Spark Business has partnered with local Kiwi company Optimizer to solve one of the most common 'pain points' for small business owners - keeping cash flow steady without spending precious hours chasing up payment from customers.  The solution is Optimizer's low-cost Swipe mobile payments product that allows businesses to take payment on the spot anywhere there is a mobile signal, using only their smartphone or tablet and Swipe's mobile application and card reader.

Spark Home, Mobile & Business Chief Executive, Chris Quin, says the mobile payment product would allow Spark Business customers to spend their time and energy making money rather than collecting it. It is designed in particular for businesses that don't have the transaction volumes to justify investing in a mobile payments solution, such as mobile Eftpos, with monthly fees and a long contract. However, Mr Quin thinks the product may be attractive to any business owner looking to reduce the cost of taking mobile payments.

"We have done extensive research with our business customers, looking at what we can do to make their lives easier.  A mobile payment solution was something that they repeatedly asked for as a means of cutting down on paperwork and freeing up cash flow, but business owners didn't want to pay the earth for it or be locked in to paying a monthly fee for years.  So we went looking for a partner who could meet these requirements."

The result was the partnership with Optimizer, which allows Spark Business to offer the Swipe mobile payment service with no contract and no monthly fee. Customers can also access the payment solution through their existing bank. Upfront costs are only $399 + GST for the Swipe Mobile Solution (which includes the Swipe Reader K1 and a merchant account), and the transaction rate is 2.75% for national credit card transactions and 1c per Eftpos card transaction. There is also a special 0.95% transaction rate for registered charities.

Spark customers can register for the package through their Spark Business Hub or call the Spark Business call centre on 126).  Spark Business will complete the initial application process on behalf of the customer, and then pass the application to Swipe to complete the application and set up the merchant account. Once the account has been processed (which takes around three working days) and the customer has received the card reader they are ready to go.

Mr Quin says the product will suit a range of different businesses, from tradespeople to market stall holders to medium-sized businesses that need to cope with small, one-off jobs as well as larger on-account customers. 

"Spark is all about using technology to help New Zealanders unleash their potential.  Partnering with Optimizer to offer a low-cost and simple mobile payments product is yet another way that we can give New Zealand business the tools they need to get on and do more."

For more information, please contact:
Lucy Fullarton
PR Manager, Spark Home, Mobile & Business
021 070 6197
lucy.fullarton@spark.co.nz

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