Sodexo – Is there a logic for carrying these paper coupons?

Sodexo passes, haven’t we all used them and haven’t we all always felt what stupid system it is to first stand in queues and get that booklet and then count them at every grocery store or a restaurant to give it to the merchant, who also btw has a big problem of managing these vouchers and then handing it over to Sodexo. Not to forget the times when the exact amount of vouchers are not found and the merchants typically have a policy of not giving any change back on Sodexo vouchers. And the vouchers have an expiry date as well!! Doesn’t it all sound like a story from 1970 rather than 2016?

But we all use it because they help us save tax. Fine, but can’t this be done through an app?? So just imagine an employee app, which is sort of a wallet to which your employer can add meal credits online. So every month instead of waiting in a queue, you automatically get the credit in the app as you have registered your number against your employee id which can receive the meal credits. Now some might argue that in my last post I was talking against the wallets and now I am suggesting another one myself. But this is different from the other wallets as this one only stores meal vouchers and not real money.

So every month you receive credits in your app which you are able to use to make payments to merchants who can either have a merchant app or simply a QR code for their establishment and the credits are transferred from you to them. In one shot, it obviates the need for having a sales force which collects vouchers from merchants and hands over the money. The merchant can redeem the vouchers whenever he wants and is not dependent on the field executive’s visit.

So just summarizing the benefits for such an app:

1. Employees directly receives the meal credits in their account, just like salary
2. No need to carry the bundle everywhere you go
3. You can give the exact amount rather than worrying about the change
4. Merchants don’t have to manage the vouchers
5. Merchants can redeem the vouchers on the go
6. No sales team required to manage collection of vouchers
7. No paper so trees don’t get cut