Businesses accepting payments over the phone need a system that is secure, efficient, and easy for customers to use. Interactive Voice Response (IVR) payment solutions provide a reliable way to automate transactions while reducing security risks and ensuring compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) requirements. Whether an organization is implementing IVR Payments for the first time or looking to replace manual processing, IVR Payment technology offers options that fit a variety of needs.

As the digital landscape evolves, so must the approach to payments, and operators now have a unique opportunity to modernize, improve security, and enhance customer experience.

When it comes to securing payment card information, defining the PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance scope is the first and most crucial step. Any organization that accepts credit cards must adhere to PCI guidelines, but ensuring compliance starts with understanding which people, systems, and processes interact with credit card data. In a recent podcast discussion between Bernard Crespi of Datatel Payment Technologies and Steve Porter, CEO of Secured Net, key insights were shared on defining PCI scope, avoiding scope creep, and optimizing compliance efforts.

Insurance companies operate networks of independent insurance brokers who accept policy payments and store credit card details for future transactions on behalf of insurers. In many cases, brokers collect payments directly. However, with a reliance on credit card transactions, companies are recognizing the urgent need to transition away from storing and handling sensitive cardholder data internally. This shift is necessary to reduce security risks and meet PCI compliance requirements.

Handling credit card payments over the phone is a vital function of many businesses. As a customer service manager, you play a key role in ensuring these transactions are secure, efficient, and compliant with industry standards. One critical aspect you can’t overlook is PCI Compliance.

For many organizations, handling payments over the phone is just part of the process. Patients and customers call in, provide their credit card details, and staff manually enter the information. On the surface, it seems like a routine task. But when you look closer, it becomes clear that this approach is creating unnecessary costs, inefficiencies, and security risks.

For rural broadband providers, the stakes are even higher. These companies aren’t just businesses—they’re part of the community. But when disconnect notices go out, staff get overwhelmed, call centers are slammed, and tensions rise. That’s where Datatel’s 24/7 IVR Phone payment solution comes in.

Today, businesses that accept payments over the phone are looking for ways to minimize risk, enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer experience. While real-time integrations are often considered the ideal solution for automating these payment processes, not all organizations have the resources or readiness to implement such systems. For these situations, stand-alone IVR Payments systems combined with batching data exchange provide a practical path to modernizing payment systems, future-proofing operations, and significantly reducing the risks associated with handling payments manually over the phone.

Understanding your PCI scope provides you the foundation for a clear and actionable path forward. It helps you identify the specific systems, processes, and people involved in handling cardholder data, ensuring that no critical areas are overlooked. This foundational understanding not only shapes your compliance strategy but also equips your organization to minimize risks, allocate resources effectively, and build robust security policies tailored to your unique operations.

Thousands of credit cards stolen in Green Bay Packers store breach: American football team Green Bay Packers recently notified fans of a cybersecurity breach involving their official online store, Packers Pro Shop. In October 2024, malicious actors hacked the website, embedding a card skimmer script designed to steal sensitive customer information, including payment details.