SparkBase
Encyclopedia
SparkBase, LLC is a stored-value
and gift card
transaction processor located in Cleveland, Ohio
, USA
. It provides private-label
, stored-value
, specialty gift cards
, customer loyalty, and community rewards programs to Independent Sales Organizations (independent companies used by banks to develop new merchant relationships on their behalf). ISOs may then sell these gift and loyalty products to merchant customers along with credit card services and processing equipment.
Sparkbase currently manages gift card processing
for over 12 million alternate payment system cards, with an average daily balance of approximately $120 million. The company develops its own network code in-house, with twenty-three developers on staff, and operates its own servers and Tier V data center
on site, with off-site
secondary and tertiary backup data centers.
Douglas Hardman as a division of Technology Imaging Services, and purchased by Hardman in early 2007. Hardman was the CTO
of SparkBase prior to his acquisition of the company.
stored-value payment processing network for specialty gift cards, customer loyalty programs, and community rewards programs. SparkBase does not service merchants directly, but rather acts as a private-label service through third parties, such as Independent Sales Offices (ISOs), loyalty marketing companies
, financial institutions, and bank
s. These entities then market their own version of SparkBase’s gift and loyalty platform to their merchants in conjunction with credit card services and processing equipment.
The gift card network provided by SparkBase is a private-label
or white label system that allows the third party (typically an ISO), to brand the company's stored-value network and associated gift cards with the third party’s own logo and other identifying information.
permits ISOs and merchants to create a registration and gift card balance portal directly on their own branded site. Through that portal, merchants can then access contact and other information about their customers acquired through the registration process, and use this information in e-mail, SMS messaging, and other marketing efforts.
, allowing merchants to reach individual gift card holders directly through SMS text messaging.
The text messaging service offered by SparkBase may be used as a marketing vehicle and a means of payment, and provides end-users a mechanism to check loyalty card balances and otherwise conduct loyalty card transactions directly through their cell phone. This service also offers merchants the ability to send electronic coupon codes, special offers, and rewards messages directly to their customers.
Stored-value card
A stored-value card refers to monetary value on a card not in an externally recorded account and differs from prepaid cards where money is on deposit with the issuer similar to a debit card...
and gift card
Gift card
A gift card is a restricted monetary equivalent or scrip that is issued byretailers or banks to be used as an alternative to a non-monetary gift....
transaction processor located in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It provides private-label
Private label
Private label products or services are typically those manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. Private label goods and services are available in a wide range of industries from food to cosmetics to web hosting...
, stored-value
Stored-value card
A stored-value card refers to monetary value on a card not in an externally recorded account and differs from prepaid cards where money is on deposit with the issuer similar to a debit card...
, specialty gift cards
Gift card
A gift card is a restricted monetary equivalent or scrip that is issued byretailers or banks to be used as an alternative to a non-monetary gift....
, customer loyalty, and community rewards programs to Independent Sales Organizations (independent companies used by banks to develop new merchant relationships on their behalf). ISOs may then sell these gift and loyalty products to merchant customers along with credit card services and processing equipment.
Sparkbase currently manages gift card processing
Gift card
A gift card is a restricted monetary equivalent or scrip that is issued byretailers or banks to be used as an alternative to a non-monetary gift....
for over 12 million alternate payment system cards, with an average daily balance of approximately $120 million. The company develops its own network code in-house, with twenty-three developers on staff, and operates its own servers and Tier V data center
Data center
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems...
on site, with off-site
Off-site Data Protection
In computing, off-site data protection, or vaulting, is the strategy of sending critical data out of the main location as part of a disaster recovery plan. Data is usually transported off-site using removable storage media such as magnetic tape or optical storage...
secondary and tertiary backup data centers.
History
The company was founded in 2004 by software developerSoftware developer
A software developer is a person concerned with facets of the software development process. Their work includes researching, designing, developing, and testing software. A software developer may take part in design, computer programming, or software project management...
Douglas Hardman as a division of Technology Imaging Services, and purchased by Hardman in early 2007. Hardman was the CTO
Chief technical officer
A chief technology officer is an executive-level position in a company or other entity whose occupant is focused on scientific and technological issues within an organization....
of SparkBase prior to his acquisition of the company.
Place in the Prepaid Card Industry
SparkBase is in the closed system prepaid card part of the gift card industry, offering a software as a serviceSoftware as a Service
Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...
stored-value payment processing network for specialty gift cards, customer loyalty programs, and community rewards programs. SparkBase does not service merchants directly, but rather acts as a private-label service through third parties, such as Independent Sales Offices (ISOs), loyalty marketing companies
Loyalty program
Loyalty programs are structured marketing efforts that reward, and therefore encourage, loyal buying behavior — behavior which is potentially beneficial to the firm....
, financial institutions, and bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
s. These entities then market their own version of SparkBase’s gift and loyalty platform to their merchants in conjunction with credit card services and processing equipment.
The gift card network provided by SparkBase is a private-label
Private label
Private label products or services are typically those manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. Private label goods and services are available in a wide range of industries from food to cosmetics to web hosting...
or white label system that allows the third party (typically an ISO), to brand the company's stored-value network and associated gift cards with the third party’s own logo and other identifying information.
GetYourBalance.com
GetYourBalance.com is a tool offered by SparkBase which allows customers to register their gift cards, and check their balances online. The API toolsetApplication programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
permits ISOs and merchants to create a registration and gift card balance portal directly on their own branded site. Through that portal, merchants can then access contact and other information about their customers acquired through the registration process, and use this information in e-mail, SMS messaging, and other marketing efforts.
Text Messaging Gateway
In October 2008, SparkBase launched the first SMS (short messaging service) gateway integrationSMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
, allowing merchants to reach individual gift card holders directly through SMS text messaging.
The text messaging service offered by SparkBase may be used as a marketing vehicle and a means of payment, and provides end-users a mechanism to check loyalty card balances and otherwise conduct loyalty card transactions directly through their cell phone. This service also offers merchants the ability to send electronic coupon codes, special offers, and rewards messages directly to their customers.
Awards
- In 2009, founder Douglas Hardman received the Smart Business Network "Rising Star" Award in relation to Sparkbase.
- In 2011, Sparkbase's smart phone-enabled mobile paymentMobile PaymentMobile financial services, also referred to as mobile money, mobile payment, mobile banking, mobile money transfer and mobile wallet generally refer to payment services operated under financial regulation and performed from or via a mobile device....
service, Paycloud®, won the Technology Innovation Award at the Electronic Transactions Association's Annual Meeting.
External links
- SparkBase website
- GetYourBalance.com website