The BNPL provider will utilise the issuer processor’s in-depth pan-European experience to drive its expansion into new EMEA markets.

PPS, an Edenred company, today announces that it is supporting ViaBill with the rollout of its card-based BNPL solution, offering customers access to ViaBill credit through physical and virtual Mastercard cards.

Established in 2014, ViaBill has been instrumental in spearheading the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) trend, delivering solutions to both merchants and direct to customers throughout Denmark, Spain and the US. The member service, offered direct to consumers, allows customers to spread the cost of purchases from four to twenty-four months, offering transparent, flexible and smart payment options to suit their changing needs.

Utilising PPS’ technology and licensing, ViaBill now offers physical and virtual cards to its customers, facilitating greater access to even more flexible forms of credit. The move will further disrupt the fast-paced BNPL space, offering customers the same level of financial control they’ve come to enjoy when purchasing online whilst shopping at bricks and mortar stores.

To expand on its successful BNPL platform, ViaBill required a partner that could help it scale in multiple markets whilst remaining compliant with a wide range of jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction regulations across Europe. PPS is able to offer both card issuing and payment processing services in one place, whilst also providing a secure platform to satisfy ViaBill’s customers, making it the natural choice as the BNPL provider looks to accelerate its growth.

PPS is acting as the BIN sponsor, card issuer, and transactions processor, with the solution, currently live in Denmark, supporting DKK, and a further EUR rollout planned for Q4 2021. PPS has also integrated ViaBill with Apple pay & Google, offering customers further flexibility in how they pay for goods.

Whilst offering customers greater control overpayments, the solution has also helped to drive better integration for ViaBill’s portfolio of merchants. Through the platform, ViaBill was able to increase the number of merchants that offer ViaBill credit as a payment method from circa 5000 to almost all merchants that are set up to offer Mastercard payments.

The stark rise of BNPL comes at a time of great opportunity for European retailers; data released by Eurostat indicates that overall retail levels are 3% higher than those reported pre-pandemic (February 2020). BNPL solutions offer a range of benefits for merchants, with ViaBill’s customers seeing a 33% increase in average order value (AOV) and an 18% increase in conversion rates.

Ray Brash, CEO of PPS, comments: “The BNPL space is moving from strength to strength, and it’s really exciting to be supporting ViaBill bring its platform directly to users through cards, opening up access to flexible credit both in-store and online at a time when driving purchases at bricks and mortar stores is vital for retailers. We look forward to powering ViaBill to further innovate its BNPL offering whilst simultaneously reaching more customers throughout Europe.”

Jan Lytje-Hansen, CEO at ViaBill adds: “Customers today need access to versatile, smart payment options that will suit their needs, regardless of where or how they choose to purchase goods; in bringing physical and virtual cards to the BNPL space, ViaBill and PPS have helped champion access to flexible credit when purchasing in-store and online. By creating a secure platform that is fully compliant for customers on-boarding in multiple territories, joining forces with PPS has paved the way for us to expand our solution across Europe, building on our 490,000 strong network of members. What’s more, the project was initiated and fully developed throughout lockdown, a testament to the flexibility and dedication of teams on both sides.”

Moving forward, ViaBill is looking to expand its BNPL offering throughout European markets, leveraging PPS’ proven experience and in-depth understanding of the regulatory landscape to scale quickly and efficiently.