This case study explores how TESS Payments, a renowned Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Payment Service Provider (PSP) based in Qatar, transitioned to Akurateco’s SaaS payment platform, securing their PSP license from the Qatar Central Bank (QCB), with a further migration to a cloud-agnostic infrastructure.
About TESS Payments
TESS Payments is a dynamic MENA payment service provider based in Qatar focused on providing integrated services in the payment processing and merchant acquiring sectors. Operating successfully since 2016, TESS is trusted by industry leaders, including Qatar Fintech Hub, Doha Bank, Qatar National Bank (QNB), and Qatar Development Bank (QDB). Recognizing the growing demand for localized payment services in the Qatari market, TESS leverages cutting-edge technology to provide a seamless, scalable, and compliant payment solution tailored to the region’s unique needs.
Where were they coming from?
When TESS Payments set out to search for a payment infrastructure, they were driven by the need for an innovative, future-proof solution. Operating in Qatar’s tightly regulated financial environment, TESS required a payment system hosted within the country, adhering to local regulatory frameworks.
Here’s where they were coming from:
Compliance with local regulations
Qatar Central Bank (QCB) mandates PSPs to process and store payment data inside the country. These requirements are aligned with the QCB’s regulatory framework to enhance financial stability, safeguard sensitive payment data, and comply with national data sovereignty laws. Therefore, TESS had two primary options: leverage dedicated on-premises infrastructure or install the system in a cloud environment with local hosting.
High transaction volumes and scalability
As TESS intended to process high transaction volumes from diverse client bases, they needed a robust infrastructure capable of managing heavy loads while maintaining speed and reliability. Additionally, scalability was crucial, ensuring the system could seamlessly grow alongside their expanding business.
Global and local payment integrations
To cater to their diverse clientele, TESS opted for a solution that offered seamless connections with global systems like MasterCard Payment Gateway Services (MPGS) and local solutions like National Network System for ATMs and Points of Sale (NAPS) and Doha Bank, crucial for the Qatari market. Additionally, TESS needed to customize processing flows to address the specific requirements of their merchants, including implementing tailored solutions to fit unique payment ecosystems. They sought a payment system pre-integrated with key connectors to minimize the time and costs associated with building these integrations and were open to adding new integrations upon request.
Need for cutting-edge technologies
As the MENA market is very youth-driven and open to the latest technologies, TESS was looking for a system that leveraged the latest payment technologies like intelligent routing and retries, smart checkout, tokenization, automated merchant onboarding, and others. They wanted to gain a competitive edge, providing a seamless payment experience for tech-savvy customers.
After evaluating several options on the market, they selected Akurateco’s white-label payment infrastructure, which is compliant with regional regulations, offers on-premises deployment, cutting-edge technologies, and over 400 global and local integrations under one roof.
Our approach for TESS Payments: From SaaS to On-Premises
Before deploying to an on-premises payment infrastructure, TESS wanted to work on Akurateco’s platform to ensure it accommodated their requirements. We implemented a two-phase solution to meet TESS Payments’ immediate and long-term goals. The process began with Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) deployment followed by migration to an on-premises payment infrastructure at the client’s convenience.
SaaS deployment
The Akurateco team initially onboarded TESS onto our white-label SaaS platform. To comply with regulatory requirements in Qatar, we assisted TESS with obtaining a PSP license from the Qatar Central Bank. This allowed them to get up and running quickly.
Payment integrations
The next crucial step was to set up payment connectors TESS Payments chose for themselves, including global ones like MPGS and local ones like Doha Bank and NAPS. Through Akurateco’s integration with MPGS, TESS gained access to Visa and MasterCard core banking systems, vital for connecting to international payment ecosystems. With local payment connectors, TESS is now able to serve its Qatari clients while looking to expand across the MENA region.
Cloud installation
After a successful SaaS deployment, they chose a cloud infrastructure for an on-premises deployment. After evaluating all available options, TESS decided to proceed with Microsoft Azure for its compatibility with their operational goals and alignment with Akurateco’s infrastructure requirements. Then, our team took charge and started communication with Azure’s technical support and started the preparation process. Once everything was in place, Akurateco transitioned the system to Microsoft Azure. This phase involved setting up local servers in compliance with Qatar’s regulations, ensuring minimal disruption during the migration.
PCI DSS certification
The next step was Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) certification. Akurateco supported TESS throughout the certification process. Our team’s familiarity with certification standards ensured smooth communication and compliance. While TESS opted for a U.S.-based auditor of their choice, there was also an option to choose an auditor already familiar with the system, which could accelerate the certification process and ensure a faster go-live date.
On-premises migration
As of now, our team is preparing for the system transition to a dedicated on-premises infrastructure hosted on Microsoft Azure. This migration is being carefully planned to ensure no downtime or transaction disruptions. To achieve this, we will synchronize transactions across both SaaS and on-premises systems, ensuring data integrity and a seamless customer experience during the migration. Akurateco is committed to supporting TESS Payments every step of the way. Stay tuned for updates as we approach the next phase of this migration process.
What we achieved together
Collaborating with Akurateco, TESS Payments now operates with an innovative, regulation-compliant payment system tailored to MENA needs. While still utilizing Akurateco’s SaaS platform, TESS is actively preparing for a seamless on-premises deployment.
Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far:
Regulatory compliance and certification
With Akurateco’s support, TESS successfully secured its QCB PSP license. Additionally, TESS obtained PCI DSS certification, ensuring adherence to global data security standards.
Rapid market entry
By leveraging Akurateco’s SaaS solution, TESS quickly entered the Qatari market. It enables them to capture significant market share and secure high-profile clients, including a region’s major telecommunications provider.
New heights in transaction processing
TESS Payments has demonstrated robust transaction capabilities, reflecting their established presence in the market and continued growth in the payment processing industry. This contributes to TESS’s ability to cater to the high demands of the Qatari market and expand their footprint within MENA.
Advanced payment technologies
TESS now utilizes Akurateco’s innovative payment features, such as intelligent payment routing, retries, automated merchant onboarding, advanced payment analytics, and others. They optimize payment performance, cut payment processing costs, and improve the transaction approval ratio.
Migration in progress
The groundwork for the migration from SaaS to an on-premises infrastructure hosted on Microsoft Azure is well underway. Akurateco is meticulously planning the transition to ensure minimal disruption, guaranteeing continuity and a smooth user experience for TESS’s customers.
Need a hand?
Are you ready to elevate your payment management capabilities with a solution that meets your business needs in the MENA region or beyond? Akurateco delivers innovative payment solutions designed to thrive in highly regulated markets like Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and others.
Whether you’re exploring on-premises solutions or looking for advanced payment features, our team is ready to help.
About Akurateco
Akurateco is a global PCI DSS-certified white-label payment software vendor that offers tailored solutions for payment providers, merchants, and financial institutions worldwide. We provide a cutting-edge payment platform to address unique challenges and preferences in the MENA region and beyond.
Trusted by clients in KSA, Qatar, UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Jordan, our platform aligns with MENA’s local regulatory standards. We are licensed by QCB, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), and the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA). With successful cloud deployments in KSA, Qatar, UAE, and Egypt, we ensure compliance and exceptional performance for our partners across MENA.
