Katarina Railko is our Hospitality expert. She refined her skills in the travel and tourism industry. She is also a key voice in entertainment and events, with an affinity for expos and conferences.
Can you start by giving us an overview of the strategic partnership between Viva.com and Extenda Retail? How did the partnership come about? What are the main objectives of this collaboration?
The partnership between Viva.com and Extenda Retail is focused on providing retailers with advanced cloud-native, warehouse-to-payments technology. It came about as both companies recognized the need for a comprehensive, efficient, and seamless payment and checkout solution in the retail industry. The main objectives are to save retailers time, money, and resources while offering a seamless in-store and online checkout experience with hardware-agnostic solutions.
What makes Viva.com the 1st Tech Bank in Europe for businesses? What specific technological innovations have you brought to the market?
Viva.com stands out as the 1st Tech Bank in Europe for businesses due to its innovative omnichannel payments platform that integrates seamlessly with a variety of checkout solutions. We’ve introduced technologies like the Tap on Any Device, enabling contactless payments on any device, and support for over 40 payment methods including Offline Payments, Real-Time Settlement, and Dynamic Currency Conversion. Our platform ensures businesses can operate efficiently and effectively.
Can you explain how the integration of Viva.com’s omnichannel payments platform with Extenda Retail’s HiiCheckout and ExtendaGoPOS solutions benefits retailers? What specific improvements can retailers expect in terms of time, money, and resources?
The integration provides a unified checkout experience that simplifies transactions, reduces time spent on processing payments, and minimizes resource allocation for retailers. Retailers can expect faster market integration, reduced costs due to the efficiency of the system, and overall resource optimization since the solutions streamline both in-store and online operations.
Could you elaborate on the different checkout flows supported by your joint solutions? How does the hardware-agnostic nature of your solutions contribute to their flexibility?
Our joint solutions support various checkout flows, including fast retail, on-the-floor mobile checkout, and fully-unattended self-service transactions. The hardware-agnostic nature means our solutions can be implemented with different types of hardware, offering flexibility to retailers who can choose devices that best fit their specific needs and existing infrastructure.
How are enterprise-level merchants, single stores, and medium-sized retailers specifically catered to by these solutions?
Our solutions are designed to be scalable and adaptable, allowing enterprise-level merchants to benefit from comprehensive, integrated systems, while single stores and medium-sized retailers can quickly adopt and plug into this technology without extensive configurations. This ensures retailers of all sizes can leverage the same high-quality technology.
What does the geographical rollout across all European countries entail for both companies? How are you managing the logistics and support for this extensive rollout?
The rollout across Europe involves extensive coordination and support. We’ve established robust logistic channels and customer support frameworks to manage this efficiently. Both companies are leveraging their existing market presence and technological infrastructure to ensure smooth implementation and ongoing support for retailers across Europe.
According to Michele Petrelli, the partnership aims to transform the European retail industry. Can you detail how this transformation is expected to unfold?
The transformation will unfold through the integration of next-generation payment solutions and cloud-native technologies that enhance the overall retail experience. Retailers will benefit from faster, more efficient transactions, and a seamless experience that meets the evolving needs of consumers, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty.
Lily Verbeeck mentioned that the results have exceeded expectations. What specific successes have you observed so far? Can you provide examples of retailers who have benefited significantly?
We’ve seen several retailers reporting enhanced operational efficiency and a reduction in transaction times. While specific retailers can’t be named, many have noted an improved customer experience and cost savings, thanks to the streamlined payment processes and the robust nature of our integrated systems.
Viva.com supports over 40 payment methods and various features. How do these capabilities impact the efficiency and customer experience for retailers? Can you discuss the advantages of the Tap on Any Device technology?
Supporting over 40 payment methods ensures that retailers can cater to diverse customer preferences, enhancing the customer experience. The Tap on Any Device technology offers the convenience of contactless payments on any device, which is especially beneficial in today’s rapidly shifting retail environment where flexibility and speed are crucial.
How does Viva.com’s cashback scheme work to reduce transaction fees to up to 0%?
Our cashback scheme pays back a portion of the transaction fees based on the volume processed, effectively reducing the overall cost of transactions for the retailer. This can lead to transaction fees being as low as 0%, providing significant savings and financial benefits for businesses.
What are the key features of the Hii (High Intensity Intelligent) Retail POS platform? How does its foundation on the Google Cloud Platform and open architecture add value to retailers?
The Hii Retail POS platform offers features like real-time data processing, scalability, and robust security. Its foundation on the Google Cloud Platform ensures reliable performance and quick access to the latest innovations. The open architecture allows for easy integrations with other systems, adding significant value by providing flexibility and adaptability to evolving retail needs.
Can you discuss any upcoming developments or future plans for this partnership?
We are continually enhancing our technologies and expanding our reach. Future plans include introducing more advanced payment solutions, deeper integration of AI and machine learning for predictive analytics, and expanding our geographical presence to support retailers in even more regions.
How do you ensure the security and reliability of your cloud-based payment and POS solutions?
Security and reliability are achieved through multiple layers of encryption, regular security protocol updates, and rigorous compliance with industry standards and regulations. Our systems are designed to provide high availability and redundancy to ensure continuous operation and data integrity.
Can small and medium-sized retailers easily implement these solutions without extensive IT knowledge? What kind of support or training do you provide to ensure a smooth adoption process?
Absolutely. Our solutions are designed with user-friendly interfaces that require minimal IT knowledge. We provide comprehensive training programs, customer support, and detailed documentation to guide retailers through the implementation process, ensuring a smooth transition and operation.
How do you measure the success and impact of this partnership on retailers and the retail industry as a whole?
Success is measured by the improved operational efficiencies, the reduced cost of transactions, increased customer satisfaction, and overall sales growth for the retailers using our solutions. Feedback from our clients and metrics such as transaction volumes and system uptime are also key indicators of the partnership’s impact.
Do you have any advice for our readers?
My advice for retailers is to stay ahead of technological trends and integrate solutions that offer flexibility, efficiency, and security. In today’s fast-paced retail environment, adopting advanced payment and checkout technologies can greatly enhance customer experience and streamline operations. Invest in training and support for your teams to maximize the benefits of these innovations.
