, Ingenico]
• Sagem Orga - NFC key fob (Germany)
  [project partners: Sagem Orga, Telenor, STMicroelectronics, SIMlink, Radionor]

Mark Austin (Visa Europe), Steve McCown (RFinity), Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence)*

10. The VISA PayWave award - Best Customer experience

• Pret A Manger ***WINNER - 3rd year in a row***

Mark Austin (Visa Europe), Adam Humble (Pret A Manger), Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence)*

The Judges

• Wendy Atkins - C-IQ Editor (Head Judge)
• Nav Bains - GSMA
• Paul Chamberlain - Association of Convenience Stores
• Dominique Descolas - Veolia Transport
• Tim Jefferson - NFC Forum/The Human Chain
• Lewis Nolan - Visa Europe
• Randy Vanderhoof - Smart Card Alliance
• Samee Zafar - Edgar Dunn

(L-R: Karen Brindley (Contactless Intelligence), Tim Jefferson (NFC Forum), Wendy Atkins (Head Judge), Dominique Descolas (Veolia), Nav Bains (GSMA), Paul Chamberlain (ACS), Samee Zafar (Edgar Dunn), Mark Austin (Visa Europe))*

* All photos by Lisbeth Fox Photography

View last year’s winners