Empowering Neighboring Councils with Secure Payment Solutions: Access PaySuite's Shared Service Solution

Working closely with Access PaySuite, two neighboring councils in Dorset have successfully implemented a range of convenient and highly secure payment options for their citizens. 

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council and West Dorset District Council awarded Access PaySuite the contract for delivering a shared service payment solution. The decision came after a thorough evaluation of the market, where Access PaySuite’s standout qualities included their impeccable track record in card security measures, their expertise in delivering similar shared services, and their innovative approach to introducing new payment channels. Neither council was previously using Access PaySuite’s payment software, with Weymouth and Portland using a competitor's solution and West Dorset relying on an in-house system. 

Access PaySuite offered a proven, fully managed cloud-based solution that significantly reduced the need for on-site hardware, infrastructure, and associated systems management overheads. During the pre-sales stage, Access PaySuite went above and beyond by providing detailed on-site presentations and identifying additional benefits beyond what the councils initially outlined. 

In addition to its superior proposal, Access PaySuite's solution was competitively priced, with transparent and fixed costs, along with ongoing savings on card transaction rates. 

The Challenge: 

The councils had a tight implementation deadline, requiring the system to be up and running and accepting payments by a specific date. Access PaySuite’s team developed an implementation plan to meet this deadline. 

Throughout the process, Access PaySuite staff provided regular on-site consultancy to ensure the system was configured according to the councils' requirements. Weekly project meetings were conducted following PRINCE2 standards. 

The Solution: 

Access PaySuite’s solution offers various payment options, including: 

• Face-to-face payments using cards, cash, or cheques 
• Online payments 
• Telephone payments through an automated service 
• Contact Center payments, extending to any authorized staff member with browser access 
• Income Management, which controls, reconciles, and reports on collected income 
• Mobile devices for accepting card payments in the field 

By implementing Access PaySuite’s shared service solution, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council and West Dorset District Council have successfully enhanced payment convenience and security for their citizens while achieving significant operational efficiencies.