Boone, North Carolina-based ECRS has created SNAP While You Shop, an industry-first, patent-pending balance management tool for EBT customers.
After consulting with retailers in the CATAPULT Community, ECRS heard stories of EBT/SNAP shoppers having insufficient funds at checkout, causing them to make difficult decisions about what to put back. This was complicated by the fact they had to do so while in-store.
According to the company, ECRS’ goal was to create an inclusive, easy-to-use tool for EBT users and SNAP recipients shopping online and in-store and help retailers better serve their communities.
When used in-store, CATAPULT WebCart’s web app feature, Accelerated Checkout, allows items to be scanned through shoppers’ phones, automatically adding them to a virtual basket. If the item is SNAP eligible, users will see their estimated available balance change in real time.
If the item is removed from the basket before checkout, its value will be returned to the estimated balance. This gives shoppers peace of mind that they will have sufficient funds at checkout.
The online experience is the same for SNAP-eligible shoppers using ECRS’ native e-commerce solution, CATAPULT WebCart.
ECRS is a U.S.-based, Certified Evergreen transaction and retail solutions provider, with a track record of more than 30 years. Unifying hardware, software and services, ECRS offers friction-free, cost-saving solutions that increase customer engagement while transforming the consumer experience.
