Contents:

– Paid parking zones – optimization

– CityScanner – data collection and analysis of the parking zone

– City data – the first step to better management of parking zones

The growing number of vehicles on city streets has contributed to a significant increase in the demand for parking spaces. To meet this challenge, many cities reach for the simplest solutions – by building additional spaces for paid city parking lots. However, a much better solution is to optimize the existing parking systems, improve the pricing policy or change the regulations on fees and their enforcement. To plan an effective parking management strategy, cites need detailed data that can be collected using advanced analytical tools, such as the CityScanner system. The Smart City concept – which modern cities are striving for – promotes the use of a data-driven approach to optimize parking infrastructure and improve urban mobility.

In many cities – and especially agglomerations – we observe increased traffic of passenger vehicles resulting from their growing number and the accompanying need to be mobile. The result is a constant surge in the demand for parking spaces, especially in the vicinity of city centers. In order to run errands downtown, road users usually try to get as close as possible to their destination, but finding a free parking space is an increasing challenge. The increasing time of searching for free parking spaces intensifies traffic congestion and generates unnecessary exhaust emissions, leading to deterioration of air quality in the city center.

The above circumstances are becoming a major challenge for local governments in the context of optimal planning of the availability of parking infrastructure, including the development of paid parking zones. The number and availability of parking spaces, their location and the amount of the fee affect the communication behavior of residents, visitors and tourists and affect the choice of means of transport. That is why many cities decide to look for solutions in modern information technology and implement advanced systems that fit into the Smart City concept. Their main task is to analyze traffic and provide data to better manage the presence of passenger vehicles in the centers.

Paid parking zones – optimization

It would seem that the simplest solution is to create more, larger paid parking zones, but it turns out that this is the least optimal solution. Rising prices of land, especially in city centers, make urban areas an exceptionally valuable and limited resource that should be developed in the most effective way, and renting free space for parking spaces is usually not beneficial usage. It is therefore worth starting an attempt to solve this problem by improving the functioning of the already operating zones. This can be achieved thanks to the appropriate planning of the service – pricing policy, subscriber rules or tight enforcement of fees.

However, in order to properly plan the parking space management process, detailed knowledge of the current situation and the demand for parking spaces is necessary. Dedicated analytical tools should be used to examine the situation on roads and car parks. They will allow to understand better the habits and behavior of drivers, provide valuable tips for further planning, setting the right rates or appropriate marking of parking spaces. In order for the entire system of paid parking lots to function optimally, it is also important to conduct cyclical analyses of the occupancy level of paid parking zones, real parking time and the study of the actual rotation of vehicles.

Modern cities usually start their activities by collecting as much data as possible, which, after being subjected to a deeper analysis, allows them to understand the behavior of traffic participants and make decisions regarding the organization of parking zones. The method of collecting data often depends on the city’s previous experience, but more and more often they use automated systems and services provided by specialized companies. One of such systems is the multisensor – CityScanner.

CityScanner – data collection and analysis of parking zones

The CityScanner system, which uses advanced image analysis technology and modern multisensors, allows for accurate mapping of areas occupied by cars and defining the legal status of each occupied place. Precise inventory of parking areas (i.e. polygons) is a basic element for collecting urban data. A fully automated license plate reading system enables accurate determination of the vehicle’s position and its presence in a designated area.

In order to be able to draw appropriate conclusions about the behavior of drivers and the functioning of parking zones, and on this basis to intervene in the current parking policy, it is necessary to collect as much information as possible. Periodic surveys carried out over a longer period of time allow to illustrate the actual state much better than random checking of the zone by ordering pedestrian censuses. Many cities have found out that “manual” research takes a long time, requires a lot of work, and is usually burdened with a large margin of error resulting from fatigue, low accuracy or haste of people carrying them out.

The advantage of automatic data collection using solutions such as CityScanner is the ability to collect thousands of data in a very short time. Video documentation (image from cameras) is always available for such information, and the operation of the device and the quality of the collected data are not affected by weather conditions, fatigue or time of day/night. Each drive collects detailed data on the exact position of vehicles remaining in the parking zone, their parking time, and – thanks to spatial analysis – it also checks which vehicles were inside and which outside the paid parking zone. Carrying out periodic, e.g. all-day analyses, allows e.g. to identify the ratio of short-term and long-term parking vehicles, learn about parking habits or the potential reason for parking in this particular place (work, shopping, residency, services).

City data – the first step to better management of parking zones

Collecting detailed data from urban parking zones is a very important stage of the whole process, but only a proper analysis of the collected information allows to understand the functioning mechanisms and is a real value for the city. The quality of these analyses depends primarily on the experience and expertise of the supplier performing them.

The result of a complete data collection and analysis process is, among other things, information enabling:

• Determination of the current demand for parking spaces (public/possibly private), which takes into account occupancy (also unacceptable/unpaid parking processes), recorded according to the time of day, duration of parking processes, frequency of turnover;
• Statistical analysis of out-of-town commuters by frequency and distance;
• Ratio of residents to commuters in built-up areas;
• Determination of the average distance from the selected point to an available parking space – this allows to determine the traffic in the center caused by the search for a parking space
• Determining the number of “dangerous” parking violations;

and in the case of long-term activities and a periodical evaluation process:

• Analysis of the impact of the pricing policy on the use of places;
• Analysis of the effects after the introduction of changes in parking space management.

This type of information, combined with recommendations issued by specialists, helps cities to adapt their parking policy so that it meets the needs of residents and guarantees the city an economically optimal way of using space in city centers.

The expectations of city dwellers in the 21st century are much greater towards managing institutions than those they had to face a dozen or so years ago. The pace of life is constantly increasing and the solutions used by cities also need to start working faster and more efficiently to keep up with their users. Only truly smart cities, by using the latest technological achievements in their decision making processes, will be able to meet the expectations of their residents and become cities friendly to everyone, including the motorized part – drivers.

What is a comprehensive IT audit?

When we think about verifying the way technology or manufacturing departments work in our company, the first idea that usually comes to mind is to check it in-house. In fact, in every company that seriously approaches work on providing high-quality products or services, such verification mechanisms are (or at least should be) defined. However, is this the simplest solution? Will we be able to accurately identify the causes of key problems and the mistakes we make if we have been working within the framework of clichés and using the same tools for years? Do we have enough knowledge to effectively identify problems and their underlying causes?

Key factors contributing to an effective audit

So what will allow us to effectively verify our actions and procedures? The above-mentioned knowledge is of course crucial – being up to date with the latest tools, good practices and market trends (often very broadly understood) is the basis for an effective audit. However, it should not be limited only to selected aspects, e.g. technological ones. Only a holistic look at the processes in the company, including those not directly related to the work of IT teams at first glance, will allow you to reach sensible conclusions.

Another important thing is the so-called fresh look at the subject. When conducting an audit with our own resources, unless we are talking about a really large company with dedicated internal audit departments, we will not always be able to objectively assess all aspects of our work. Using the services of an external, independent company with experience in verifying, improving and optimizing manufacturing processes in the IT industry will allow for constituting  an objective assessment.

Components of an effective audit

When we think about a comprehensive audit, we need to think about what it really is. What aspects of work on delivering an IT product or service should be verified in order to come to specific conclusions? Naturally, the more we investigate the subject, the better the results we will achieve, which will allow us to improve our work even better. After all, that is the main goal of any audit – optimizing the way you work to increase your income – for example, by making more savings or delivering better quality products.

When deciding on a comprehensive IT audit, it is certainly worth considering the audit of the following processes, steps or elements of work on a product or service:

• Business and sales processes – this will allow you to identify elements that need improvement at the very beginning of product or service development. Already at the stage of thinking about new functions or services, in conversations with potential customers or pricing changes, we can make mistakes that we have to combat for the rest of the development process;
• Analysis and preparation for implementation – here, in turn, we will specify the elements whose improvement will result in a more accurate definition of requirements and will allow for a better assessment of the main assumptions;
• Change planning and change management – verification of this process will allow for proper definition of work schedules for teams and optimization of their use for parallel projects;
• Development and implementation of new functionalities – an audit in this area will most often result in a more efficient way for teams to work, for example through efficient monitoring of work progress and more effective prediction of threats in the timely delivery of products before they occur;
• Quality assurance and QA processes – this part of software development is often downplayed in favor of development, and yet it has a key impact on how our current and future customers perceive us. Therefore, it is worth paying special attention to this area, as it directly affects the continuity of cooperation with current clients, as well as our reputation in the industry;
• Maintenance and post-implementation service – if our product or service also deals with the post-implementation period, verification of the number of errors and work required to maintain the product will allow for a better estimation of implementation costs in the future;

The above-mentioned elements that are worth paying attention to during an audit are quite extensive, and yet there are other elements that such an audit should also cover. These are primarily:

• Technological stack audit – is the technology we use still market-leading and suitable for our needs?
• Cybersecurity audit – is our product, as well as the generally understood tools used to create it, secured for us and our clients?
• Audit of compliance with the requirements of the GDPR – if our product is in any way related to the processing of personal data, do we do it in a legal and safe way?
• Audit of accessibility for people with disabilities – in the case of software with graphical interfaces, is it sufficiently accessible for people with disabilities? Does it meet the general guidelines for such products (e.g. WCAG)?

How to identify the most important areas to explore?

The above areas, which are most often examined as part of a comprehensive audit, are very extensive, and yet there are certainly other areas that are worth taking a closer look at, often specific to specific industries (e.g. fintech or medical). A full audit will allow for a broad view of our processes, but not everyone wants or can afford such a comprehensive solution. Then it is worth considering carrying out an initial verification (experienced audit companies in the IT industry often have such a service), which can be carried out, for example, in the form of reconnaissance workshops. Their result will be the initial identification of the main areas in the company on which the IT audit should focus and where there is a lot of room for optimization. And although such an initial audit will not provide answers to most of our generally understood problems in manufacturing processes, it should certainly allow defining the first directions leading to their improvement and optimization.

IT audit – what are the next steps?

A common mistake made after an audit is finished is to shelve its results. This happens for various reasons – due to lack of funds to introduce in-depth changes in the organization, reluctance to change among low- and middle-level managers, misunderstanding of audit conclusions. However, if you said “A”, you must say “B”. Before the audit, the lack of changes in processes or attempts to improve efficiency or quality of work can be justified by ignorance of the causes of problems. However, if we have in front of us the defined problems, indicators to measure the effectiveness of our processes and preliminary tips on how to improve them, there is no good reason for passivity – the next step after the audit is to think about how to start improving our work. If we do it gradually and start with the key areas, the effects of improvement can often be seen relatively quickly. This will convince people who were initially reluctant to change that their introduction makes sense, also directly for them. We can then gain more support in subsequent repair processes, and such support is always crucial in achieving the goals we have set ourselves.

The Empik Group is a leader in the e-commerce industry in Poland, and at the same time has over 300 on-site stores. The portfolio of products sold by Empik is extremely wide, from books, audiobooks, electronics and press, to household appliances and tickets to cultural events. At the end of 2021, the company had over 9 million users.

Challenge

Unique know-how, user information and huge amounts of data must be properly protected to ensure business continuity. Therefore, the client was looking for a solution that would additionally seal his systems against any cyber threats. The overriding goal for the new tool was to increase the security of customers and the Empik Group itself, as well as to detect threats at the network level, which would act as an “extra pair of eyes” 24/7.

Solution

The needs of the Group were addressed by implementing the GREYCORTEX Mendel solution, whose task is to monitor all communication within the network. The system is able to detect suspicious user behavior, internal propagation, and new, unauthorized devices as soon as they connect to the network. Thanks to this, the detection of planned attacks on the organization takes place before they are effectively carried out. In addition, the system is also prepared for a sudden increase in traffic, as it is able to monitor traffic at speeds of up to 20 Gbit/s.

Results

The result of the implementation was a significant increase in network traffic security, as well as obtaining complete information on the data flow. The GREYCORTEX Mendel solution monitors network security and helps to analyze events, configure network policies, or find errors in network settings. The client receives the results using lucid charts. Thanks to personalized rules, Empik Group also has the ability to track the movement of key files or the activities of specific users. The tool strengthened the security of all layers of the network infrastructure and provided detailed network visibility and traffic analysis.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that has been actively extending to other aspects of our lives for several years. More and more devices are connected to the network, more and more of them can communicate with each other. In virtually every branch of business, there are new possibilities of sending and collecting all kinds of parameters, statistics and data.

IoT brings new possibilities and new challenges

However, there are further challenges behind these information gathering possibilities. To enable communication between IoT devices, it is necessary to integrate them and unify the communication method. Data collected by these devices must be properly transmitted and stored, ensuring their integrity and security. And this is only the first important step in collecting business-critical data. Another is their appropriate analysis and use for often specific business needs. Without it, data collection itself is a waste of time and money.

Communication between IoT devices

What data can IoT devices collect and transmit? Basically any, depending on our business needs. In the case of a company managing parking meters in the paid parking zone, a control device connected to the network can read the functional parameters of the device (battery status, mains voltage, status of the payment terminal, availability of a paper roll in a thermal printer, etc.). Additionally, it can also collect and transmit statistics on parking fees.

If we add communication between different IoT units (in this case, controllers connected to individual parking meters), monitoring of the basic parameters of the device can be used, for example, to display information for the driver about another parking meter closest to him, if the device runs out of paper for printing or there is a problem with accepting card payments . Communication can be implemented directly between devices or through a central system, and it is performed on the basis of one of several standard protocols, such as one of the most popular ones – MQTT (MQ Telemetry Transport).

For devices with more extensive functions, such as, for example, self-service car washes, the basic operating parameters of the device can be extended with additional components, such as the availability of washing agents or water. The collected payment data can, in turn, be used to analyze the sales of individual washing programs and their appropriate modification for selected hourly intervals, working days and holidays.

Such communication may contribute to improving the quality of services or introducing new functions that are unavailable in the absence of communication between devices. This leads us to another challenge related to IoT, namely communication with the central unit and transfer of collected data, as well as, most importantly, enabling the appropriate processing of data.

Data transfer to the IoT system

However, before we can analyze the data, it must first be delivered to the appropriate system. In general, two approaches can be distinguished here: an entirely own solution, i.e. a server to which IoT devices connect directly, or the use of ready-made services available in the cloud. The main providers of cloud solutions have prepared a whole range of services adapted to IoT. For example, Amazon (AWS) currently offers at least a dozen of them (more information on AWS IoT websites). However, their implementation can still be a business challenge, although it is certainly simpler than creating your own system from scratch, and at the same time offers a lot of freedom in adapting the tools to your own needs.

On the occasion of the subject of data transmission, it is worth noting that it can be bidirectional. In the above-mentioned example of a car wash, such transmission from the system to the IoT device may allow remote management of washing devices, setting temporary promotions and dynamic change of price lists. Therefore, it is definitely a useful tool that allows not only to diagnose the equipment, but also to adjust the business offer to the current needs, almost immediately.

Analysis of data provided by IoT devices

When the data from the devices is collected and sent, we come to the point – to their presentation and analysis, which in turn will enable appropriate action – corrective (in the case of reported deviations from the standard operating parameters of the target devices) or business (changing the offer to better match it). to customer needs). Without the implemented tool in the form of a data collection and processing system, we will not achieve the basic assumptions, no matter what they are.

The collected data is also becoming a source for advanced analytics, which is more and more often used in systems supporting the management of electricity production from renewable energy sources. In addition to the systems for monitoring the operation of individual devices and collecting data used to optimize production, properly prepared analytical models are able to correlate weather forecasts and data from other external sources and to estimate energy production.

Preparation and implementation of such a system can be a time-consuming process, especially if we plan to introduce extensive presentations, analyzes or additional artificial intelligence (AI) modules, for example to predict failures before they occur.

So let’s start with something simpler, i.e. collecting the basic parameters and displaying them in a clear form. Another basic functionality that it is good to introduce at the beginning is a notification system about incorrect values ​​of technical parameters, i.e. simply speaking about failures. Access to such basic data will allow us to obtain information important for our business in a relatively short time, possibly influencing the modification of the approach to the customer or the services offered.

Such implementation of basic analytics based on data provided by IoT devices can be additionally accelerated, relying on ready-made tools on the basis of which you can develop and adapt your own system. Here again, the Amazon (AWS) offer will be a good example, such as IoT Analytics.

What’s next?

To sum up, by performing the initial analysis, then implementing IoT communication with the system (e.g. in the cloud), and then processing the provided data, we are armed with a very useful tool – knowledge. Based on the information obtained, we can respond much faster to the needs of our customers and the activities of the competition, as well as to better optimize the service and operation of our devices, regardless of the industry in which we operate.

Our cities are home to more than half of the world’s population, and they are expected to add another 2.5 billion new residents by 2050. We are facing increasing infrastructure and environmental issues and growing demands from residents to provide a better quality of life. Therefore, smart city technologies have substantial potential to do so. Smart cities put data and digital technology to work with the goal of improving the quality of our common future – in social, economic and technological dimensions.

Today’s city. Digital intelligence in existing urban systems

The first generation of smart cities was built through the implementation of technological solutions into the city’s infrastructure. Such solutions were implemented mainly by large IT corporations due to their potential. Basically, citizens were “reduced” to the role of system users, their participation in creating solutions was neglected.

The second generation of smart cities is created by city authorities and city leaders. They take responsibility for the process, raise funds, create various programs and projects and use their own experts and resources. It is local authorities that initiate the use of modern technologies – as a response to problems diagnosed in their cities. Most of the cities implementing smart city projects today belong to the second generation. It is characterized by the mass inclusion of the internet of things: intelligent sensors, dashboards, drivers, APIs are used to manage the city better. Technologies in the smart city are to improve the quality of life of residents and should be used in a more conscious and selective way.

Smart cities of the third generation should be based on the initiative and ideas of all: local authorities, technology companies and citizens. Smart city is a city that uses information and communication technologies not only to increase the interactivity and efficiency of urban infrastructure and its individual components but also to make residents aware of it. In this context, the most important thing is not the use of technology itself – a city can be considered “smart” when it invests in human and social capital and communication infrastructure in order to actively promote sustainable economic development and high quality of life, including wise resource management and civic participation, as well.

A smart city of a new era combines the achievements of its predecessors. It is a “green” city – respects the formula of sustainable development – it is a developing ecosystem in which technological solutions help with dialogue with residents, optimize urban infrastructure and significantly improve the quality of our life.

In this context, we should perceive the city as a system. A system that requires high quality management, and therefore planning, organization and control. This is a difficult task because modern cities are complex, multi-element organisms. Managing the city requires interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. An important element of change in the scope of increasing the effectiveness of the modern city is the way it is organized.

Smart technologies & projects

Until recently, city leaders thought of smart technologies primarily as tools for becoming more. Sensor data and high-tech command centers promised a revolutionary new way to manage complex operations and automate infrastructure systems. Now technology is being injected more directly into the lives of residents. Smartphones have become the keys to the city, putting instant information about transit, traffic, health services, safety alerts, and community news into millions of hands.

After a decade of trial and error, municipal leaders are realizing that smart city strategies start with people, not technology. “Smartness” is not just installing digital interfaces in traditional infrastructure or streamlining city operations. It is about using technology and data purposefully to make better decisions and deliver a better quality of life [1].

Smart cities add digital intelligence to the urban world and use it to solve public problems and achieve a higher quality of life. Nowadays, many initiatives aimed at analyzing the conception process, deployment methods or outcomes of the – referred as – smart city projects are being developed in multiple fields. Since its conception, the smart city notion has evolved from the execution of specific projects to the implementation of global strategies to tackle wider city challenges.

Any kind of smart city project should give response to the real challenges that cities of the 21st century have been facing. If we turn to discussing smart city initiatives – they should establish relations between the identified city challenges and real project designed to solve them.

As a result – the implementation of Smart City projects should efficiently respond to complex and diverse urban challenges without compromising their sustainable development and while improving the quality of life of their citizens. Nowadays cities have many different fields to work on so that they can become better places for living. Demographic changes and the financial crisis have brought to light the urgency of facing these city challenges. But it is not only a matter of the challenges that cities must face today, but the future problems of cities must be taken into account in an integrated way, as proposed in the document of the European Commission “Cities of Tomorrow.” [2]

Challenges and opportunities

The process of digital transformation of society and economy with the participation of algorithms is a great developmental challenge of the XXI century. Public services in this system must be enriched with data. For this reason, in recent years, data has become one of the main or even the most important production factor. The acquisition, collection, analysis, processing and use of data and the continuous development of algorithms is becoming a fundamental competence of countries and cities.

Smart cities may disrupt some industries even as they present substantial market opportunities. Customer needs will force a reevaluation of current products and services to meet higher expectations of quality, cost, and efficiency in everything from mobility to healthcare. Smart city solutions will shift value across the landscape of cities and throughout value chains. Companies looking to enter smart city markets will need different skill sets, creative financing models, and a sharper focus on civic engagement. However, despite the countless benefits of smart city projects, many challenges remain when it comes to deployment, due to unique city requirements and differing interpretations of deployment concepts.

Public transit

In general, cities with extensive, well-used transit systems benefit from applications that streamline the experience for riders. Using digital signage or mobile apps to deliver real-time information about delays enables commuters to adjust their routes on the fly.

Installing IoT sensors on existing physical infrastructure can help crews perform predictive maintenance, fixing problems before they turn into breakdowns and delays. For example, transportation startup Via, New York-based company seeks a larger slice of the new market by bringing together ride-sharing and public transportation. Via wants to play a central role as cities, transportation authorities and universities convert their transportation offerings in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Via’s software helps cities integrate their public transportation systems by adding aspects of ride-hailing apps like those of Uber and Lyft to existing infrastructure. Cities can use Via to offer on-demand transportation and pre-scheduled pickups for people who don’t live near bus stops. The services, which have been rolled out in 24 countries, can be accessed by a smartphone app, computer or with a phone call. The software can also be used to quickly identify unexpected surges in demand so extra buses can be sent to a specific route. It used to be that demographic shifts would happen over many years and public transportation would adapt over time. Now things are moving so quickly due to the pandemic, while a city would change its transportation plan every 20 years, and now thanks to data and algorithms that can be done much more quickly [3].

Solid waste reduction

As low-tech recycling programs reach the limits of what they can do, technology could further reduce the volume of unrecycled solid waste. Digital tracking and payment for waste disposal, for instance, charges users for exactly for the amount and type of trash they throw away.

Traffic mitigation

Applications that ease road congestion are more effective in cities where driving is prevalent or where buses are the primary mode of transit. Real-time navigation alerts drivers to delays and helps them choose the fastest route. Smart parking apps point drivers directly to available spots, eliminating time spent to find the free spot. For example, as far as MCX Group is the case, careful observation of the city’s problems resulted in the implementation of a new product – City Scanner. It is the world’s leading, fully automated mobile all-in-one parking enforcement system. A vehicle equipped with the City Scanner system will scan vehicle registration plates and issue parking tickets for unpaid stops. One City Scanner enabled vehicle saves the labor of 20 inspectors that may be utilized in the less patrolled areas.

Air quality

Good example is Polish start-up Airly. Their goal is to make air quality visible and understandable to all, because knowledge and education are the first steps towards successfully tackling air quality problems. Airly inspires behaviour change by empowering citizens around the globe to demand cleaner air and motivate greater levels of engagement in the air quality debate.

Summary

Quietly, often unnoticeably – city vibrates daily to the rhythm of our lives – an ever-growing network of overlapping mechanical, electronic and communication connections. We live in a space tangled with an invisible system of connections, full of smartphones and computers. Time in these cities flows incomparably faster than ever before in history, and functioning in them forces us to be fast and mobile. We use new technologies to control payments and purchases. We desire new products and technologies more than ever.

We should perceive the concept of the city holistically – as a strategy for a modern smart city, developing in harmony with the natural environment ecosystem, but at the same time deliberately using modern technologies that will be constantly developed to serve all residents – creating a “friendly city.”

The kind that offers its inhabitants a new experience in its “use,” taking full advantage of the city’s opportunities. Also participation in its development, participation in management. Our Smart City idea states that investments in human and social capital – raising awareness of the value of ecology, supported by the development of modern infrastructure and technology, are the basis for the sustainable development of the city and the foundation of a high quality of life.

[1] McKinsey&Company, McKinsey Global Institute, Smart Cities: Digital Solutions For A More Livable Future, 2018.

[2] Monzon A., Smart Cities Concept And Challenges: Bases For The Assessment Of Smart City Projects, International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems (SMARTGREENS), Lisbon, Portugal, 2015.

[3] Sylvers E., Transportation Startup Via Makes $100 Million Bet on Mapping Company, The Wall Street Journal, 9.03.2021.

One device, many uses

The terminal for accepting credit cards always works the same, whether it is installed in a grocery store, jewelry store, restaurant or when it is held by a courier accepting the payment. But that can change: new devices can offer companies functions tailored to the specifics of their business, streamlining the daily activities of employees, creating a new promotion platform, or even replacing several (!) other devices.

So much for an inconspicuous terminal? Yes and no – because for the device that looks like the Sunmi P2 is hard to say that it is inconspicuous.

The system is the key

Huge, completely new possibilities are mainly due to the system under which terminals such as the Sunmi P2 series work. Unlike ordinary terminals, working on quite old clones of the Unix system, here the Android system is installed on P2 – the same that we know from mobile phones.

The basic function of the Sunmi P2 terminal remains unchanged: the device can accept card payments – read chip cards, magnetic strips and make contactless payments. At the same time, the solutions known to us from smartphones – a large, touchscreen, the possibility of installing applications, webcams, GPS or Bluetooth modules – make the terminals capable of much, much more. The same device can operate completely differently depending on your needs, adapting to the specifics of businesses as diverse as jewelry stores, courier companies, convenience stores and restaurants.

How? Let’s see.

Can a terminal sparkle?

Let’s start with a jewelry store. In such a place, the great advantage is what at first glance distinguishes the Sunmi P2 terminals we offer from the competition at first glance: a large, 5- or 6-inch screen. A screen whose theoretically the basic task is to display messages related to the transaction, but which can be used much more widely. Slides presenting a new jewelry collection or a corporate animation will look great on it, attracting the attention of customers.

The visual strengths don’t stop with the screen size, however. The terminal with a touch screen Sunmi P2 is no longer a massive, clunky “box” device with colorful, not elegant, rubber buttons – it is a slim device with a modern design.

Of course, not only jewelry stores get more shine with an eye-catching terminal. Wherever attractive presence is important – from stylish boutiques, through elegant furniture showrooms, to electronics stores – the terminal can complement the image of the store, instead of contrasting with it.

The design and large screen, however, are just a fraction of the changes that the new generation of P2 devices brings to the world of terminals.

2in1 – is the cash register still needed?

With a barcode and QR reader, the P2 Pro series terminal can also replace a cash register (in the case of the Lite version, it would be necessary to connect an external printer). After the introduction and popularization of e-receipts, such a solution may turn out to be really convenient.

Besides, not only comfortable, but also resistant to possible changes in the law. From an IT point of view, the terminal cash register is just another application that can be downloaded from the MCX Marketplace. And just as the applications in mobile stores such as App Store and Google Play are constantly and automatically updated, the same is with applications for the terminal. You do not have to remember anything, you do not have to call the service – the terminal will ensure that the most recent versions of the application are installed on it.

“Please wait, I’ll go get the terminal?”

The P2-series Android terminals are also great for a restaurant, regardless of whether it works in normal or “pandemic” mode with take-out dishes. There is nothing to prevent the terminal from also having an application that allows taking orders, transferring them to the kitchen, booking and settling tables.

When waiters have such a multifunctional tool in a neat, handy device, they will never have to say “please wait, I’ll go get the terminal” after asking for a form of payment – they will always have it with them.

The terminal device can also help answer any questions about food composition, for example, if you just install the application with a menu – or even open it in the terminal’s web browser. Pictures of dishes that may appear on this occasion can additionally onvince the customer to place an order.

What about takeaways? The built-in GPS module will easily lead the driver to the place of delivery by the fastest route. There, the device will finally be able to fulfill its primary role – accepting payments.

While, of course, it can still be talked about as a primary role.

Terminal on the road

Even more functions can be performed by the terminal in the hands of the courier. You have probably confirmed the receipt more than once by signing your finger on the screen of the courier’s phone – you can use the terminal screen for the same. But it doesn’t stop there: barcode and QR code readers are great for scanning barcodes for incoming and outgoing packages, allowing you to track them online. On the road, GPS navigation and… the telephone function can be invaluable.

Of course, the device has a Bluetooth module to connect to the wireless headphone system: safety is paramount when driving.

Finally, the built-in camera can be used to take pictures to document shipping problems, should they arise.

All in all, it is a certain irony that the theoretically basic function – i.e. accepting payment cards – would probably be performed by the courier’s terminal least frequently 🙂
The Sunmi P2 LITE terminal is durable and resistant to harsh conditions.

The scenarios described above are just a part of the possibilities offered by the Android-based terminal. The limits of its possibilities are determined by the needs of business owners, their creativity and programmers’ abilities. Fortunately, there is no problem with the latter: programming mobile applications is an attractive market segment for IT specialists and there is no shortage of specialists.

So everything is in the hands of entrepreneurs!

How criminals can use your phone:

• Know your location and track it using GPS
• Eavesdrop on what you say and even record phone calls
• View your saved photos and videos
• Turn on the camera at any time
• Read all typed texts and log every keystroke, including pin numbers and passwords for accounts in banking applications, online stores and social media
• Read messages of any type, even encrypted ones
• Log all activity, even when the device is locked

Applications that are used for such attacks often bypass legal issues, pretending to be tools for monitoring children or tracking employees.

However, cybercriminals can use other methods as well, where our common sense will not help.

• The equipment necessary to eavesdrop on phone calls currently costs only a few hundred zlotys, allows to recreate a fake cell phone tower and take over communication. Makeshift towers or femtocells are sold by telecommunications companies as signal amplifiers. These tiny devices can actually hijack all phone calls, messages, and e-mails and share them with a potential hacker.
• Pegasus is the most effective surveillance tool developed by the Israeli company NSO Group. It allows to infect any phone from anywhere in the world, all you need is a phone call or a push message. The software is usually used by secret services. However, no one can guarantee when such and similar solutions will be used by criminals. Here you can check if your device has ever been of interest to the NSO Group.
• Taking over our phone number – remember that it is possible to make a “copy” of our SIM card from the operator (this is the simplest, but not the only method). If someone learns our data and undergoes verification at the operator’s, they can order a copy of it under the pretext of a damaged SIM card. Then all communication will go to him: e.g. verification codes from the bank. If they previously obtained access to our e-mail, they basically has unlimited access to most internet banking systems.
• We also have bad news for people who believe that iOS devices are protected against spyware. Candiru, based in Tel Aviv (Israel), specializes in providing spyware that allows to infect and monitor iPhones, Android devices, Mac computers, Windows computers and cloud accounts. The company’s main product is spyware, which allows for the victim’s device to be infected with many different attack vectors, such as: malicious links, man-in-the-middle attacks, physical attacks and the Sherlock vector (an exploit that does not require any interaction with victim’s website, the so-called zero-click). The software allows to steal data from the most popular browsers and applications, such as: Skype, Outlook, Telegram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Signal or Gmail. One of the functions is to send messages in popular messengers in real time from the victim’s device, thanks to which we can, for example, extract information of interest to us or infect the equipment of a person from the attacked vicinity. So far, it has been possible to confirm the tools used to spy on more than 100 people, mainly politicians, human rights defenders, journalists, scientists, embassy staff and political dissidents. Here you can see an example of the pricing of this tool.

New era, new threats, new solutions

We have entered an age where data rules. From personal data, such as: name and surname, address, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and finally PESEL number, to a lot of traces that we leave on the Internet. Data collected on our phones can provide criminals with sufficient information to steal identities and take out loans on our behalf, as more and more people are finding out. They can also prove to be a gold mine for advertisers and telemarketers. Therefore, the most important thing is awareness. Unfortunately, while very sophisticated security is being applied in various layers of the digital world, smartphones have been forgotten and are exposed to cybercriminals.

That is why it is so important to build awareness to understand the threat and estimate the risk. Let’s consciously choose with whom and what data we share. Let’s not install applications from suspicious sources – let’s take care of digital hygiene. Let’s be careful, let’s use adequate security.

Awareness

How to create passwords

In this table, we present the time needed to crack the password depending on the number and types of characters used. We recommend using a minimum of 12 characters and a phrase consisting of lowercase and uppercase letters as well as numbers and special symbols.

We used this approach to assessment because in the near future hackers could use GPU-based computing clusters and in the future quantum computers, which could significantly reduce the time it takes to breach our security. Let’s remember about online safety. We recommend organizations of all sizes to introduce at least 12-component passwords.

City as a system