Zipwhip, the inventor of Texting for Business™, today announced a new partnership with Authvia, the leading messaging-based payments provider, to launch TXT2PAY® for Zipwhip. The integration offers automated text-based payment requests from within Zipwhip software, allowing users on the web, desktop or mobile apps to send payment requests to customers, easily turning conversations into real-time payments for goods and services. Payments are deposited into a business bank account of choice and several reporting configurations are available for tracking activity.
The integration comes as the coronavirus pandemic has limited face-to-face contact and communication in a way most of us have never experienced in our lifetimes, and consumers are quickly adapting. According to Zipwhip’s COVID-19 report, consumers are spending more hours on their mobile devices daily, with 56% of people saying they are using their mobile devices more during the pandemic and 62% saying they’re responding to texts more quickly than they did before. TXT2PAY for Zipwhip allows businesses to use any mobile or desktop device to receive credit and debit card payments without the need for a terminal or point-of-sale system, and allows customers to provide those payments without leaving their texting app. This provides a truly contactless communication and payment solution for businesses and consumers while also encouraging social distancing safety measures during COVID-19.
“Businesses are struggling during the pandemic to engage their customers and keep revenue coming in. But we know that the easier you make it to buy something from you, the more people will do it,” said John Lauer, chief executive officer of Zipwhip. “When you send a TXT2PAY request, your customer only needs their mobile device to complete the payment and they do it through their native texting app. Our thousands of customers nationwide have found that texting increases engagement and expedites interactions, and now it’s directly adding revenue as well.”
TXT2PAY for Zipwhip is exactly what it sounds like: having conversations about purchases or bills and instantly receiving payments over SMS texting. The platform is available for Zipwhip Premium customers and allows them to:
- Request and receive payments from customers in seconds, with a confirmation text sent to both parties as soon as the transaction is complete.
- Track and manage requests and payments in one convenient Authvia dashboard that provides customizable reporting software to make billing and reconciliation simple.
- Sign up for a new processing account or use their existing payment processor for TXT2PAY transactions.
Consumers are able to make payments by simply texting back with the last four digits of their phone number in response to payment requests, drastically reducing the time and effort required to pay. Additionally, TXT2PAY allows consumers to store multiple debit and credit cards within the Authvia wallet, adding flexibility and convenience to future purchases. Authvia’s industry-leading security measures also shield Zipwhip customers and consumers from PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards) compliance risk, by ensuring sensitive card and account data is completely protected.
“Enabling safer payment experiences is now just as critical as offering a fast, convenient and friendly experience,” said Chris Brunner, founder and chief executive officer at Authvia. “By partnering with Zipwhip, we’re able to rapidly integrate and deploy a truly contactless payment solution to merchants of all types and sizes. Usage data has confirmed that consumers are not hesitating to use TXT2PAY for making purchases for everything from curb-side delivery of ice cream, to auto parts and veterinary services, simply because it’s convenient.”
To learn more about TXT2PAY for Zipwhip please watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Pdus5TTBg&feature=youtu.be
