ICS uses VPNs or Virtual Private Networks in order to connect remote locations to the same network. An example of this would be connecting a Car Wash to a Gas Station so that the Car Wash can sell fuel codes at the gas pumps. Once the code is issued, the customer at the Gas Station can now redeem the code at the Car Wash to get their vehicle washed.

Another example would be connecting to Corporate headquarters. If several car washes are owned by a Corporation, and this Corporation has a main headquarters that would like to be able to access WashConnect locally at each of their locations, then they would connect via a VPN. The headquarters must have active VPNs to each site in order to connect to the local database found on the Site Server.

VPNs can also be used to connect the owner’s home to his car wash as well.

To be able to set up a VPN between the car wash and any remote site, a SonicWALL needs to be installed at each location. All the SonicWALLs must be the same model along with the same firmware.  Also, a static IP address needs to be set up, typically on the remote side of the VPN and not the car wash side. The Fuel Side of the VPN will normally be the static side of the VPN. This means the Public Internet address will not change.

The NetFuel is a program that operates when the gas station requests a code for the purchased car wash. NetFuel generates a wash code that prints on the receipt at the fuel pump or inside the c-store. The ICS WashConnect® database management system can be linked to most fuel pump controller programs, regardless of fuel branding, so that a car wash can be purchased at the pump, and processed through the car wash using a wash code, also called a prepaid wash ticket. The shift detail report displays the Revenue generated from the Fuel Profit Center.

NOTE: After the Wash Codes are created, do not edit the PLUs until after the expiration date has past.