Zorgbalans needed to distribute 200 smart payment cards within two months. That was a challenge, but read below to find out exactly how we pulled it off. Together with Zorgbalans, we successfully ensured a seamless transition from their old supplier to the new cards.
Zorgbalans opts for smart payment cards for employees
A combination of circumstances led Zorgbalans to start using smart debit cards years ago. The treasury committee tasked them with significantly reducing cash transactions. During the same period, they were in the process of splitting up the neighborhood teams. They went from 6 large neighborhood teams to 45 small ones. One of these teams and a number of inpatient care teams expressed interest in a debit card. This turned out to be a huge success.
“When we first started working with prepaid cards, there were few providers on the market,” says Wim Janssen, then manager of administrative services at Zorgbalans. “We chose Multi Service Prepaid Solutions and worked with their debit cards for years. The project was such a success that the Board of Directors was immediately brought in when we learned that Multi Service was going out of business and we had to look for a new provider.”
A promising solution
This search went fairly smoothly, because Zorgbalans had already gone through the process before. “Of course, a number of providers had already visited us, and we gave them another chance. In addition, Multi Service had recommended a provider that could take over their services. And as it happened, my colleague had recently attended an informational session hosted by a new banking partner and Elari. There wasn’t a product yet, but what was in the works sounded very promising.”
“If you spend less time on administrative tasks, you have more time for patient care.”
Wim Janssen, Former Manager of Administrative Services at Zorgbalans
The distribution of 200 cards
Zorgbalans also uses Elari for the entire Purchase to Pay process and its remaining cash administration. Still, the decision to choose Elari wasn’t so obvious this time around. “There was no lack of trust in Elari, but now we were also dealing with a new banking partner, one we weren’t familiar with. Ultimately, I put together a business case for three different providers, including Elari in combination with this banking partner.”
From a cost perspective, Elari scored well, but Wim still had to convince the Board of Directors to place sufficient trust in the IT company with a banking license. “On the one hand, we embarked on this journey based on trust and partnership. We see Elari as a reliable supplier that thinks along with the customer. On the other hand, it was also a matter of entrepreneurship: having the courage to take on a project without a finished product.”
Since Multi Service was set to shut down soon, there was considerable time pressure on the implementation process. Everything had to be migrated within two months. To ensure a smooth rollout, this project was given high priority. By October 1, 200 active bank cards had to be in the hands of the relevant parties. “My colleague Marleen Herben and I, together with Elari’s Product Management team, formed a single team. There was room for our vision, and we were encouraged to contribute ideas. This collaborative approach ensured a seamless transition.”
The Tax and Customs Administration is enthusiastic about it
The 200 cards are used by various employees: outpatient and inpatient teams, neighborhood teams, and “comfortable at home” teams, as well as managers and doctors. “We presented our approach to the Tax and Customs Administration, and they were enthusiastic about it. There is a clear distinction between expenses for the client’s benefit and personnel costs. We conduct random checks at restaurants and bars. This ensures that the correct card is used for the correct expense.”
“Even the Tax and Customs Administration is enthusiastic about Elari’s approach.”
Wim Janssen, Former Manager of Administrative Services at Zorgbalans
Now that Zorgbalans has been using the new bank cards for some time, they can compare the old and new providers. “The most important difference is that Elari Cards has Single Sign-On, so you only have to log in once. Software should be as simple as possible, because the less time you spend on administrative tasks, the more time you have for patient care.” When asked to list the benefits, Wim says:
- The new card is accepted everywhere.
- The cardholder can set their own PIN.
- No separate login is required to view transactions.
And let’s not forget how accessible Elari is. “Truly a perfect help desk.”
