Chris Baron , senior vice president , Canada , shares how Global Payments ’ four strategic pillars – tech-enabled / software driven , e-commerce / omnichannel , faster-growth markets and B2B – inform its approach to innovation .
According to Baron , these pillars have helped Global Payments to recognize opportunities , including the need for tailored solutions within specific industries .
“ Global Payments was a first mover in owned software technologies , implementing its technology-enabled , software-driven strategy when other providers were still focused on hardware ,” he explains . “ This strategy paid off , enabling Global Payments to move aggressively into cloud software .”
Baron notes , “ As companies digitize more of their operations , they want to engage technology companies like ours who can help them run and grow their business with comprehensive platforms . Payment processing is now just one of many ways we help businesses . Our commerce enablement tools such as omnichannel solutions , payroll and more , also help answer their need for business efficiency and continuity .”
Geographically , the company ’ s recent acquisition of EVO Payments expands its presence into faster-growth , attractive markets including Poland , Germany , Greece and Chile . This latest acquisition means Global Payments now serves 4.6 million merchant accounts and 1,500 financial institutions worldwide .
Global Payments is also helping businesses of all sizes effectively compete in a digitizing , worldwide economy through innovative technologies . To do so , it has been investing in technology to maintain its leadership in the industry , spending close to US $ 2 billion annually .
The company continues to see the four pillars of their strategy as the biggest growth opportunity from today through the next three to five years .