This new capability extends Eckoh’s impressive payments portfolio and means that Eckoh is the world’s first Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (“PCI DSS”) Level 1 service provider to be able to offer secure payment solutions across the full spectrum of phone, web, mobile app, SMS and now Live Chat.
This innovation follows on from Eckoh’s acquisition of Klick2Contact EU Limited (“K2C”) in July 2016. The successful integration of K2C’s portfolio into Eckoh’s solution suite now allows merchants to take secure payments across the full range of card-not-present channels.
Card-not-present fraud is the fastest growing form of credit card fraud globally. Card-Not-Present Fraud Losses to Exceed $7 Billion by 2020. The ability for online buyers to authorize secure payments via Live Chat is a substantial advancement on outdated and insecure practices such as taking payment via email, or in plain text via messaging apps, as well as being more convenient.
Live Chat is an increasingly popular channel of customer support as it allows consumers immediate access to information about products and services whilst they are browsing a website. The addition of secure payment functionality enhances the value of the channel substantially, as the consumer can now place an order within the chat session rather than having to be re-directed to another channel to complete their purchase. Together, Live Chat and the ability to take secure payments allows Eckoh’s clients to enhance their customer engagement and security.
Explaining this new payment process, Graham Pollard, Managing Director, Klick2Contact, said:
“Live Chat is very popular with our clients and their customers, because it provides instant online assistance, and the ability to take a secure payment is a compelling enhancement of this channel. As with our other secure payment products, Eckoh and K2C have made this process completely seamless to the customer and their sensitive card data is never exposed to the chat agent or our client’s IT environment, helping them to be compliant and reducing the risk of fraud.”
Nik Philpot, Chief Executive Officer Eckoh plc, commented:
“By combining Eckoh’s secure payment capability with K2C’s Live Chat, Eckoh has created a new, flexible and scalable way to take secure, hassle-free, PCI compliant online payments. The solution has benefits for consumers and retailers alike and it will enhance our ability to cross-sell between the Eckoh and K2C customer bases. We are delighted to be able to launch this new joint initiative so soon after the K2C acquisition and to have extended our integrated portfolio of card-not-present secure payment solutions.”
