RENO Schuh GmbH is streamlining its payment processes and entrusting all payments taken in its bricks-and-mortar stores to Concardis. The Eschborn-based full-service payment provider is responsible with immediate effect for acquiring and network operation, hardware, payment processing and risk and credit control for RENO, along with interlinking all payment services and integrating them into the existing IT systems of Germany’s second-biggest shoe retailer. This is set to make business processes automated and more efficient. Concardis is one of only a few companies to handle all services for the acceptance of debit and credit cards via its own platform, allowing it to offer them from a single source.

‘Concardis makes it possible to link up our services and systems and thus simplify processes, work more efficiently, save money and, most importantly, create added value for the customer,’ says Peter Wolf, CEO of the HR Group. ‘We have already taken the first step of modernising the terminal infrastructure at our 300 shops in Germany. When combined with digital document management, the secure direct debit system works quickly and smoothly, thanks to the flexible service provided by the Concardis team. This is now being followed by direct technical integration with online payment methods to achieve a seamless customer experience as part of our omnichannel strategy. Among other things, our customers will soon be able to make payments in stores the same way they do from their online user account, such as purchase on account.’

The secure direct debit system from Concardis, CLV+, offers maximum payment security at an optimal price–performance ratio: in the event of a reclaim via the electronic direct debit system, whereby the customer has to settle a bill with their debit card and signature, Concardis assumes the credit risk. This simplifies risk and receivables management for the retailer. At the same time, CLV+ is significantly cheaper than the electronic cash procedure, which requires customers to enter their PIN and automatically checks card data and account funds before authorising the payment.

Thanks to digital document management, customers sign their bill directly on the card reader display itself when paying by direct debit. The retailer’s documentation is processed and stored digitally, with only the customer’s receipt printed on request. This saves paper and reduces the workload when it comes to accounting.

‘We look at payment and business processes holistically in order to be able to harness the full potential of digitisation and automation for our customers. A seamless flow of data and the effective processing and analysis of information are crucial for conducting business in the retail world today,’ says Robert Hoffmann, CEO of the Concardis Payment Group.

Concardis is currently working on the fully automatic integration of all payment flows into the accounting system of RENO Schuh GmbH in order to further simplify the processing of payment data, which has hitherto been an enormous expense and a disruptive factor in the process chain. According to the overall outlook, the next step is to link up the various payment methods used in RENO shops and online. This will allow customers to benefit from integrated processes, better service and real omnichannel offerings.