IoT payment system for a university association, replacing cash with NFC cards and Telegram integration.
The Problem
The Vivere Ingegneria association managed coffee payments via a physical cash box. This led to change shortages, untracked debts, and an inability to monitor stock levels remotely.
User Experience
We built a frictionless “Tap & Go” system:
- The User Action: Members simply tap their NFC card on the ESP8266 reader.
- Instant Feedback: The Telegram bot instantly sends a notification confirming the transaction and current balance.
- Bot Management: Users can check their credit or report issues directly via chat, removing the need for a separate app.
Business Impact
- Revenue Assurance: Eliminated “I’ll pay later” losses by enforcing digital credit checks.
- Operations: Automated inventory alerts prevent stockouts of coffee pods.
- Adoption: The integration with Telegram (a platform students already use) ensured near 100% adoption.