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Cygnus Books integrates e-commerce operations with payment processing platform across Europe

Cygnus Books integrates e-commerce operations with payment processing platform across Europe

 

Book retail service, Cygnus Books, recently awarded payment service provider (PSP) Computop with a contract to provide payment processing and banking partners across Europe.

 

The provider’s Paygate 5 platform will initially provide Cygnus Books with card processing online and telephone order processing. And the service will process all forms of card payment – Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Maestro.

 

SAP integration makes difference

 

Computop said it was chosen from a shortlist of three potential PSPs because of its compatibility and track record of integrating payment processing with enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business management software, SAP Business ByDesign.

 

By working closely with partner SAP, Computop developed an integral tokenisation facility within its payment platform. This allows Cygnus Books to offer its customers features such as remembered card details without actually having to store card data, mitigating some of its Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance activities.

 

The service will also provide a fraud prevention module, which verifies the (internet protocol) IP address of the computer against the origin of the credit card. Computop Paycontrol will identify if the internet connection is via satellite or through an anonymous proxy server.

 

Adding the personal touch

 

Sam Napier, operations manager at Cygnus Books, commented: “We selected Computop for its unique ability to integrate with Business ByDesign. With this combination, we are able to streamline tasks and communication and cut back on administration, which allows us to focus on caring for the needs and desires our members in a rapidly changing market.”

 

He added: “We’re very excited about the partnership; with their [Computop’s] mobile payments solution on the horizon we will be able to offer a whole new and simple payment process at our events as well. Although, what really made Computop stand out was its personal touch.”

 

Over the course of 2012, the book retailer also has plans to expand the payment methods offered to customers to include alternative payment methods such as PayPal, Ideal and Giropay, as well as payment by invoice and direct debit. This expansion of its payment service is designed to help Cygnus Books with a planned growth initiative into European markets such as Germany and Holland, where card payments represent just a small proportion of payments online.