The Conexxus Electronic Payment Server (EPS) specification, built from an early IFSF version, adds functionality necessary for the North American market to manage credit, debit, fleet, and loyalty card transaction processing from the POS to EPS. The specification supports payment inside at a POS device and payment from an outdoor payment terminal, including unattended dispensers and car washes. The PIN pad is no longer a device of the POS and the EPS can function as a standalone processor. The EPS's connection to one or more hosts or front-end processors (FEPs) segregates payment functionality within the EPS. In addition, prompts presented to the customer are the same regardless of the POS. The specification also supports standardized messaging between a Point of Purchase (POP) terminal and the EPS.
The EPS specification separates payment from the other components of a fuel retailing site, such as a point of sale (POS) system or outdoor sales processor (OSP). Separating payment functionality eliminates the burden of maintaining network specific software on the POS, may reduce PCI scope, and may improve interoperability. In addition, by using an EPS, making changes to POS software applications to add or modify features and functionality no longer require payment recertification. Software in the EPS can be updated and downloaded independently from the POS and may not require a site visit, thereby potentially reducing cost and providing greater POS independence. Card processing within the EPS is table driven and unique by merchant, which provides greater flexibility and card acceptance support. The card table supports known debit, credit, prepaid and fleet card processing using multiple entry methods, including, but not limited to magnetic stripe, ICC, RFID, and keyboard entry.