The continued growth of multi-channel retailing, despite the economic slowdown, means businesses need to ensure that they are constantly delivering on their customer promises. It is essential that e-tailers make the payment process for their customers both simple and straightforward. However, it's equally important that they protect customer data and ensure that transactions are not only dealt with swiftly, but also securely.

YESpay is working with its partners to demonstrate the benefits of e-tailers adopting an E-wallet solution managed by YESpay to improve how both customers and merchants manage credit and debit card accounts in a secure environment.

From the viewpoint of a cardholder this E-wallet offers a number of benefits. It gives consumers the ability to create a secure account to hold their credit or debit card details. Once logged onto their account, cardholders can make multiple purchases through the merchant website using their stored credit or debit card details without the need to re-enter their details. Only security data such as postcode and the three-digit security code on the back of the cards needs to be entered as they are not stored in the E-wallet.

Provided the E-wallet is supported on the website, the wallet account can be created during an E-Commerce transaction and the first transaction for the cardholder will be authorised before creating the wallet. Cardholders are then provided login details to their E-wallet account so they can view their transactions.

The technology also offers a host of benefits from the merchant's viewpoint. For example, if a customer is paying for a service over 12 months on a month-to-month basis, rather than contacting the customer every month for their bank details, the retailer can use the stored credit or debit card details in the E-wallet (without actually accessing the card number) by presenting a unique access code linked to the card to perform repeat purchases.

Also retailers cannot afford to take the money and then fail to deliver the goods as this would result in a poor customer experience and ultimately lost business. However, by using the E-wallet retailers can pre-book orders in and only take the payment from the wallet account once the right stock has arrived in and been dispatched to the customer.

Likewise, it also offers the merchant the ability to take orders even though some of the items may not currently be in stock. For example, if a customer orders five items, but only two are in stock, instead of losing the sale, the payment for the additional three items can be processed when the goods arrive in stock. This means the merchant doesn't need to contact the customer again for payment. Again they would use the credit and debit card details managed by the E-wallet.

Find out more about EasyV-Internet

The cinema group wanted a solution that enabled customers to collect their tickets via a kiosk. The technology varied throughout the group and Empire Cinemas made the decision to amalgamate all of its technology to streamline its services, saving time and money.

Following a successful trial in the Leicester Square cinema the kiosks were rolled out to a further 16 cinemas. The self-service kiosks are supported by YESpay's EMBOSS payment system.

Julian Timm, IT Director, Empire Cinemas, said, "After researching numerous vendors we shortlisted two candidates. YESpay became the obvious choice as it was already PCI: DSS pre-accredited and able to set up an initial trial quickly and efficiently."

He continued, "The kiosks have taken over £800,000 in a three-month period and have helped increase payment security and reduce queues. This has saved us time and money, and improved the customer service experience. Since the implementation we have introduced electronic giftcards which can be used to pay at the kiosks. In the future we are planning for customers to be able to purchase tickets via their mobile phones and then collect at the kiosks. We also intend to allow our customers to be able to top up their giftcards at the kiosks and buy selected items such as popcorn and sweets. The business required a system that would support these additional operations."

Find out more about EasyV-Kiosk

LM Computers, a computer systems and software company that provides EPoS systems for collection service and home delivery businesses, has selected YESpay to deliver a merchant wallet that cuts card transaction times from two days to two seconds and provides its clients with a flexible and secure method of payment. This deal between partners is an ideal solution for any partners looking to offer new services to small to medium-sized companies.

The technology allows LM Computers to take payment from card details stored securely in the merchant wallet and guarantees immediate payment on delivery of goods. The service is also automated and a text is sent to the client as soon as payment has cleared.

The company required a fully PCI: DSS compliant solution that automatically and efficiently processed payments – to prevent a back log of payments and reduce the time that staff worked on data entry.

Andrew Davis, Technical Director, LM Computers, commented, "We selected YESpay's merchant wallet because it assures high speed, secure transactions. The technology has saved us time by processing regular payments, which has improved cash flow and money. We can now charge 1,000 cards at the click of a button, reducing our payment processing time. This improves customer service and increases efficiency throughout the business and we have also been able to stay with the same card acquirer and bank. Since the implementation we have been in discussions with a hotel group who are interested in the service."

Find out more about EasyV-Internet

Valitor, a leading acquirer in the Icelandic card payment market, has entered the UK through a strategic partnership YESpay, to cut the cost of payment processing for small and medium-sized companies. This is a major opportunity for partners as the Valitor price model will enable them to offer their customers better rates than any other solution.

As part of its marketing and sales strategy Valitor has been growing its partner network through sales agents and payment service providers. It has selected YESpay to act as its sales agent and payment processor in the UK to provide secure "Managed Card Payment Services" to multi-chain retail businesses operating in high street, hospitality, leisure, mail order, and e-commerce environments. YESpay will perform various services, including merchant recruitment, risk assessment as well as payment processing services via its fully accredited and PCI DSS (Level 1) approved EMBOSS payment processing managed service.

Ólafur Þór Vilhjálmsson, Director, Cross Border Acquiring, Valitor, said, "We are different from our competitors as we are a small organisation. This allows us to be fast and flexible in our decision making. Our communication lines are short and merchants and partners can get access to people who have the authority to make payment decisions."

The business began Cross Border Acquiring for the European market in 2003, starting with the e-commerce sector, but has recently moved into the retail sector as well. Less than ten per cent of European Acquiring banks have cross border licenses.

Vilhjálmsson added, "We are one of the few banks that can service multinational European corporations through a single acquiring contract. We offer competitive pricing and needed to partner with an expert. After we conducted extensive market research we decided that YESpay would be exactly the type of business we would like to partner with. YESpay is an experienced payment service provider in the UK market. We believe that in partnership we can offer quality services and competitive pricing to the UK merchant market."

In addition to the UK market, Valitor will be utilising YESpay EMBOSS as its front-end payment processing service to provide accredited Chip and PIN / magnetic card processing services in over 40 countries across European within retail, self-service kiosk, hospitality and e-commerce environments.

Find out more...

Advanced payment solutions are all about higher turnover, faster profits, lower operational costs and happier customers. YESpay's EasyV-Suite products are innovative and cost-effective card payment solutions for EPOS, Kiosk, Hospitality and Mobile point-of-sale systems as well as Internet Websites. These products combine with our hosted EMBOSS payment service to enable our merchants to perform credit, debit and gift card payments in both card-present and card-not-present environments.

Find out more about EasyV-Suite

YESpay on the road
YESpay will be exhibiting and speaking at the following global events in 2009, to promote its products and solutions to the widest possible audience.

Internet World 2009
28-April-2009 To 30-April-2009
Earis Court, London
www.internetworld.co.uk

Electronic Transactions Association
21-April-2009 To 23-April-2009
The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
Las Vegas, NV
www.electran.org

ACT
Payment Insights Financial Retail Sectors Event
17-June-2009 To 18-June-2009
White Oaks Conference Centre
Canada
www.actcda.com

Kioskcom
30-Sept-2009 To 1-Oct-2009
Olympia, London
www.kioskcomeurope.co.uk

E Commerce Expo
20-Oct-2009 To 21-Oct-2009
Earls Court, London
www.ecommerceexpo.co.uk