Developing Your Own Platform – Technology

Modern card issuing platforms are changing the world of digital payments. As consumers and card issuers increasingly look for secure and frictionless payment methods to manage and distribute their virtual and physical cards, understanding the building blocks of modern card issuance platforms is essential to create your own. Of course, developing your own modern card issuance platform requires technical expertise, security measures and user-friendly design. If you’re looking to create your own platform but aren’t sure where to begin, consulting with experienced card issuance development services is an essential first step. Such investment ensures that you pre-empt potential roadblocks and time-to-market.

Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

This article introduces modern card issuance platforms and outlines the necessary considerations for developing your own platform.

The appeal of a modern card issuance platform

For banks, businesses, and card issuing providers, moving from legacy systems to modern card issuing systems is a challenging task. The shift involves new technology to optimize payment flows, build value-added ecosystems, and reduce production times. Unlike legacy systems that follow a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, modern card issuance systems require specificity. Modern card issuance relies on an open API platform—enabling unparalleled flexibility, customization, security and scale like never before. 

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Benefits of Modern Card Issuance Platforms

Consider the following remarkable benefits of a modern card issuance platform for business.

Businesses Primed for Innovation
Open API platforms easily communicate with external systems. Thus, card issuers access a range of collaborative and innovative opportunities. 

Branding and Customization
Card issuers can customize, fine-tune and brand their virtual and physical cards, controlling how and where they are used.

Card Management
Issue and configure cards with open API, easily manage users/customers, card inventory and card fulfillment.

Tokenization and Integration
Digital/virtual cards provisioned into digital wallets are a secure payment option. In fact, digital wallets help mitigate fraud through the use of additional layers of authentication. 

Efficiency, Control, and Data Insights
Card issuers can process transactions in large volumes. Therefore, issuers may collect essential metadata that will give them a clearer picture of the transaction in real time.

Satisfied Customers, Better Service
Customers, businesses and organizations have access to flexible, scalable and modern card programs. Such programs give them complete control over their banking and payment options. Also, modern card programs provide real-time access through mobile apps or web interfaces. 

Creating a Modern Card Issuance Platform

Whether customers rely on virtual, physical cards or a mix of both payment options, designing and building a modern card issuance platform requires precision focus and strategy. Here’s a checklist to help you structure your development journey. 

Understand and anticipate business and customer needs: start by determining your target audience, the types of cards to be issued, and the required features and functionality. For example, a card issuance platform aimed at businesses may require features such as bulk card ordering, custom branding and detailed reporting. Conversely, a card issuance platform aimed at individuals may require features such as instant card activation and the ability to set spending limits.

Card Issuing Platform Considerations

Technology
What hardware, software and communication infrastructure do you need? As a matter of fact, modern card issuance platforms may use cloud-based infrastructure, secure web services, and encrypted communications to ensure the safety and security of cardholder data. Consequently, you must figure out what works best with your business and customer needs.

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Security Measures
Protect the platform from hacking, identity theft, and data breaches with encryption and secure storage of cardholder data. In order to do so, make sure to conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.

User Interface and UX
A user-friendly interface, clear prompts and intuitive processes for card order and activation, card usage and account management are essential to ensuring continued engagement and customer retention. Keep your user in mind as you design your modern card issuance platform—this has a higher likelihood of triggering the top-of-wallet effect, stimulating more transactions and increasing user engagement in the long run.

Test, Test, Test
Private sandboxes allow you to build, test and launch card products before you launch. In doing so, you place yourself in your end-users’ shoes. Control their card experience from the outset, analyze data, and create flexible, seamless and convenient card experiences.

Conclusion

Developing a modern card issuance platform for your business can be tricky if you don’t know what features, functionalities or requirements are needed. Experienced financial technology consulting services can help you navigate your development journey. 

Unlock a new world of digital payments with Star technology services. Their cross-industry teams of strategists, developers and designers will determine the right card issuance strategy that will give you the flexibility, support and tools to grow your business and run a successful card program.