Rotherham IT director recognised for work in payment security

A South-Yorkshire-based IT Director, whose pioneering work on an anti-fraud technology system, dubbed “the future of telephone transactions” has been admitted as a professional member of the British Computer Society (MBCS).

Awarded by peers of the Chartered Institute of IT, Steve Briggs currently works as IT Director at Rotherham-based Gala Tent, Europe’s largest distributer of Marquees and Gazebos as well as helping to launch sister company Gala Technology. Since 2012, Steve has devoted much of his time to pioneering SOTPay, a secure order transfer payment system which is designed to help business owners eliminate telephone fraud. The technology was developed in-house by Steve and the Gala Technology team after Gala Tent fell foul of the fraudsters in 2012, resulting in losses of £50,000 as a result of fraudulent activity.  However, since implementing the SOTPay solution, despite hundreds of attempts, the technology has achieved a 100% success rate in fending off the fraudsters.

SOTpay is an innovative secure order payment transfer system which its developers believe could help to consign telephone card payment fraud to the history books. The technology works by creating a secure 3D payment platform, allowing a customer to input their card details without releasing them to the call operator, allowing funds to be transferred directly between bank accounts and enables businesses to achieve PCI DSS compliance, without the need for costly DTMF solutions.

The company received recognition at the Innovation and Excellence Awards, being awarded the title of Innovation in Payment Security Solutions, and has been shortlisted for five industry awards this year.

Recent research by Financial Fraud Action states that a fraudulent scam takes place every 15 seconds in UK businesses, a rise of 53% from January 2016 against the previous year. Over 50% of businesses are affected in some way by fraud and just last year fraud on UK payment cards reached over £500 million.

In the last four years since its launch, SOTPay has eliminated 100% of fraudulent transactions within Gala Tent and is now attracting interest from some of the biggest businesses in the UK. This year, the technology has been nominated for ‘Business Innovation of The Year’ award at the prestigious UK IT Industry Awards, as well as recently winning ‘Innovation in Payment Solutions’ at the Innovation & Excellence Awards.

Steve Briggs, IT Director at Gala Tent said:

“To be recognised by industry professionals is a huge achievement for not only myself, but the whole team who worked on developing SOTPay. I’ve been working in the IT sector for more than 15 years, and I feel honoured that my peers have chosen to recognise my work, but it’s equally satisfying to see the technology win awards in its own right. It’s a unique piece of technology which allows businesses of all sizes to process secure telephone transactions, negating fraud, bank charges and ensuring PCI DSS compliance”

Jason Mace, Founder and Managing Director of Gala Tent and Gala Techonology said:

“Many businesses don’t realise that one of the biggest threats facing them is fraud; it can result in a loss of sales and revenue and just last year fraud cost the UK economy over £500 million.

“I am extremely proud of the time and dedication Steve and his team have put in to making SOTpay a reality. It is a simple, affordable solution to many of the technologies already available on the market.

“I am extremely proud of the time and dedication Steve and his team have put in to making SOTPay a reality. It is a simple, affordable solution to many of the technologies already available on the market.