A D V E R T O R I A L
F LY D O S C O P E
3 C PAY M E N T
Global electronic payments 3C Payment has provided electronic solutions to leading global brands for decades. A new corporate structure makes them better placed to serve clients’ international ambitions. 8
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he compagny 3C Payment has supplied complete, easyto-use, secure card payment solutions globally since 1988, and now has greater freedom to grow. “We are now completely agnostic as to the hardware and banks our clients wish to use,” explained Matthieu Couppey, Head of Global Sales. This hadn’t been the case when the Luxembourg-based payment services provider was part of the Swiss financial group SIX, as in those days, 3C’s technology was being used to drive customers to SIX’s banking services. The strategy has changed completely since the March 2016 management buy-out to become fully customer and partner focused. FULLY INDEPENDENT, GLOBAL, INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS “It’s as if we are a 30-year-old start-up,” Mr Couppey remarked, saying that the new corporate structure has given staff a boost of enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit, while still being able to rely on a solid track record of achievement. “Decisions are taken more quickly now, and so it’s easier to react to market needs,” he said. As a sign of this increased ambition, the company has grown its workforce by a third during the last 12 months. Their primary product is integrated cashless payment solutions used in hotels, restaurants, car parks, public transport and shops. “We work across the globe to
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provide the vital link between payment terminals and the bank of the client’s choosing,” said Mr Couppey. They work at the centre of each transaction: recording the payments made at each terminal and transmitting the relevant funds and details to the merchant’s bank. Their systems are compatible with the technology of all leading global hardware providers. The electronic cash and payment information is then transmitted to one of 3C’s data centres located in Luxembourg and Chicago, before being forwarded to the bank. TAILOR-MADE IMPLEMENTATION 3C is a global player, but it does not need a physical presence nor direct experience of an individual country. The compagny philosophy is to be customer-led, going wherever it is needed. Each arrangement is unique and must be tailor-made whether 3C has prior experience in that country or not. In each case the development team visits the location to connect the hardware and to secure a practical relationship with the bank, particularly ensuring the correct security certification. 3C does not supply hardware itself, but can talk clients through the various options in each location. Once the system is running it can be controlled remotely, with permanent support provided either from the Luxembourg head-
300,000,000
annual transactions
34
countries
19,000 locations
9,000
customers
120
staff members worldwide
quarters or service management centres in London and Chicago. Terminals can be updated, adapted or shut down via an integrated terminal management system. In the rare event that work is required on physical systems, 3C calls on local partners to provide any necessary maintenance. 30-YEAR-OLD START-UP 3C Payment currently operates in over 30 countries, and it is moving into new territories, including upgrading its local presence where necessary. For example, in the United States, some customers did not wish to see electronic cash and information leaving the country, so the firm decided to transit American data through a Chicago data centre. A growing presence in the Middle East and Africa led to the opening of the Dubai office earlier this year. “We have been working for 15 years in the Middle East, but wanted to increase our visibility there and give a strong signal to customers
3 C PAY M E N T – W O R L D W I D E P R E S E N C E
11/05/17 16:50