RDM Corporation (RDM) is a developer of specialized software and hardware products for both Internet electronic commerce, as well as paper payment processing. The company develops and provides electronic check conversion systems and Web-based payment archive services to retailers, banks, and government agencies. They also provide print quality control technologies to banks, printers, and payment processors.

Over the past 13 years, RDM has gained a leading position in the provision of print quality control instrumentation and software for the check printing and processing industries. More recently, the company has emerged as a premier provider of technologies that enable secure and accurate payments, particularly for solutions accommodating check payments.

This article we will focus on a recently announced new suite of products, RDM’s image archive solutions, and specifically the RDM Payment Archive Service.

Imaging

As you know from previous GS issues, electronic check conversion (ECC) can help merchants realize benefits, but there are also some concerns. On the benefit side, merchants can enjoy accelerated cash flow, automated return item collections, and faster closing at the end of the day. But, a major merchant concern is “How do I contact an NSF check writer if I have returned the check, with the identifying information, to the check writer?”

RDM’s image archive and retrieval offering addresses this requirement. RDM’s EC5000i scanner captures images and payment transaction information and transmits the data to an RDM Web database. This product, called the  Payment Archive Service includes dial-up high-speed communications to allow merchants immediate access to this stored information as needed through a Web browser. And, this is accomplished without any additional support infrastructure costs required by the merchant or the processor.

The EC5000i is an all-in-one scanner and check reader that allows retailers to capture all of the information they need in order to transform a customer’s check into an electronic transaction. With the RDM service capturing both the MICR information and the check image, the merchant can return the physical check to the consumer, while retaining the necessary check data. The EC5000i captures the MICR information and check image and the physical check is returned to the consumer, but the merchant can retain the data from the check. Therefore, the merchant has a clear audit trail to collect return items and resolve disputes. Each device can store up to 350 images and the transmission of the images to the RDM Payment Archive can be scheduled for off-peak hours. Finally, the image and check authorization are stored as one file in the payment archive.

Additionally, RDM has developed a line of image management software called the RDM CheckStore Family. This software, accompanied with the EC5000i image scanner, enables POS check conversion, RCK processing, A/R applications, and image output in print or electronic form. As the two products work in tandem, all of the information from a consumer’s check is captured and the transaction is converted to an electronic debit through the ACH network.

With the EC5000i, the merchant doesn’t need to retain debit card slips, as they are archived as images. Furthermore, the merchant doesn’t need to have massive storage space, as the images are stored securely online. But, even though they are stored by RDM, the merchant can still access this data at any time from anywhere. And, they can be searched by authorization number, merchant number, customer account number, date, check number, or check amount. To search through their archived sales, a merchant needs only visit the Web site. Typically, the archived images remain online for 120 days, which is more than enough time for collections to be completed. RDM can store the images off-line for 2 years or more, as required by the merchant or processor.

Not only can this data be used to help speed dispute resolutions, it can be used for marketing purposes. The check image archive provides a database of names, addresses, and phone numbers if they are printed on the checks. This data can be used for target marketing, demographic analysis, or as an automated means to enable loyalty programs.

The RDM image archive and retrieval system is ideal for a parent user, such as a processor, check guarantee, or verification service, a major store, etc. An ISO can benefit from the system as well. For example, consider an ISO putting together a solution for merchants. The ISO can get one provider to handle the ACH origination, another to handle collections, and another to handle verification/guarantee. With RDM handling the image archive and retrieval, the ISO has a complete package for the merchant.

RDM has been shipping production versions of its EC5000i scanner for more than a year. If you’re an ISO working with Global eTelecom you may already be familiar with the product. In June they chose to use RDM’s Payment Archive Service and EC5000i POS image scanners for Global eTelecom’s proprietary Global eSilver and Global eGold electronic check conversion services. A month later, in July, EZCheck, a check guarantee service company based in Houston, Texas, started using RDM’s payment archive service. RDM supplies the payment archive service and EC5000i scanners for EZCheck’s electronic check conversion (ECC) and check guarantee services. EZCheck, an affiliate of Delta Card Services, provides full, image-enabled ECC with guarantee to the Delta Card merchant client base.

RDM’s current customers include check printers, government agencies, and financial institutions, among others. The company estimates that the POS market for their check and payment processing products is more than one million locations in the U.S alone. If you would like to find out how to access some of that market, contact David Lant, General Manager, Payment Automation Group, at (800) 567-6227 or visit www.rdmcorp.com.

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