Tune in to get the ISO partner advantage

We’ve got you covered. That’s Worldpay’s message to independent sales organizations in a new podcast exploring the role of ISOs in the payments industry.

Denise Tahali, senior vice president of ISO and agent sales at Worldpay, co-hosts the “Worldpay ISO Partner Advantage” podcast with payments thought-leader Greg Myers, who launched the popular “Leaders in Payments” podcast in 2020.

The importance of ISOs

ISOs are specialized third-party companies that provide merchants with card and other digital payment processing services, acting as intermediaries between merchants and financial institutions. “A lot of merchants work with ISOs, so it’s a channel that can’t be overlooked,” said Tahali in the first episode.

Tahali joined Worldpay in May 2024 to lead the company’s ISO offerings. She has over two decades of experience in payments and partnerships. Her and Worldpay’s focus is on creating a new roster of products, tools, and support teams to help ISOs boost revenue and deepen relationships.

“The ISO channel is made up of some great companies, but, more importantly, they’re local to their community,” said Tahali. “They have referral partners and deep relationships often built over many years, bringing value and expertise.”

The podcast covers:

• Industry news: Hear from Worldpay’s deep bench of specialists, who are shaping the future of payments.
• Partner perspectives: Learn directly from some of Worldpay’s ISO partners about what’s working for them.
• Insights: Get practical tips on how to maximize revenue, improve operations and differentiate your business.
• Trends: Stay ahead of the curve with the latest innovations and what they mean for the future of your business.

A new world for ISOs

Joining Tahali and Myers in the second episode is Phillip McHugh, group president of global experience at Worldpay, who said the ISO market has “some of the best entrepreneurs – people who have figured out a unique way to serve and win. We want to help these great businesses grow.”

He said the market has rapidly changed, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. “We’ve seen the rise of integrated software vendors, card-not-present and true tech-enabled platforms.”

McHugh said ISOs really understand the industry, economics and local markets and that they can uniquely harness tools and approaches that set them up for success.

Tahali added that, because they go to market with their own brands, they have more control over the reliability and quality of their provision to partners.

Top tips to help ISOs grow

• Tap into technology that helps level the playing field and allows you to compete in the market.
• Value-added services can help make a difference, creating stickiness with merchants, strengthening dependencies and reducing attrition.
• Prioritize supporting partners with easy tools, reliability and transparency. It’s just as important as supporting merchants.
• Speed to boarding is vital, so use a provider that can deliver across the ecosystem fast, as well as continually optimize, listen and tweak based on predefined performance indicators.
• Cultivate mutual respect through effective communication and advocacy to give a white-glove feeling. Always do what you say you’re going to, and build confidence with merchants and partners alike.

Get more tips for ISOs, success stories, payment strategies and events news by subscribing to “Worldpay ISO Partner Advantage.”

We’re investing in our ISO channel. Learn more about Worldpay’s offerings for ISOs here.