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3C Payment was a Fintech business that was acquired by Planet in 2020. Although 3C Payment no longer trades independently, their legacy lives on. In this blog we will explore how 3C Payment’s technology changed our Planet. Literally.
What is 3C Payment?
3C Payment was a global payment provider designed to simplify complex payment journeys. At the time that Planet acquired 3C Payment, 3C Payment were serving over 11,000 customers in forty-seven countries and processing €22 billion in value from over three hundred million transactions.
Flexibility and simplicity were at the heart of 3C Payment’s DNA. Their reputation for facilitating payments within industries and businesses with complex payment requirements made them fintech rockstars. These businesses also needed to accept alternative payment methods such as digital wallets, global schemes such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and local country card schemes.
Moreover, 3C Payment's unique selling proposition was their robust integrations with POS and PMS providers like Oracle, parking integrators, acquiring banks, and terminal manufacturers. These integrations were crucial in supporting multi-location businesses that worked with multiple partners across different geographies whilst running everything through a single payment platform.
Was 3C a payment gateway?
Yes, 3C Payment was a payment service provider with a world-leading payment gateway. The gateway enabled merchants to authenticate and facilitate customer payments both online and in person. Designed to collect and encrypt sensitive customer payment information, such as credit card details, payment gateways securely transmit this data to the payment processor. Most payment gateways also serve as payment processors, meaning they authenticate and initiate the transfer of funds between parties.
3C Payment and Planet: A unified payment experience
By welcoming 3C Payment to the Planet family, Planet simplified the payment experience for merchants and acquirers. They now offer a single payments platform that includes Acquiring Gateway, VAT Refund, and Currency Conversion services to customers in the hospitality, food & beverage, and parking sectors.
Today Planet’s customers use a single payment platform to accept a wide range of payments both in-person and online. 3C Payment was a vital cog that enabled Planet to operate in over 120 markets, with over 800,000 merchants using a secure and fully PCI-compliant payment gateway.
3C platform and hardware
3C Payment’s Integra platform was a global platform, with a single central interface that supported all leading card acquirers. With 40+ POS and PMS integrations, it incorporated PCI security with PIN translation and encryption, and supported Tokenization and Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). It also offered payment reconciliation and customisable web-based reporting.
The 3C Payment terminals managed complex payment flows across multiple industries and worked cross border with 50+ acquiring banks as well as all leading hardware manufacturers. Supporting seventeen languages, the 3C Payment terminals accepted all major card types and were Point to point Encryption Validated (P2PE), EMV compliant, and supported NFC, RFID, and Apple VAS.
Was 3C Payment legitimate?
Yes, 3C Payment was legitimate. They were a hugely successful payment technology business. Planet’s acquisition of 3C Payment was reviewed and approved by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
3C Payment’s solutions addressed the challenges faced by businesses with complex payment requirements. Take hotels, for example. Guests expected a consistent payment experience across every touchpoint and desired a variety of payment options. 3C solutions offered secure, automated, cross channel payments from booking to check-out, which saved time and improved security for hoteliers.
3C Payment served a diverse range of customers, including leading global hotel chains, quick service restaurants, and large coffee chains. Their technology was also utilised by global car rental companies and national and multi-story car park companies in Europe and North America, as well as international airport parking facilities.
3C Payment technology enabled hoteliers to maintain a seamless, personalised experience whilst ensuring that their PMS gave them the financial oversight they needed at any time, wherever they may be accessing the system. They could take pre-authorisation at booking, receive financial protection against no-shows and, through DCC, offer guests the opportunity to pay in their home currency.
When it came to Hospitality customers, a wide range of terminal options and a full suite of integrations meant that guests could Pay at Reception, the Table, at the Bar and on the move with 3C’s solutions. Notably, 3C was the first payment provider to develop the Pay at Bar integration with Oracle.
Tokenisation securely stored customer card data using a unique token for future use so guests could spend freely across locations within the hotel. With payment details sent to the PMS, valuable data could be used to learn more about guest spending patterns and integrated with loyalty programmes.
Further reading:
- Tokenization: Everything you need to know
The Legacy of 3C Payment
3C Payment was more than just a fintech company; it was a transformative force in the world of payments. From simplifying complex payment processes to pioneering integrations with industry-leading systems, 3C Payment set new standards for efficiency and innovation. Their technology empowered businesses across various sectors, including hospitality, quick service restaurants, car rentals, and parking facilities, to provide seamless and secure payment experiences for their customers.
By becoming part of the Planet family, 3C Payment's legacy continues to thrive. Planet now operates in over 120 markets, supporting more than 800,000 merchants with a secure, fully PCI-compliant payment gateway. The unified platform enables merchants to accept a wide range of payments both in-person and online, enhancing the customer experience and driving business growth.
The success and legitimacy of 3C Payment were validated by their approval from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and their widespread adoption by leading global brands. Their innovative solutions, such as the latest payment integrations with Oracle, cross channel tokenization and dynamic currency conversion, have left an indelible mark on the payments industry.
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