I&AS delivers analytics and insights based in part on First Data's proprietary SpendTrend tools to merchants and other businesses that need superior fact-based insights on consumer spending and payments.

Business Track
Through a consolidated, user-friendly merchant web portal, Business Track provides key information at a glance on all payment streams, including credit, debit, prepaid/gift card and check data. This newly designed interface has applications organized by popular use, so those frequently accessed are prominently located. Easy to read charts visually depict daily sales and deposit data by payment type, along with new SpendTrend excerpts to help merchants conveniently stay on top of payment processing data and benchmark their performance against the competition.

First Data Alerts
First Data now offers a proactive, convenience-oriented approach to notifying merchants of time-sensitive reconciliation and dispute events that have bottom-line impact. By receiving First Data Alerts through SMS text message or email format, merchants can keep on top of deadlines and avoid unnecessary chargeback losses.

Data File Manager
Many large merchants use raw data files to download merchant processing information into their internal and/or proprietary reconciliation tools. The new Data File Manager application brings a best-practice approach to this often time-consuming process, with a focus on flexible, self-service capabilities so merchants get just the data they need when they need it.

Enhanced Statements
Merchants rely on their billing statements to understand critical details of their processing activity. First Data's new enhanced monthly statements; delivered electronically or in paper format, provide a comprehensive report of submission, chargebacks, interchange fees, funding information and associated fees. When using the color-coded, easyy-to-read statements, merchants can spend more time focusing on their business and less time sorting data. The inclusion of SpendTrend data helps merchants gain unprecedented market intelligence by comparing their business performance to similar merchants in their area.

SpendTrend Web
This web-enabled, interactive format of SpendTrend provides not just faster delivery and web-enabled 24x7 convenience; but also the ability to filter breakdowns of industry by region or payment type for more granular insight into U.S. consumer buying behavior. The online tool enables subscribers to view their own growth compared to the overall market along with economic insights that support growing trends.

Prepaid Advisor Benchmarking Toolkit
Prepaid card program managers can access the competitive insight they need to understand how their program is performing compared to industry peers through the Prepaid Advisor Benchmarking Toolkit. This solution delivers a quarterly quantitative benchmarking of a merchants' own historical prepaid year-over-year growth for activations, redemptions, and reload activity against a normalized industry category.

"We believe these are major market-leading initiatives that are unparalleled in our industry," said Silvio Tavares, SVP and division manager of First Data Information and Analytics Solutions. "In the current economic climate, busy merchants want to have convenient access to the market intelligence that will help them make better business decisions impacting their bottom line. Our new product suite delivers the customized, fact-based insights our customers need to achieve their strategic goals."

Around the world, every second of every day, First Data makes payment transactions secure, fast and easy for merchants, financial institutions and their customers. First Data leverages its vast product portfolio and expertise to drive customer revenue and profitability. Whether the choice of payment is by debit or credit card, gift card, check or mobile phone, online or at the checkout counter, First Data takes every opportunity to go beyond the transaction.