Launching a merchant acquiring solution is one of the most complex undertakings in
the payments industry—but when done right, it’s also one of the most rewarding.
With so many moving parts—including switches, clearing platforms, scheme
certifications, onboarding systems, and fraud tools—success hinges on having a
clear, well-managed strategy.
What It Takes
From our experience leading merchant acquiring programs, here are the
foundational elements of a successful launch:
Clear Technical Blueprint
Establish the architecture early, including:
Authorization and Clearing platforms (e.g., IST Switch, IST MAS)
Data routing and reconciliation logic
Fraud and risk controls
Merchant and boarding APIs
Scheme Alignment
Engage card schemes early and maintain open channels for certification planning,
message format approvals, and compliance discussions.
Cross-Functional Clarity
Define responsibilities across Product, Technology, Operations, and Risk. Everyone
needs to know their lane.
Merchant Experience First
Design onboarding, reporting, and transaction tools with the merchant in mind. A
great technical build fails if onboarding takes weeks or if reconciliation is confusing.
At FHS Payments Inc., we’ve led ground-up merchant processor implementations in
highly regulated environments. Our strength lies in balancing regulatory demands,
technical complexity, and end-user needs to deliver launch-ready platforms on time
and on budget.