Client Background
Ucell (COSCOM LLC), Uzbekistan’s largest mobile network operator, competes in a dynamic telecommunications sector. With a 26-year history and a subscriber base of 27.4 million, Ucell leads the market, covering 97.8% of the country’s populated areas and generating $403.7 million in annual revenue.
The company faced challenges managing its expanding subscriber base and increasing platform traffic, which impacted the efficiency of its payment processing. Optimizing their existing infrastructure became crucial to handle growing transaction volumes and improve billing and payment workflows, ensuring superior service quality.
Client review
Helge Raitanen, Chief Technical Officer of COSCOM LLC (Ucell trademark)
Telesens has shown remarkable responsiveness and adaptability to meet our requirements. Their Payment Gateway solution significantly enhanced our interconnect operations, helping us sustain our market leadership.
Business Goals and Challenges
Key issues
Ucell’s rapid expansion highlighted significant challenges in transaction management. The company’s outdated system and legacy code couldn’t scale effectively to accommodate its growing subscriber base. Manual operations spread across various platforms reduced efficiency, underscoring the urgent need for a unified payment gateway to streamline transactions and enhance the customer experience.
Operational consequences
The absence of a robust payment solution caused operational delays. Closing work shifts became time-consuming, and managing payments and billing through three separate systems proved inefficient. This operational bottleneck led to customer dissatisfaction and potential revenue loss.
Specific challenges
Ucell needed a secure, scalable, and adaptable payment gateway that could seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure. The solution had to manage multiple payment agents, reduce transaction times, and ensure the protection of customer data.
Telesens Solution
Development and implementation process
Telesens developed a tailored Payment Gateway (PGW) solution, designed specifically to meet Ucell’s requirements identified during the discovery phase. The system introduced a unified platform for payment management, integrating various third-party payment agents and existing billing systems, such as Comverse ONE and COIN. The comprehensive process encompassed everything from system customization to post-deployment technical support.
Project timeline
The solution was delivered within the agreed timeframe of several months, despite challenges such as regulatory changes and shifting market conditions. Telesens maintained close communication with Ucell throughout, facilitating smooth progress and timely adjustments.
Customization for client needs
Telesens solutions are flexible and adaptable. For Ucell, the PGW was customized with specific billing adapters and secure SMS connectors. Special emphasis was placed on improving cashier workflows and administrative processes, significantly reducing manual intervention and increasing efficiency.
System design and deployment
- Integrated with external payment systems like PayNet
- Streamlined operations by transitioning from three separate applications to a single, optimised solution
Technologies
- Operating System: Red Hat Enterprise Linux for enhanced security and reliability
- Database Management: Oracle EE
- Modular Deployment: OSGI framework
- System Architecture: Java2EE and Spring
- Third-Party Integration: Ensured seamless payment processing and comprehensive reporting capabilities
Collaborative approach
Telesens collaborated closely with Ucell’s technical team to ensure a seamless transition with minimal disruption. Training sessions were conducted to familiarize Ucell’s staff with the new system, empowering them to efficiently manage the enhanced platform.
PGW Capabilities
The Telesens Payment Gateway (PGW) is designed to optimize payment workflows for telecom operators by integrating various payment options and enabling real-time transaction processing. Subscribers can top up their mobile balances through multiple channels, including cash, payment cards (such as VISA and Mastercard), and online platforms. A key feature is its support for unified ECO payment cards, providing subscribers with a flexible and convenient account management solution. Automation reduces manual intervention, minimizes errors, and accelerates transactions, enhancing both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Robust product architecture
Built to manage high transaction volumes securely, the PGW system features a flexible architecture that integrates effortlessly with existing billing and third-party payment systems. This ensures smooth data flow across platforms. Operating on a secure, high-availability infrastructure, PGW guarantees reliable payment processing and user management. Key features include real-time transaction monitoring and simplified reconciliation processes, offering a dependable tool for cashiers, accountants, and administrators to streamline financial operations.
Business functions
The PGW system facilitates seamless balance top-ups by supporting various payment methods, including cash, payment cards (like VISA and Mastercard), and real-time online payments. Integration with ECO payment cards adds further convenience for users.
Beyond balance replenishment, PGW simplifies other essential processes such as managing payment card sales, handling refunds, and overseeing cash collection. For accounting teams, it streamlines tasks like reconciling bank statements and managing financial guarantees.
Administrators and back-office teams benefit from enhanced user access control, transaction oversight, and accurate report generation. These capabilities ensure transparent and efficient system operations, making PGW an indispensable asset for telecom operators.
Results and Outcomes
Quantitative achievements
Shift closing efficiency is reduced from 1 hour to 3 minutes.
Transaction processing enhancement. Operations are streamlined by consolidating three separate programs into one unified system, boosting overall efficiency.
Faster payment handling. Delays minimized and real-time transaction processing optimized thanks to Telesens PGW, accelerating payment workflows.
Qualitative achievements
The implementation of the PGW system significantly enhanced Ucell’s payment operations. Staff now handle transactions and customer payments more efficiently, improving user experience and driving higher customer satisfaction levels.
Financial impact
By optimizing the payment process and reducing administrative costs, Ucell achieved substantial cost savings. The enhanced accuracy and faster processing times delivered a measurable return on investment.
Future Collaboration and Growth
Long-term impact. The successful deployment of the Payment Gateway has paved the way for ongoing collaboration between Telesens and Ucell. The system is built to scale alongside Ucell’s expanding subscriber base, maintaining optimal efficiency in payment processing as the company grows.
Scalability. Telesens’ solution offers exceptional scalability and is ready to handle increasing transaction volumes. It can seamlessly incorporate additional features or integrate new payment agents, adapting to Ucell’s evolving needs.
Sustained reliability. Our robust architecture ensures long-term dependability. Designed for maximum uptime and consistent performance, it supports growing transaction loads, enabling Ucell to trust the system for uninterrupted payment processing now and into the future.
Unlock your payment potential. Facing similar challenges with payment processing? Let Telesens help streamline your operations and enhance your service delivery. Reach out today for a consultation and discover customized solutions tailored to your business needs.