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Single Source Provider: EVO Merchant Solutions

At EVO, a single source provider means not only offering credit card processing solutions in the US and Canada, but debit, EBT, electronic check conversion, gift and loyalty card processing, and other services all at exceptional direct pricing. EVO has built a suite of proprietary products and services that allows complete control. EVO has invested in their own front end system and a best in class management system called OnBoard. Their own E-statement program, EVO Charge – a computer based POS software, and EVOTrac – an online merchant transaction detail and reporting platform, can be added to the suite of notable EVO proprietary products and services.

Some processors turn to third parties to provide such products and services to customers, but not EVO. “Everything we do is done within our operation centers,” says Rosenblatt. That ensures “everything is more streamlined, and more efficient,” he adds, “and it allows us to deliver our products and services directly to our customers.”

That’s not to say the folks at EVO never work with third parties. “We provide processing services through other front-end networks in addition to our own front-end network, but we do that because it allows us to provide our customers with whatever processing solution they may need.”

Another benefit of keeping everything under one roof: “Our customers don’t have to make phone calls to multiple help desks for every inquiry,” Rosenblatt says. Merchants and ISOs working with the processor, which expects to exceed $19 billion in volume and more than 275 million in transactions this year, “they just have to make one phone call to our 800-number when they need assistance.”

In the past, processors tried to differentiate themselves from their competitors based on price. Those days are long gone, Rosenblatt suggests. “Everything used to come down to who is offering the best price. Today prices have compressed and spreads have decreased for everyone in this space, so we have to set ourselves apart in other ways.”

Customer service is one way, of course, “but we all think we do a good job of that,” Rosenblatt adds. More effective, he suggests, is to do what he and the nearly 800 employees at EVO have been doing all along: Offer products and services that help people run their businesses as effectively and efficiently as possible.

In the case of EVO, that usually refers to small- and medium-sized merchants. “We’ve focused on small- and mid-sized merchants for a number of reasons,” Rosenblatt explains. For starters, “your risk is minimized when you work with a large number of smaller merchants rather than a small number of large merchants.”

That tactic “protects our company and our interests, especially in today’s economy. We’re boarding more than 6,000 new merchants a month right now, so if a company leaves us for some reason we know we can replace them. It’s hard to feel that kind of security when you work with a small number of large merchants—it can be pretty detrimental to your company when you lose one of them.” That’s not to suggest none of EVO’s more than 190,000 customers are large merchants, it’s simply just a matter of where their niche is.

EVO has grown multiple sales channels throughout the years with their focus being known as the Alliance Partnership Program. The Alliance Partnership is aimed directly at the mid and larger size ISOs, providing them all of the experience, magnitude, resources and support needed while giving the freedom to manage their business as they see fit. Growth capital and lending solutions to assist the ISO in growing their business are strong strategic advantages in partnering with EVO.

“Our Alliance Partnership program helps large ISOs solve their number-one challenge: Control,” Rosenblatt says. “Most of our Alliance Partners perform some back office functions and make decisions that control fee types and amounts, risk tolerance, and customer service, while EVO remains in the background managing the end to end process.”

It’s just one more example of how EVO goes the extra mile to differentiate itself from its competitors—and meet the needs of its customers. “Our focus is on long-term prosperity,” Rosenblatt says. “Our strategic growth plan is pointed towards an investment in our partner’s growth and providing them with the tools to succeed.”