Sodexo upgrades cashless catering system with VMC Flex
Sodexo, a leading facilities management and food service provider supporting large-scale manufacturing sites across the UK, successfully upgraded its catering payment infrastructure at a Derbyshire-based client site. The project focused on modernising an existing system to improve reliability, reporting capability, and ease of use for both staff and administrators.
Previously, system operations relied heavily on on-site hardware, which created disruptions when network connectivity was lost. This made back-office reporting more difficult to manage. The key objective of the upgrade was to transition the system’s back-office functionality into the cloud, ensuring greater stability and real-time access to transaction data.
The existing platform was upgraded to VMC Flex, consolidating catering and vending services into a single cashless solution. With the new cloud-based system, the client can now generate real-time reports as often as required, significantly improving visibility and operational control.
For employees, the upgrade has delivered a more seamless experience. Staff can top up accounts and check balances online at any time, with funds securely stored in the cloud. This removes the risk associated with lost or stolen cards. Open payment capability has also been introduced across tills and vending machines, enhancing convenience across the site.
In addition, new SIM-enabled mobile tills have replaced Wi-Fi dependent devices, improving reliability for remote transactions. Payroll integration has also been enhanced, enabling staff to use a Flex card for daily purchases with a single consolidated deduction processed at the end of each month.
Paul Seal, General Services Manager at Sodexo, commented: “The staff that use the back-of-house functionality have all said how much easier and quicker it is to use. Working with VMC is excellent, all the team are a joy to work with.”
