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Spotlight Innov
Spotlight Innovatorsators

lectronic Merchant Systems has been helping
small and mid-size business owners realize
their full potential since 1988. Headquartered
E in Northeast Ohio, with sales offices across
the country, EMS provides trouble-free deployment of
customizable payment applications to increase business
profitability. EMS serves tens of thousands of retail,
internet, and start-up businesses nationwide, process-
ing over $3 billion in annual payment card transactions.
EMS, a recognized payments industry leader and brand,
increases its clients’ financial wellbeing through its inno-
vative suite of business solutions, high-quality service
and professional employees.
What’s New:

Agent-First Processing, Part 6:

Transparency & Frequent Communication

hen it comes to the world of merchant services, it’s important to understand what the right processing rela-
tionship can do for you. For example, think about the relationship between a real estate agent and a broker.
When considering a partnership, the real estate agent looks for a few key things, including: the opportunity
W for a slick headshot, great compensation, flexibility, and access to technology. Take away the headshot, and
the relationship between an Agent and their merchant services partner is quite similar.

If you’re an experienced Agent who has worked in the payments industry for a while, you already have an idea of what to
look for in a good merchant services partner. Your partner needs to be:
• Responsive
• Flexible
• Innovative
• Easy to work with
• Committed to customer service
• Focused on offering impactful solutions
These traits are important for your partnership and for your reputation. After all, you will be the one selling the merchant
services solutions to business owners. That means, when you partner with a merchant services provider as an Agent, you
become a face of that company. In turn, that company should become your support and focus on putting your success
first. Does your current provider offer the frequent communication and transparency you need to succeed? If you feel
this service is lacking in your current partnership, it may be time to search for a new merchant services provider. In this
post, we’ll break down “transparency” and “clear communication” to define what they should look like in an Agent-first
processing relationship. Let’s get started.
Transparency

Transparency is a popular buzzword in the business world, which can be defined as “the quality of having thoughts, feel-
ings, or motives that are easily perceived”. In your partnership with a merchant services provider, transparency should
go beyond simply receiving clear and concise answers about the terms of your contract. You want (and should expect) to
see tangible data to help you both analyze and optimize your business. A partner who values transparency will also help
you understand the terms of your contract and any unfamiliar industry jargon.
In short, you want the power to take an in-depth look at the numbers driving your business. Therefore, you need a partner
equipped with reporting tools that allow you to recognize and understand valuable data sets hidden in plain sight.

Electronic Merchant Systems truly values transparency, which is why we offer MyPortfolio. MyPortfolio is an online
Agent portal that allows you to easily manage every aspect of your portfolio. It includes helpful reporting features, real-

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