EMV Implementation for Acquirers: 10 Questions to Answer When Formulating Your EMV Device Budget and Timeline

9. What training is required for the new devices we will support? For developers? For branch personnel? For service technicians? For our customers?

   EMV will be new to most, if not all, of your project team. It will take time for the project team to get familiar with terminology, technology, process flows, and so forth. But the need for EMV training extends beyond your development team. Your operations team will need to be aware of any new device-specific or system-level log messages or errors that may be generated by chip-enabled devices. You must review internal and external documentation for updates related to the addition of EMV processing. For example, your procedures for contacting branch personnel or vendors for service must be updated to include errors related to new EMV devices or functions. While card issuers will likely promote chip card use to their customers as their cards are re-issued, your merchants may need to be alerted to EMV transactions that now require PINs. Similarly, your branch personnel must be prepared to assist customers who are uncertain how to use their cards at your chip-capable ATMs.

10. Which EMV devices should we roll out first?

    Even in the EMV planning stages, your institution can begin considering the phases of your EMV roll-out. Early EMV efforts may start with devices in “friendly”, controlled locations (e.g. the employee cafeteria) where early implementation issues can be solved before your EMV devices are publically accessible. You must have sufficient cards in production to test all functions supported at the device for both magnetic stripe and chip cards. If your institution has not yet issued chip cards, ensure that chip cards issued by another institution are available for use.

Focusing on issues related to devices can help your institution begin formulating their EMV implementation plan.

Can Paragon Help with Your EMV Implementation?

Institutions can use simulators to begin testing EMV processing long before they have EMV devices or chip cards available for testing. Paragon solutions can simulate EMV processing by your host or financial switch, and by ATMs or POS devices. We offer a virtual “soft card” to test the processing of EMV cards – including blocked applications and blocked cards – before you have EMV cards available for testing. Our solutions can help you build and test ATM loads. Our simulators can also generate sufficient transaction volume to enable you to test batch processing of EMV transactions. In addition, Paragon Professional Services Team offers experienced EMV professionals to provide information and guidance as you develop your EMV implementation plan.

About Paragon Application Systems

Paragon Application Systems is a leading global provider of ePayment simulation, configuration and testing software solutions to the financial industry. More than 450 financial institutions in over 80 countries use Paragon tools to improve quality and reduce time-to-market. Paragon provides EMV training and hands-on assistance to customers world-wide who are implementing EMV. Paragon’s broad customer base includes major interchanges, merchant acquirers, processors, leading software providers, banks and credit unions. Visit Paragon Application Systems at www.paragonedge.com or email info@paragonedge.com.

About the Author

Deborah Spidle, a Senior Business Analyst with Paragon Application Systems, has over 20 years experience in the IT industry, focusing on banking and financial applications. Most recently, Deborah has been working as a business analyst responsible for helping a major national switch, a large bank, and multiple credit unions migrate to EMV. She has worn many hats including: development, business analysis, design engineering, program management, software implementation/installation management, project management, development management, technical writing, software installation, user testing, and client training. Deborah's managerial responsibilities have included the management of personnel across multiple disciplines (engineering, development, testing) as well as management of large, multi-functional project teams. Past clients have included financial institutions in the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and England.

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