The hidden champion of digital payments empowering acquiring leaders

Just as e-commerce relies on logistics networks, digital payments depend on invisible infrastructure. Think of this ecosystem as a train network: card products and transactions are the trains, acceptance channels and hosts are the stations, and payment platforms like Way4 from OpenWay are the rails. These rails don’t just move payments: they determine how fast acquirers can onboard merchants, launch services, adapt pricing, and operate across omnichannel environments. When the rail network is modern and orchestrated in real time, trains pass through every station fast and friction-free — helping acquirers compete and scale.

The engine room of modern payments

Old-fashioned rails make for a bumpy ride. According to PwC’s Battle of the Rails, acquirers can’t afford to rely on systems never built for open-loop, omnichannel payments, real-time orchestration, or multi-scheme settlement. Manual processes, legacy integrations, and rigid architecture lead to delays and errors, preventing acquirers from launching new experiences or adapting offerings. PwC stated that 80% of financial institutions were planning to outsource platform infrastructure by 2025.

But the transformation imperative goes beyond infrastructure to define survival. The rise of PayFacs, ISVs, embedded finance, and instant payments is redrawing the competitive landscape. Acquirers who can’t adapt quickly risk losing both efficiency and market relevance.

What sets successful acquirers apart today is how they use their platforms to create competitive differentiation. Leaders are investing in infrastructure that enables:

• Dynamic pricing: boost margins by 4–8% and revenue by 5% (McKinsey) with event-based or tiered pricing models.

• Smart payment wallets: accept cards, wallets, CBDCs, and crypto via a unified interface.

• Value-added services: launch loyalty programs, merchant financing, and real-time FX in weeks.

• Verticalized offers: tailor onboarding flows and pricing for specific sectors like retail, mobility, and government.

OpenWay’s top-rated digital payments platform, Way4, enables all this and more — not as isolated features, but as part of a well-integrated real-time core. Below, we explore how these capabilities come together to deliver acquiring transformation at scale.

Four ways Way4 enables acquiring transformation

1. End-to-end digitization with automation and smart integration

Way4 unifies the entire merchant lifecycle into a real-time digital core. Its open REST APIs allow seamless integration with CRMs, KYC platforms, scoring engines, and other services, enabling fast onboarding and personalized journeys with strong security and high conversion rates. The Smart Payment Wallet option lets merchants accept cards, wallets, CBDCs, and crypto through a single interface, a key differentiator in markets embracing digital currencies.

OpenWay client Nexi digitized and consolidated acquiring in just 9 months — part of a broader Tier-1 trend away from fragmented vendor stacks.

2. Fast time-to-market and high conversion thanks to deep personalization

Way4 enables acquirers to launch new services in mere days. With 95% of product logic parameterized, teams can configure onboarding flows, pricing strategies, or merchant financing offers without coding — and adapt them in real time.

Finaro (now part of Shift4) accelerated merchant onboarding by 50x using APIs, geo-clustering, and rule-based automation, since then tripling its acquiring revenue.

3. Scalable, resilient infrastructure

Way4 powers large-scale acquiring worldwide. It supports daily volumes exceeding 15 million POS transactions for a European acquirer and scaled SmartPay in Vietnam to over 700,000 merchants in three years.

Network International, serving 130,000+ merchants in the Middle East and Africa, saw a 60% transaction increase, 50% more processed volume, and a 186% TPS boost after adopting Way4. With 99.999% uptime and 4,000+ TPS, Way4 ensures uninterrupted performance, even during peak demand.

4. Trusted execution at global scale

OpenWay supports acquiring operations for payment leaders around the world. Its proven track record includes complex migrations, long-term partnerships, and analyst recognition from Gartner and Datos Insights. In the 2025 Merchant Acquiring Software Platforms Matrix, Datos Insights named OpenWay “Best‑in‑Class” for overall product strength and innovation. For over 10 years, the company has ranked among the leaders in the Datos (formerly Aite) Matrix.

With offices in 20+ countries, OpenWay combines global best practices with local expertise. Its glocal approach and flexible implementation model ensure that each implementation aligns with local regulations, operational realities, and market needs, helping acquirers thrive in diverse environments.

Are your rails still carrying you forward?

The shift to real-time, omnichannel, and cross-border payments is unstoppable. Acquirers using Way4 have demonstrated that the right infrastructure enables sustained growth, innovation, and speed to market.

As acquiring becomes more competitive, commoditized and cross-border, scalable platforms like Way4 are no longer a luxury. They’re the foundation for profitability and speed.

So how does your platform measure up? Download our vendor selection checklist to find out — and connect with OpenWay experts today!

Dmitry Yatskaer is the Chief Technology Officer at OpenWay, with over 25 years of experience in the payment industry. He oversees the Way4 product development strategy and actively participates in OpenWay’s most sophisticated projects. He advises clients on the optimal payment solution architecture, new business line development, and large-volume card and merchant portfolio migrations. Dmitry has contributed to the successful launch of CMS platforms for ACB, Borgun, Comdata, Equity Bank of Kenya, equensWorldline, Halyk Bank, Network International, Nets, SIX Payment Services, and others.

Olena Bilenka leads product positioning, go-to-market planning, and strategic communications for OpenWay’s Way4 Merchant Acquiring solution. She brings over 20 years of international experience in B2B and B2C marketing with global brands including Visa, Vodafone, Bosch/Siemens, and OpenWay. Her expertise spans digital payments, product launches, and competitive intelligence.

Olena works closely with clients and partners across the Middle East, aligning global marketing insight with regional business objectives. She also manages analyst relations and creates thought leadership initiatives — from strategic narratives and articles to webinars — that strengthen OpenWay’s visibility and client engagement. Passionate about the future of digital payments, she advocates for innovations that empower banks and fintechs to deliver exceptional merchant services.