Australia Post strengthens ecommerce presence
Friday, 10 December 2010
Australia Post today announced it has purchased payment gateway company, SecurePay as part of its strategy to expand its online services. SecurePay offers commercial organisations, utilities, local government and e-merchants secure Business to Business and Business to Consumer payment services via the internet, phone, or custom software applications.
Managing Director and CEO Ahmed Fahour said, "This acquisition assists with our growth in the digital world as we move to offer everything we do in the physical world, digitally."
"There will be no immediate change to current business arrangements for SecurePay and it will continue to operate day-to-day as a standalone entity under Australia Post ownership, led by the existing management team of CEO Rob McIntyre, Sales and Marketing Manager Ric Henderson and General Manager Payments Richard Mann.
"Acquiring SecurePay strengthens Australia Post's capability in offering business and government customers their own online payments channel and SecurePay capability in "shopping cart" payments also positions Australia Post for the rapid growth of ecommerce in Australia."
Australia Post acts as an agent in the physical world for 750 business and government agencies. This acquisition enables Australia Post to offer business and government customers an online payment service delivered through their own website and with their own branding. This complements our existing Australia Post branded online payment channel - Postbillpay.
Businesses and government agencies will be able to receive payment when their customers purchase, or pay a bill online without that customer needing to open another website to make payment. Customers increasingly want to engage with businesses and government agencies in a variety of ways and this service allows them to make payments over the internet, over the phone or through our extensive retail network.
Executive General Manager eServices, Richard Umbers said, "We see this offer as being an extension to our current business but we see the real benefit for Small to Medium Enterprises, local councils and especially those trading in the rapidly growing ecommerce sector."
In April this year, the new eServices division of Australia Post was launched and while still in its infancy it has already grown Australia Post's online presence.
"This year we developed a new, user friendly Australia Post website, launched iPhone and Windows Phone 7 apps and expanded our Click and Send service, which is an online portal through which customers can prepare their parcels for shipment," said Mr. Umbers.
SecurePay was established in 1999 as an online payment gateway provider in Australia and has around 19,000 business customers, both large and small. SecurePay has offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide and employs 60 people.