Spark Makes Mobile Payment Easy for Business

Wednesday, 13 August 2014, 11:38 am
Press Release: Spark NZ

Spark Makes Mobile Payment Easy for Business

Spark Business has partnered with local Kiwi company Optimizer to solve one of the most common ‘pain points’ for small business owners - keeping cash flow steady without spending precious hours chasing up payment from customers. The solution is Optimizer’s low-cost Swipe mobile payments product, which allows businesses to take payment on the spot anywhere there is a mobile signal, using only their smartphone or tablet and Swipe’s mobile application and card reader.

Spark Home, Mobile & Business Chief Executive, Chris Quin, says the mobile payment product allows Spark Business customers to spend their time and energy making money rather than collecting it. The product is designed in particular for businesses that don’t have the transaction volumes to justify investing in an expensive mobile payment terminal with monthly fees and a long contract. However, Mr Quin thinks the product may be attractive to any business owner looking to reduce the cost of taking mobile payments.

“We have done extensive research with our business customers, looking at what we can do to make their lives easier. A mobile payment solution was something that they repeatedly asked for as a means of cutting down on paperwork and freeing up cash flow, but business owners didn’t want to pay the earth for it or be locked in to paying a monthly fee for years. So we went looking for a partner who could meet these requirements.”

The result was the partnership with Optimizer, through which Spark Business can offer the Swipe mobile payment service on an open term contract with no monthly fee. (Usual mobile plan charges will apply.) Upfront costs are only $399 + GST for the Swipe Mobile Solution (which includes the Swipe Reader K1 and a merchant account). The transaction rate is 2.75% for national credit card transactions and 1c per Eftpos card transaction (with a special 0.95% transaction rate for registered charities) and customers can access the mobile payment product without having to change from their existing bank.

Spark customers can register for the package through their Spark Business Hub or call the Spark Business call centre on 126. Spark Business handles the initial application process on behalf of the customer, and then passes the application to Swipe, which completes the process and sets up the merchant account. Once the account has been processed (which takes around three working days) and the customer has received the card reader, they are ready to go.

Mr Quin says the product will suit a range of different businesses, from tradespeople to market stall holders to medium-sized businesses that need to cope with small, one-off jobs as well as larger on-account customers.

“Spark is all about using technology to help New Zealanders unleash their potential. Partnering with Optimizer to offer a low-cost and simple mobile payments product is yet another way that we can give New Zealand business the tools they need to get on and do more.”

More information can be found at www.spark.co.nz/mobilepayments

ENDS

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