MEDICINE HAT, AB and ANCHORAGE, AK – Auto-Star Compusystems Inc., an innovative developer of grocery software, and Skurla’s POS Solutions, Alaska’s premier POS and IT solution provider, are excited to announce an integration with the Star-Plus point of sale and Alaska eWIC program. 

The solution provides retailers an efficient method of accepting eWIC cards, while offering WIC participants a number of benefits including:

• A quick and convenient checkout experience
• Increased privacy and security
• Improved customer service
• Fewer errors and loss due to unsigned or expired checks
• The ability to purchase items over multiple visits

 The Alaska eWIC card looks like a debit card and can be used to purchase WIC approved foods. With eWIC integrated directly into the retailers point of sale, the system will automatically check the balance on the customer's card and verify that the purchases are WIC eligible.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five. The USDA requires that all states implement electronic benefit transfer (EBT) for WIC program benefits by October 1st, 2020. For more information on the Alaska eWIC program, please visit http://dhss.alaska.gov/dpa/Pages/nutri/wic/eWIC.aspx.

With the acceptance of eWIC, many independent grocers are scrambling to make this transition.  One of our grocery POS Vendors, Auto-Star, provides grocery retailers an efficient method of accepting eWIC cards, while offering customers a quick and convenient checkout experience.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and infants and children up to age five.  Previously, these funds were distributed by checks that could then be used to purchase nutritional items from authorized grocers.

The new eWIC program replaces paper vouches allowing nutrition and food benefits to be processed like a debit card, integrated into the grocers point of sale.  Benefits include:

• Faster throughput at the checkout
• Improved customer service
• Fewer errors compared to check cashing
• Increased privacy and security for WIC participants
• The ability to purchase items over multiple visits
• Minimal cashier training
• Seamless inventory management

“We are excited to offer the eWIC integration to supermarkets across the country as part of our commitment to helping independent grocers better manage and grow their business,” said Josh Wintoniak, Sales Manager of Auto-Star.

"Our WIC program is moving from checks to an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card we're calling "eWIC." The new eWIC card looks like a debit card and has all of your family’s WIC benefits in one place."

• It's Fast
• Saves time at checkout!
• It's Flexible
• Buy as little or as much of your WIC food at a time!
• It's Simple
• No more paper checks!

Now with eWIC integrated right into the store's POS, it will be easier and more discreet for families to shop. No more separating WIC items at checkout and paying with a paper check.

Watch the video below to see how fast and easy it is to process WIC transactions with integrated eWIC.

What is WIC - WIC is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, funded by the federal government.

What is eWIC (from the State of Alaska):

"Our WIC program is moving from checks to an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card we're calling "eWIC." The new eWIC card looks like a debit card and has all of your family’s WIC benefits in one place."

• It's Fast
• Saves time at checkout!
• It's Flexible
• Buy as little or as much of your WIC food at a time!
• It's Simple
• No more paper checks!

Now with eWIC integrated right into the store's POS, it will be easier and more discreet for families to shop. No more separating WIC items at checkout and paying with a paper check.

Watch the video below to see how fast and easy it is to process WIC transactions with integrated eWIC.