Tools for Managing Commercial Card Programs

Tools for Managing Commercial Card Programs

New report by Mercator Advisory Group examines Web-enabled
solutions for card program managers

Boston, MA -- As the use of paper checks in the U.S. continues to fall, commercial cards and card networks are being used for an increasing variety of business-to-business (B2B) payment transactions, including virtual cards, ghost cards, and electronic settlement of noncard accounts payable. Many programs are expanding to include not hundreds but thousands of cards and card accounts. In many instances, program managers are struggling to control large and complex programs with software applications originally built for monitoring simple T&E spend and purchases of office supplies.

Mercator's latest report, Tools for Managing Commercial Card Programs, provides an overview of the range of solutions available, including those offered by issuing banks and those available from nonbank channels. The report describes challenges that program managers face in dealing with growing use of card network channels for electronic payments, and the new capabilities enabling managers of large programs to deal with the changes.

Highlights of the report include:

Five key capabilities that enable program managers to control risk and increase efficiency in conventional card programs, plus seven more innovative capabilities supporting larger and more complex programs

Identification of major card program management tools in the U.S. market, including those sourced from card networks, proprietary solutions from major issuers, and solutions delivered either directly or indirectly by card processing software providers

Profiles of several card management solutions available directly to card program managers, without issuing bank intermediation

Patricia McGinnis, director of the Commercial and Enterprise Advisory Service and the author of the report comments, "As commercial cards and card networks become a more appealing channel for B2B electronic payments, firms need more sophisticated tools to manage card and e-payables programs. New tools must accommodate a greater variety of payment types as well as the needs of larger groups of cardholders."

One of the six exhibits included in this report:

The report is 23 pages long and contains six exhibits.

Companies mentioned in this report include: American Express, Comdata, MasterCard, Visa, Bank of America, Citibank, Columbus Bank & Trust, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Wright Express, 3 Delta Systems, AOC Solutions, CSC, Fedac Processing, FIS, First Data, DeeCal International, HP, OpenWay Group, ProCard, TSYS, and TSYS iSolutions.

Members of Mercator Advisory Group's Commercial and Enterprise Advisory Service have access to this report as well as the upcoming research for the year ahead, presentations, analyst access and other membership benefits.

Please visit us online at www.mercatoradvisorygroup.com.

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About Mercator Advisory Group
Mercator Advisory Group is the leading, independent research and advisory services firm exclusively focused on the payments and banking industries. We deliver pragmatic and timely research and advice designed to help our clients uncover the most lucrative opportunities to maximize revenue growth and contain costs. Our clients range from the world's largest payment issuers, acquirers, processors, merchants and associations to leading technology providers and investors. Mercator Advisory Group is also the publisher of the online payments and banking news and information portal PaymentsJournal.com.