# Presentation: 709759

## FNS EBT UsersGroup Meeting 2008 

- Mark Horwedel
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

## Merchants are generally excited about moving away from paper WIC

Simplicity and convenience at the POS are imperative for WIC recipients

On-line EWIC is the most complex card transaction ever performed at the POS

- Merchants are generally excited about moving away from paper WIC
- Simplicity and convenience at the POS are imperative for WIC recipients
- On-line EWIC is the most complex card transaction ever performed at the POS

## Cost Containment & Maximum Price

Balance/ Benefit Inquiry before purchase

Off-line processing in an On-line WIC scenario

- Cost Containment & Maximum Price
- Balance/ Benefit Inquiry before purchase
- Off-line processing in an On-line WIC scenario

## Benefits delineated in items instead of dollars

Changes required by the Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Initiative may prove overwhelming to on-line & off-line systems

**Why is EWIC so Complex (cont)? **

- Benefits delineated in items instead of dollars
- Changes required by the Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Initiative may prove overwhelming to on-line & off-line systems

*** ******Just because Congress ordains something doesn't mean it's practical to implement***

## On-line's primary benefit is that it leverages the Food Stamp EBT infrastructure

Some concerns with on-line are:
Interchange and processor fees
Stand-beside systems with double-scan
Service interruptions & off-line sales

- On-line's primary benefit is that it leverages the Food Stamp EBT infrastructure
- Some concerns with on-line are:
- Interchange and processor fees
- Stand-beside systems with double-scan
- Service interruptions & off-line sales

## Few service interruptions with off-line
No interchange or processor fees
Mixed basket, no separation of WIC foods
A concern with off-line is reconciliation difficulties, although ANSI standards in development may remedy this

- Few service interruptions with off-line
- No interchange or processor fees
- Mixed basket, no separation of WIC foods
- A concern with off-line is reconciliation difficulties, although ANSI standards in development may remedy this

## WIC Interoperability
Hurricane Katrina and Rita
FNS direction is needed of one accepted system technology & design
National and regional chains are “investing” in competing technologies 	and systems designs with no prospect for recovery of costs

- WIC Interoperability
- Hurricane Katrina and Rita
- FNS direction is needed of one accepted system technology & design
- National and regional chains are “investing” in competing technologies 	and systems designs with no prospect for recovery of costs

## Wal-Mart EBT Outage History

| Wal-Mart EBT Impact: 6/2007–5/2008 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| EBT Authorizer | # of Incidents | % of Total Incidents | # of Impacted Trans  | % of Total Impacted Trans | Impact Time | % of Total Impact Time |
| A | 18 | 31.03% | 117,934 | 35.08% | 20.85 hours | 35.26% |
| B | 13 | 22.41% | 103,336 | 30.73% | 15.33 hours | 25.93% |
| C | 5 | 8.62% | 13,428 | 3.99% | 3.27 hours | 5.53% |
| D | 14 | 24.14% | 63,344 | 18.84% | 9.28 hours | 15.69% |
| E | 2 | 3.45% | 1,602 | 0.48% | 3.78 hours | 6.39% |
| F | 6 | 10.35% | 36,594 | 10.88% | 6.62 hours | 11.20% |
| TOTAL | 58 | 100.00% | 336,238 | 100.00% | 59.13 hours | 100.00% |

## Thank you for inviting the Food Marketing Institute to participate!