[3 min read]

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1. About the Client

Circumtec is a Melbourne-based cashless payment provider founded in the early 2010s. The company delivers complete hardware and software solutions for unattended sales — including vending machines, laundromats, and self-serve car or dog washes.

Their system is compatible with over 200 machine models, combining credit/debit and mobile wallet acceptance with real-time telemetry. Originally launched as a telemetry service, Circumtec evolved into a fully integrated cashless + monitoring solution, giving operators live inventory, sales data, and cloud-based reporting.

They were among the first in Australia to adopt PAX Android-based payment terminals — specifically the PAX IM25 and IM30 — enabling modern tap-and-go experiences on unattended machines.

2. Project Scope

The Project focused on designing a complete User Experience for unattended transactions, running on PAX IM25 and IM30, Android-based payment terminals.

It involved the UX/UI Design of User Flows and interface layouts for three distinct Payment Modes:

1. Single Price
2. Multiple Price Selection
3. Pre-Authorized Count-Up

In addition to screen design, the scope included the creation of vector-based UI animations in JSON format. These animations supported key moments in the interaction, such as prompting Users to use their card, indicating payment is in progress, and providing visual feedback on successful or failed transactions. The overall goal was to deliver a clear, intuitive, and responsive User Experience tailored to self-service environments.

a) UX/UI Design for Unattended Payments on PAX IM25 and IM30 Terminals

The new UI needed to support 3 different Payment Modes:

• Single Price: one fixed payment upfront,
• Multiple Prices: user selects from a few price options,
• Pre-Authorized Count-Up: a timed session where payment is finalized after use, based on duration.

Project aimed to improve usability, ensure visual clarity across different devices, and support both portrait and landscape orientations.

One of the design challenges we addressed was adapting the interface for horizontal orientation, used on some installations of the PAX IM25 terminal. Unlike the standard vertical layout, the horizontal setup required us to rethink screen composition, spacing, and element alignment to maintain clarity and usability.

b) Custom Vector Animations

The animations played a key role in shaping the user experience by making the interface more predictable, responsive, and human-friendly. In unattended settings, where there is no staff to assist, users need clear visual signals to understand what’s happening and what to do next.

Animations helped reduce cognitive load by visually guiding users through the process — from tapping the card to receiving confirmation — and by reinforcing system feedback in a more engaging and intuitive way. Subtle motion cues increased users’ confidence and made interactions feel smoother and more natural.

We prepared:

• Tap Card Animation to clearly signal when the user should present their card,
• Loading Spinner Animation to show that the transaction is in progress,
• Success Checkmark Animation confirming that the payment went through,
• Error “X” Icon Animation to indicate when something went wrong.

All animations were delivered in JSON format, making them easy to implement and ensuring smooth performance on PAX IM25 and IM30 terminals.