Friday, October 19, 2007

VisionPLUS - About
Intro

VisionPLUS is a transaction processing software application from First Data Corporation. This
application is mainly used for credit card transaction processing by multinational banks and
transaction processing companies. Banks traditionally use this application to store and
process credit card accounts and process transactions(Visa, Mastercard, Europay, private
label transactions). The rough estimate of number of cards processed on different versions of
this application software around the world is approximately 350 million.

VisionPLUS is designed as a flexible, full-feature account processing system. The main

modules of Visionplus include:
* Credit Decision Management (CDM) - new accounts processing module
* Credit Management System (CMS) - account processing module
* Collections Tracking Analysis (CTA) - delinquent collections module
* Account Services Management (ASM) - customer services module
* Financial Authorisation System (FAS) - financial authorisations module
* Letters System (LTS) - letter generation module
* Security Sub System (SSC) - user access control module
* Interchange Tracking System (ITS) - dispute tracking module
* Transaction Management System (TRAMS) - front-end processor
* Merchant BankCard System (MBS) - merchant acquiring system
* VisionPLUS Messaging System (VMx) - XML messaging gateway to VisionPLUS

History
Until 2001, VisionPLUS was owned by Paysys International Inc. First Data corp acquired
Paysys in 2001.

Versions
1983 CardPac was released by CCS. Its main market was the bankcard industry (Visa &
MasterCard transaction processing only)1988 Vision21 was released for the private label card
market by CCSI1991 VisionPLUS for both private label and bankcard market by CCSI1998
VisionPLUS 2.5 was released by Paysys2000 VisionPLUS 8.0 was released by Paysys2006
VisionPLUS 8.21 was released by Paysys
The software mainly runs on IBM zSeries primarily using COBOL,CICS and VSAM. Previous
versions of VisionPLUS were available on Unix and AS/400.

Modules

VisionPLUS application is modularized and some of these modules can be used stand alone or
as different combinations of these modules. The core of the application is Credit Management
System which is the accounts receivables application. Other applcations in the software suite
are collections management, real time authorizations, batch settlement, credit decisioning,
merchant management, business messaging, customer support.
VisionPLUS is designed as a flexible, full-feature account processing system. The main
modules of Visionplus include:
Credit Decision Management (CDM) - new accounts processing module
The Credit Decision Management system (CDM) is the new accounts module. This online
system is designed to handle the credit approval process from the point of application to the
point of approval or decline. Applications are taken through processing steps that mirror the
underwriting process and can be categorized and treated according to the parameters set by
your company. While the entire process can be automated, human intervention can occur at
any point within the process, the choice is yours.

Credit Management System (CMS) - account processing module

The Credit Management System (CMS) is the accounts receivable system that functions as
the heart of VisionPLUS. CMS holds the demographic, financial, and historical information for
each account. Other VisionPLUS modules needing that information obtain it from CMS,
eliminating record duplication. CMS also contains user-defined parameters for interest, billing,
insurance, payment, and account processing.

Collections Tracking Analysis (CTA) - delinquent collections module

The Collections, Tracking, and Analysis module (CTA) is designed to categorize and treat
accounts that need special handling. While the system was designed primarily to handle past-
due accounts, it can be used to track and analyze other groups of accounts that may or may
not need actual treatment. These groups may include VIPs, lost or stolen cards, overlimit
accounts, and bankruptcy cases. CTA offers flexible collection strategies based on how your
company sets the control record parameters.

Account Services Management (ASM) - customer services module

The Account Services Management system (ASM) is the online, real-time customer service
module. ASM enhances your ability to provide superior customer service by utilizing user-
defined action codes to perform customer-generated requests such as interest adjustments,
address changes, and disputes.

Financial Authorisation System (FAS) - financial authorisations module

The Financial Authorization System (FAS) is the 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week authorization
module. FAS processes retail, Visa, MasterCard, and Europay authorizations based upon user
defined processing parameters. Authorizations can be approved, declined, or referred. FAS
also provides authorization reversals, card recovery listing and updates, and event/delayed
advice retrievals.

Letters System (LTS) - letter generation module

The Letter System (LTS) is the module that can be used to create and issue letters for up to
five different PAYSYS products. Letter variables from these different modules can be
embedded within generic letters to produce letters tailored to individual customers. Letters
can be printed real-time or in batch processing.

Security Sub System (SSC) - user access control module

The Security Subsystem and Common Routines (SSC) system is a comprehensive online
security system that interfaces between all PAYSYS International products. SSC houses the
Security record for each operator, common routines used by all systems, and currency
conversion details.All PAYSYS applications, except TRAMS, use SSC as an optional user sign-
on and sign-off procedure. Each person that uses a PAYSYS application will need a Security
record that controls the access that you have to CMS and other VisionPLUS modules.

Interchange Tracking System (ITS) - dispute tracking module

The Interchange Tracking System (ITS) is the dispute tracking and processing module. ITS is
designed to process incoming and outgoing chargeback transactions for both Visa,
MasterCard, as well as some regional associations such as Europay (for Eurocard- MasterCard
only) and Australian Bankcard. ITS keeps track of many user-defined parameters, such as
time limits to keep your business compliant with the different associations. Chargebacks are
“worked” through queues based on criteria that you define creating a customized, organized
workflow.

Transaction Management System (TRAMS) - front-end processor

The Transaction Management System (TRAMS) is the VisionPLUS front-end processor. TRAMS
accepts multiple transaction types and prepares them for any destination, consolidating
numerous application front-ends into a single input system. TRAMS also provides extensive
job tracking, settlement, warehousing, reporting, reject, and online reject and suspense
handling capabilities.

Merchant BankCard System (MBS) - merchant acquiring system

The Merchant Bankcard System (MBS) is the merchant acquiring system. MBS supports both
bankcard and retail merchant processing providing an efficient way to settle funds and charge
the merchant fees for services rendered. MBS offers discount, participation, reserve funding,
and volume bonus processing along with comprehensive activity