IT services firm Capita is moving its payment systems to a
new internet-based clearing system from UK payment clearing house
Bacs.
In a two-year roll-out, Capita will centralise its internal payment
processing across 200 UKlocations and move to the Bacstel-IP
network.
The new network will handle transactions for Capita, whose
customers include the Criminal Records Bureau, the BBC (TV licence
service) and Transport for London, (congestion charge).
Bacs is currently migrating 50,000 corporate customers onto its
IP-based network. Users have until the end of 2005 to upgrade their
Bacs connection software before the old private network is switched
off.
Benefits of the network for customers will include faster payment
confirmation and the ability to track the progress of payments
online, rather than having to wait for receipts for confirmation,
according to Bacs.
Capita will use Bottomline Technologies' Webseries software to link
all of its payments systems.
By linking its payment systems, Capita can install the new network
centrally rather than at each site.
"Bottomline's Webseries will allow Capita to unify its entire
existing payments infrastructure and maximise the benefits of
migration to Bacstel-IP," said Ian Gates, group IT director at
Capita.
"By standardising on Webseries, we also have the option of
extending its use to handle cheque processing, Chaps and Swift
payments."
In addition to rolling out a new network to its customers, Bacs is
broadening its technology services. Last month it announced a joint
venture with a US software company to provide an online bill
presentation and payment service for UK banks.
Bacs and CheckFree, a specialist in electronic billing whose
products are used by more than 1,100 financial services companies,
will allow consumers to view and pay bills from their bank's
website.