Our professionals are highly experienced in all aspects of the ATM/EFT/POS and payments processing business. We assist Clients in all aspects of ATM and transaction processing systems selection, implementation and operation, from system design specification, RFP creation, provider selection, system integration, network and terminal certification, and post implementation system capacity testing and planning.
Many business processes evolve over time and get carried forward from one person to the next until the process becomes one of "that's the way we have always done it." We work with companies to analyze processes and work flows to define current processes. Once clearly defined, the processes can be compared to the requirements of the business and in almost all cases, improved, or in some cases, processes may be eliminated all together. Our goal is to first understand the process, rationalize the inputs and outputs, make the process more efficient, and save the client money.
The back office; sounds like an unimportant place where people get sent on their way to the back door. In reality, the back office is where the organizations most important work takes place. It is where the balancing occurs and errors get fixed and ATMs get replenished with cash, and where your customers call when they have a problem. Unimportant, not in the least. An efficient, well run back office operation can improve customer satisfaction and retention, reduce errors through continuous improvement processes, keep your ATM network functioning, and save money. A Paragon workflow analysis can help determine which processes could be more efficient, and how the organization could use continuous improvement concepts to make gains in productivity and improve customer satisfaction.
Paragon has been instrumental in developing strategies that produce sustainable competitive advantage for our Clients. Our deep experience runs from developing competitive strategies and strategic plans for organizations of all sizes, from start-up information technology companies all the way to competitive strategies for an HMO for dogs and cats. Our strategies work. We developed and executed the strategies that led a major EFT network to total market dominance.
Paragon assist's Clients with the development, implementation, and testing of all facets of disaster recovery and business continuity plans and processes.
These activities include:- Identification of all system architecture and application components
- Establishment of Business Continuity rules and performance criteria
- Review and development of all primary and secondary application and data storage, transfer and connectivity processes
- Procurement, placement and management of secondary data center and systems requirements
- Development of secondary systems business rules and activation processes
- Completion of validation testing
- Update timelines for future version and data requirements
Paragon assisted with the product definition, development and implementation of a rules based system and processes used to detect potentially fraudulent transactions. The systems identifies suspected fraudulent transactions, confirms the status of the cards involved, and isolates the point of compromise.
Paragon is a trusted partner with SafeBoot/McAfee, the leaders in the protection of data stored in desk-top computers, mobile PCs, and removable storage devices.
Data Security Products Offered- McAfee Port Control
- McAfee Endpoint Encryption
- McAfee Device Control
- McAfee Encrypted USB
Paragon has been a trusted advisor to clients in a variety of merger, acquisition, and divestiture transactions. Our services to buyers includes due diligence, valuations, competitive assessments, and post merger integrations. Our services to sellers includes due diligence, strategic analysis, bid analyses, and post transaction organizational transition.
Operational performance can minimize risk or, unfortunately, maximize risk. Well run operations reduce costs, create value for the organization, and sustain competitive advantage. Paragon works with Clients to develop and execute operations plans and processes that improve performance, embody continuous improvement concepts, and drive lower costs.
Rapid technological change, scarcity of resources, and competition for investment capital have resulted in many firms having to choose between acquiring state of the art technology or growing their business. Paragon is unique in that we've helped our Clients design and implement application hosting services and we have helped Clients select between in-house, managed services, facilities management, and outsourced services. Our knowledge of both sides of the business allows Clients to make more informed decisions that align their technology solution with their business requirements. In some cases, Clients that have elected to stay "in-house" have been able to put their internal resources on new technology projects while Paragon maintains, supports, and in some cases enhances, the legacy systems being replaced.
Many of our IT Clients depend on Paragon to support their end user customers. One of our Clients, a major hardware and software vendor relies on Paragon to support a wide range of systems and applications marketed to their customers. Paragon support services are provided on-site at Client locations, remotely, or at the end-users location.
Paragon has been instrumental in developing payments strategies that produce sustainable competitive advantage for our Clients. Our deep experience runs from developing strategic plans for EFT Networks to assisting financial institutions develop and implement new products and services.
Paragon's strength is understanding the strategic, financial and market drivers of every project and designing and managing each project to achieve our Client's goals.
Representative Projects- NCR and Diebold Deposit Automation, Bulk Note Acceptance, Check Imaging and Truncation
- Base 24, Postilion, Connex, 1Link, and other ATM System Implementations
- OEM Software development and support
- Development and enhancing Client software and systems
- Conversion of financial institutions from in-house processing to third party processing
- Conversions of financial institutions from third-party processing to in-house systems
- Software development and implementation
- Vendor selection
- Hardware acquisition, upgrades, implementation
- Third Party Service Provider selection and implementation
- Post Merger and Acquisition Integration
- Business Process Re-engineering
- Business Continuity and Disaster Planning
- EFT Network In-House Processing Migration
- Merchant Acquirer selection
We help our Clients develop winning products that create and sustain competitive advantage. We use a proven New Product Development Process (NPDP) that defines which products to develop, how they should be developed, and the optimal time for product launch. Periodically initial "product ideas" have gone through the NPDP and been rejected or shelved until the market will support their development, proving once again that it is not always what you do that makes you successful, sometimes it is what you don't do.
Many different money transfer and payment vehicles have been introduced over recently. Paragon has assisted Clients with the selection and implementation of many different systems.
Representative Projects- Debit card solutions from international and regional providers
- Gift card solutions and processing
- Stored Value card processing
- Payroll card offerings for financial, retail and commercial accounts
- Family/Teen card options
- Variations for EBT, medical reimbursement, expense processing, etc.
- Prepaid card program management
- Financial loading options and sponsorship selection
- Contactless Payments
The security of ATM and POS processing systems and the data processed through them has become a major issue for every retailer, financial institutions, processors, and network. Paragon has worked with financial institutions, retailers, ATM manufacturers and EFT networks to evaluate their entire end-to-end systems and comply with current requirements.
Representative projects- PCI Compliance
- Key management, certificate and distribution systems
- Voice guidance ATM configurations
- Open system development and integration initiatives
- Encryption systems modifications to ATM processing systems
- Messaging coordination with leading Host Security Modules
- Messaging coordination with terminal Encrypted PIN
- Certification processing with major switching organizations
Paragon's RFP and RFI methodologies have been proven over time to help select the best solutions for our Clients. We utilize our deep knowledge and long experience to guide our Clients through the entire process, from requirements analysis to RFP preparation through vendor selection and implementation.
Representative Projects- Merchant Acquirer Selection for Retailers
- Debit Processor Selection for EFT Networks, Banks, and Credit Unions
- Application Software Selection for Banks, Credit Unions, Retailers, Third Party Processors, Networks
- Hardware Selection for Banks and Retailers
- Telecommunications Services for Networks
- Third Party Processor Selection for Banks, Credit Unions, and Networks
- Numerous Vendor Selections for Banks, Credit Unions, Networks, and Third Party Processors
- EFT/ATM Network Selection for financial institutions
Request for Proposals (RFPs) offer the best opportunities to secure major orders that significantly increase sales revenue. However, producing high quality, professional proposals on a timely basis poses a significant challenge. Paragon has assisted Clients with the development of professional, high quality RFP and RFI responses that result in sales.
Representative Projects- ATM Manufacturer RFP responses and sales proposals ( Automated RFP Response Generator was developed)
- EFT Network Responses to customer RFPs
- IT Outsourcing Company RFP responses and sales proposals
The primary objective of Systems and Technology is to empower the enterprise, enable the execution of competitive strategies, and create value for the organization. Paragon assists Clients with the development plans that align Systems and technology with the business objectives and competitive strategies of the organization.
Paragon assists Clients with a wide range of projects including HP/NON-STOP TANDEM OSS, UNIX, XENIX, DOS, WINDOWS NT, WINDOWS 2000, ATM & POS Devices and ATALLA, OOD, Object Oriented programming, event driven programming, Multi-threading Application development, Designed/Developed applications using C, TAL, C++, TACL, COBOL85, PATHWAY, NSQL, MS SQL, ORACLE, PLSQL, VISUAL BASIC, UNIFY, BASE24, ISO 8583, OFX, XML, UML, JAVA, SOAP, .NET, Web Services, Client/Server and Web Based Applications.
Representative Projects- Designed and developed ProTran, a high function ATM and POS System
- Migrated applications from Tandem/HP environments to Unix and Windows Platforms
- Designed and developed terminal handlers for advance function NCR and Diebold ATMs
- Development and certification of numerous ISO 8583 interchange processes
- Interface development for bond reporting and settlement system
- Developed internal standards and naming conventions for the use of Netbatch Plus
- Upgrade Base24 ATM environment including the detailed analysis and costing.
- TCPIP implementation for a large, multi- vendor ATM network
- Development and implementation of a remote ATM card ordering system
- Designed and developed card management and transaction tracking system for a large ATM network
Many times organizations do not have the right technical skills at the right time, or they may need to augment their staff to increase bandwidth. Paragon is expert at recruiting staff for our Clients, whether it is for someone to maintain legacy IBM Assembler programs, enhance Tandem based EFT systems, or code modifications for ATM and POS systems. Paragon can also staff projects from our team of professionals or provide staffing on a contract or contract for hire basis.