Switching to a more robust payment platform can deliver benefits including better approval ratios, enhanced reporting, quicker funding, global payment acceptance and improved security. We'll review five key questions to gain an understanding of platform transition steps and share a helpful checklist for creating a project plan.

1. 1
Migrate Your Payments
Platform Without
Disrupting Your Business

2. 2
If your business is growing, you
may be on the way to outgrowing
your payments platform.

3. 3
Switching to a full-featured payments platform can let you:
• Access better reports/analysis
• Receive funds more quickly
So how do you make the
transition smoothly?
• Accept international payments
• Improve security

4. 4
Businesses that map out a migration
plan avoid business interruptions
and customer snafus.

5. 5
HERE’S HOW:
First, lay the groundwork

6. 6
Assess the scope
Your e-commerce setup and how you
accept card payments determines the
technical scope of the transition.

7. 7
If you use a virtual terminal, then:
Start processing on the new platform within minutes.
2
Receive a new merchant ID number and step-by-step instructions.
1

8. 8
If you have a robust setup with third-party APIs, plan to:
Point developers to sandbox to learn about available tools.
2
Plan and carry out internal migration work.
3
Coordinate and align third parties.
1

9. 9
Identify the service options you
need to support your business
• What payment choices will you offer
customers?
• What reports do you set up to support
analytics and decision-making?
• What transaction volume do you expect?
• Will you sell globally?

10. 10
Do your housekeeping to
qualify for a merchant account
• Your e-commerce site discloses terms and
conditions, such as privacy, shipping,
returns and refund policies.
• You’ve compiled the financial statements
and transaction history required by the
new payment processor.

11. 11
NEXT:
Follow this tactical checklist
to guide the migration:

12. Identify, engage and inform key
stakeholders:
12
• Successful migration requires the support and
involvement of key executives and peers.
• Determine who they are, then educate them on
why the transition is necessary and how it
aligns with goals.


13. Assemble the right project team
13
• Tap departments across your organization to
provide the expertise needed to carry out the
project.
• Get committed resources from IT, finance and
marketing.
• Keep legal and risk management informed.


14. Allocate the appropriate hours
and budget
14
To avoid delays, make sure the project has the
necessary team hours and dollars dedicated to it
before kickoff.


15. Develop a timeline
15
 Set a schedule that identifies milestones for
each phase of the migration:
• Business analysis
• Gathering requirements
• Coding
• System setup
• Testing
• Certification
• Launch

16. 16
Tip: As you set your schedule, keep
these points in mind:
• Review your customers’ buying patterns so you go live
when volumes are the lowest, minimizing the impact of
any potential hiccups.
• Typical migration projects take 1-4 months.

17. Review your business continuity
plan
17
• Work with your merchant services advisor to
evaluate your plan for handling any payment
processing glitches that arise.
• Make sure your team has a list of partner
contacts who can help resolve issues.
• Keep old systems running in parallel during the
changeover so that a rollback is possible.


18. Build in the time and resources
needed for testing
18
• Testing at every stage will minimize the risks of
disruption to your business.
• Don’t test only at the end — commit to testing
throughout the transition process.


19. 19
Review: Your checklist for an efficient
payments platform migration
 Identify, engage and inform key stakeholders.
 Assemble the right project team.
 Allocate the appropriate hours and budget.
 Develop a timeline.
 Review your business continuity plan.
 Devote the resources needed for testing.

20. Get advice from the experts at svb.com/merchant-services/
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Want to know more about how to migrate
your payments platform?