Smarter Bacs payments with paygate automation

Our robust payment workflows are used to move millions of transactions and billions of pounds—quickly, securely, and accurately.

With paygate, you decide how much of the process to automate, from simple file submissions to fully hands-off payment runs.

Whichever options works for your business, automation makes your Bacs processing less laborious, safer, and more efficient.

See how our Bacs Automations work:

Automate specific tasks, or the entire process. You choose.

Automatic file upload

The file is automatically detected, encrypted and uploaded to the paygate system via SFTP or API for secure storage, with manual upload available as backup​.

A modulus check verifies the accuracy of sort codes and account numbers, identifying potential errors before transactions are submitted. By validating account details at an early stage, this process helps prevent failed payments and reduces the risk of processing issues.

A Hardware Security Module (HSM) is employed to encrypt data, ensuring that sensitive information is securely protected. In this process, BACS files are authenticated and their digital signatures are verified using a smart card, providing an additional layer of validation. While smart cards confirm the authenticity of signatures, the HSM offers a significantly higher level of security by safeguarding encryption keys and performing cryptographic operations within a tamper-resistant environment.

Workflows are completely customisable and can be used to set specific signing and approval criteria for each payment type, including multiple approvers where required.

Once approved, the file is automatically sent to Bacs for processing ​on the chosen date.

Access payment and collection reports directly within the paygate solution. Once a submission is made, you can immediately retrieve Bacs A reports to review the status of successful and failed payments.

'We've heavily automated the payment process, so now there's no manual intervention at all.'

Alasdair Skeoch, BPO Managing Director, uses automation to handle 300,000+ new accounts and £6m collections a month, freeing up their finance team to focus on business growth.

 

Let’s talk about setting up powerful payment automations for your business.

Automation tools

Validate Plus

A complete ID verification toolkit that helps your business stay Bacs compliant, prevent faulty data from entering your system and confirm customers are using the correct details.

Hardware security module (HSM)

Security is the backbone of payment automation. Our solutions integrate with HSM to protect and ensure transactions cannot be tampered with.

Benefits of payment automation

Bacs automation helps save time, cut out errors and improve security. By automating routine tasks your team
can focus on more valuable work while knowing payments are compliant every time.

Efficient

Automate repetitive tasks to process payments faster.

Accurate

Reduce human error and ensure transactions are compliant.

Scalable

Support growing transaction volumes without adding staff.

Customisable

All automations are totally customisable and optional.

Measurable

Gain real-time insights into payments with full audit trails.

Secure

Protect sensitive data using encryption and HSM.

Fast, easy setup

Kick-off call with our tecnical experts

Set up of workflows

Testing procedures run

Workflows go live with ongoing support

Got a question? Great, that's why we're here

We’re always on hand to answer any questions and give advice. Click the button below to reach out. 

Frequently asked questions

How does payment automation improve business efficiency?

Payment automation eliminates manual tasks such as data entry, file preparation, and Bacs submission, reducing administrative burden and the risk of human error.

It removes bottlenecks from the approval process, ensures payment runs complete on time, and automatically retrieves Bacs reports for faster reconciliation.

Businesses can automate payment file generation, bank detail validation, submission scheduling, approval workflows and reporting. Automation ensures consistent processes and reduces the risk of human error.

Automated systems validate data, generate payment files and follow predefined workflows. This reduces reliance on manual processing and helps prevent mistakes caused by incorrect entries or overlooked details. It also ensures compliance with internal security protocols and the various payment regulations.

Yes, modern payment automation platforms integrate with ERP, accounting and payroll systems, allowing payment data to flow directly into the payment process without manual intervention.

Automation can enforce user permissions, approval workflows and audit logs. These controls help organisations track activity, prevent unauthorised changes and maintain strong financial governance.

Ready to see what automation can do for your business?

Get in touch with our Bacs experts today.

paygate v3 features & benefits

Single sign-on *Coming in 2024 for V3

✓

 paygate on prempaygate v2paygate v3
Security policy manager * Includes: password complexity manager, inactive timeout, time restrictions, IP address restrictions
✓✓✓
AWS ISO27001 hosted * Primary fail over and back up UK data centres
 ✓✓
SFTP file uploads/downloads *Secure way to move files across the internet, customers can use their own certificates
✓✓✓
Gemalto security tokens MFA✓✓✓
Email MFA  ✓
SMS MFA✓✓✓
APP MFA *
Works with common auth apps such as Google Authenticator, Authy.
Works on Android or iOS.
  ✓
PG Platform ISO27001  ✓
Fraud tool *Currently support Blacklists and Whitelists.
In a blacklist you add various sortcodes / account numbers and the system will prevent any payment to those accounts.
In a whitelist you add sortcodes and account numbers and the system will ONLY allow payments to accounts on the whitelist.
We include various tools to help build and maintain the lists.
  ✓
GDPR subject access request *
Search tools to help perform a GDRP lookup.
Then can optionally ‘sanitise’ personal data from the system.
✓✓✓
GDPR Data cleansing *Remove historical data by bulk or individual.
  ✓
Browser compatbility *
We maintain support for Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
  ✓
Built for performance *
Version 3 runs on super modern, high-end infrastructure
  ✓
Single Platform *
Customers have a single user account that they can use across all services (Enterprise, Online, Validate, etc).
  ✓
Agent rebuilt key management system *
Very secure way to get files to and from the Paygate cloud.
Supports ways to automate files being sent into the paygate cloud and retrieving reports from the cloud.
Key management was rebuilt for V3 to further increase security.
  ✓
HTTPS uploads/downloads *

paygate v3 supports both SFTP and HTTPS.
  ✓
In browser File and Folder handling *
Allows customers to securely organise their files and folders that are stored on paygate
  ✓
PG on prem PG Ev2 PGv3
Logging tickets by email ✓ ✓ ✓
Logging tickets by portal ✓
Logging tickets by phone ✓ ✓ ✓
Dedicated account management ✓ ✓ ✓
Uptime improvements ✓
Ongoing development ✓
Bug fixing ✓
Auto File Import *Automatically imports a payment file and validates it. Users no longer need to manually browse for and import a file, paygate will do this in the background and present the validation results to the user.
✓
PG on prem PG Ev2 PGv3
Designer in browser * In V2 Workflows use an older style desktop app. In V3 workflows are built and managed in the Paygate Browser app. It’s much easier to deploy and manage.
✓
Designer 3rd party app ✓ ✓
Improved logging * A feature mainly for PS/CS to help them diagnose problems with workflows. Problems can be diagnosed and fixed faster.
✓
New scheduler triggers * A new trigger type that allows the user to set up a workflow like you set up a meeting in Outlook. For some, this is more flexible and easier to understand than using CRON.
✓
Triggers for multiple workflows * You can use a single trigger to start multiple workflows. It’s a simple feature that will make things easier to manage if you have a lot of workflows.
✓
Workflow validation * Troubleshoots new workflows, validation
✓
Workflow chaining * Allows a workflow to call another workflow. Using this you can simplify large complicated workflows in smaller separate ones. Easier to manage and diagnose issues.
✓
New nodes * Various new nodes that help to build new types of workflows or help manage existing workflows.
✓
Full documentation V3 will be fully documented with help guides and tutorials.
and tutorials *
✓
Multiple filename variables * Supporting multiple filename variables should make designing complex workflows a bit easier.
✓
Future developments * Pure Excel Importer – XLSX; BACS Calendar Widget; Workflow Timeline; Workflow / Mobile App notification / management; S3 Connector
✓
Download and distribute A Reports * When you have workflow and HSM you can automate the entire BACS report download process. They can automatically be converted to other formats for integration into finance apps. They can be emailed to customers as html, pdf or zips. They can be made available for collection via SFTP. Or, if you use Agent, they can be security delivered to the customer’s private network.
✓ ✓ ✓
Partial submission ✓ ✓ ✓
Lightsout submission * No signing
✓ ✓ ✓
Standard nodes for initiation ✓ ✓ ✓
PG on prem PG Ev2 PGv3
Batched bureau submissions ✓ ✓ ✓
Manual & Automated submission builder ✓ ✓ ✓
Customer import ✓ ✓ ✓
Bacs reporting tools ✓ ✓ ✓
Recall Bureau Customers by ID ✓
Submission Re-entry * Complete your submissions over any amount of time
✓
Familiar workflow throughout *It will be familiar to V2 customer but they will notice improvements.
✓
Revamped manual submission mode *This is completely new in V3 Bureau. Those customers wanting a more manual way of building their submission (Rather than using Jobs) will find a new, efficient way of working.
✓
Drag and drop files from anywhere *Like in other areas of V3. User can just drag and drop file in Bureau for processing. They can also use the Restricted File Browser and Server file browser – that add more security – if they wish.
✓
Support for multiple file formats per submission * No longer limited to single Standard 18 submission for example
✓
Better default filename support *Makes working with files easier.
✓
Usage Reporting over data range *Small but useful improvement to reporting. User can set a date range on the usage report.
✓
PG on prem PG Ev2 PGv3
Validate *Validate is integrated in V3 and so customers that have both products can access them from the same client with the same account.
✓
API Access *Validate API and the Payment API.
✓
4x Faster ✓
Save Submissions *Save an ‘in-progress’ submission and return to it later. Build up a submission during the day
✓
Improved payment and submission searching ✓
Customisable dashboard *Many useful, module specific, dashboard widgets, e.g. Payments, collections, workflow, etc.
✓
PG on prem PG Ev2 PGv3
Enhanced reporting including real-time usage ✓

Thank you for your interest in paygate v3.

Please complete the form below and your Account Manager will be in touch to arrange a call.