Axis Telecom, an independent communications service provider, has selected ALBACScs with a Direct Debit (DD) module from Albany Software, the pioneering developer of electronic payment software solutions. The comprehensive automated payment platform will offer customers an efficient and secure payments service, as well as streamlining Axis Telecom's back-office processes, resulting in significant time savings across the organisation.

Axis Telecom is a national communications provider, supplying landline, mobile and broadband packages to over 14,000 business and residential customers, making £500,000 worth of collections monthly. As the organisation embarks upon an ambitious expansion plan, it requires a payments platform that can facilitate customer growth and any subsequent increase in submission value.

David Meyers, Managing Director at Axis Telecom, comments, "With the company entering a phase of growth we wanted to put systems in place to automate business processes. Implementing a Bacs payments and Direct Debit collections solution that could integrate with our existing CRM system was key."

Meyers continues, "Our existing system was largely manual and could not achieve the desired level of automation. After considering a number of vendors, it was apparent the Albany solution had the highest levels of functionality, capability for integration and was the most cost-effective."

With the ALBACScs solution in place, Axis Telecom is able to fully automate Bacs payments and DD collections. The comprehensive payments management system streamlines processes with functionality including the automatic set-up and collection of files, as well as retrieval of reports from Bacs. Axis Telecom also selected the Hardware Security Module (HSM) from Albany Software, which is central to achieving a greater level of automation, as well as introducing multiple permissions and access levels throughout the system.

Meyers adds, "The Albany solution minimises errors as well as achieving improved payment and collection rates. Importantly, the system requires less manpower, saving the company time and therefore money."

Axis Telecom has also invested in Albany's Disaster Recovery module to help the organisation prepare for the worst should it ever need. Meyers comments, "This module is vital to operations. If systems go down we cannot collect customer payments and our cash flow is compromised. Having the security of data backup is crucial for making sure that all payments and collections can carry on regardless of occurrences out of our control, such as power failure."

Meyers concludes, "Albany has supported us through integration and testing, helping us to work around any challenges. In the future we plan to extend the solution to include the provision of Direct Credits, which we will use to facilitate payroll and supplier payments."

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