Smarterpay Limited explains how to achieve smarter and safer solutions for the transformation of public sector payments
Across the UK, public sector organisations are undergoing rapid digital transformation. Councils, NHS trusts, and central government bodies are striving to improve efficiency, enhance security, and deliver better citizen services – all while facing tighter budgets and increasing regulatory scrutiny.
At the heart of this transformation lies the way money moves – paying staff and suppliers, collecting council tax or service charges, and managing recurring income like direct debits. These processes are often complex, manual, and siloed. That’s where SmarterPay comes in.
SmarterPay provides modern, secure, and flexible cloud-based payment solutions that help many public sector organisations simplify and streamline how they manage and process payments and collections. From payroll to council tax, we unify your payment operations and reduce administrative overhead – without needing to rip and replace existing systems.
Our approach isn’t just about switching software; it’s about empowering public sector teams with the right tools to unlock better outcomes. By moving payment operations to the cloud, organisations eliminate the risks associated with on-premise infrastructure and gain secure access from any browser. That flexibility means faster response times, reduced downtime, and stronger continuity – especially important for dispersed teams or hybrid working models.
Tackling fraud with Secure Sign Up
One area where public sector finance teams are increasingly exposed is direct debit fraud – especially when account details are entered incorrectly or maliciously during online sign-up. SmarterPay addresses this with a solution called Secure Sign-Up, which adds a crucial layer of verification.
Here’s how it works: when someone sets up a direct debit online, they’re briefly redirected to their own bank, where they undergo bank-grade verification to confirm that the account they’re using really belongs to them. This ensures that only the rightful account holder can authorise a payment – protecting both the citizen and the organisation.
For the public sector, where trust and transparency are paramount, this is a game-changer. It prevents fraud at the source and avoids costly payment failures or disputes down the line.
It also gives residents a smoother sign-up experience, as their account details are filled in automatically – no more typing in long numbers or risking typos.
Secure Sign-Up is supported by other verification tools, such as account name validation and modulus checking. These steps ensure that account details are legitimate and accurate, further reducing payment failures. This proactive approach aligns closely with public sector priorities around security, fraud prevention, and safeguarding citizen data.
A unified public sector payment platform that fits around you
Beyond fraud prevention, SmarterPay supports the full payment lifecycle – including direct debits, direct credits, and card payments – all managed through a single platform that’s easy to access and use from any secure web browser.
Instead of juggling multiple finance systems that don’t talk to each other, SmarterPay connects the dots. Whether you’re processing housing payments in one system, managing payroll in another, or collecting charges from citizens elsewhere, our solution brings everything together – reducing duplication and manual effort.
This means:
- Fewer errors.
- Faster approvals.
- Easier reporting.
- More time for your team to focus on value-added tasks.
Our platform also integrates with widely used tools like Salesforce, and we can work alongside your existing finance, HR, or billing platforms. You don’t need to start from scratch – SmarterPay adapts to your environment.
SmarterPay’s open API takes this further by enabling real-time integration with your existing infrastructure. Whether you’re uploading Bacs files, automating direct debits, or managing reconciliation, our API connects your systems, reduces manual input, and ensures data consistency across platforms.
Built for public sector payments
SmarterPay’s cloud platform was designed with public sector needs in mind. There’s no complex installation required – your teams can simply log in securely using a browser. You can set up user permissions, so only authorised staff can view or approve payment files, and everything is logged for full auditability.
We also help with:
- Submitting Bacs payment files (like payroll or supplier payments).
- Setting up and managing direct debits (including branded communications).
- Processing card payments, including secure links and telephone payments.
- Validating account details upfront, reducing failed transactions.
- Keeping everything secure and compliant, with strong data protection controls.
Whether you need a full end-to-end solution or a backup to your existing setup, SmarterPay can scale to fit your needs.
In addition, SmarterPay helps organisations meet regulatory requirements by offering security features such as multi-factor authentication, IP whitelisting, and user-level access controls. These safeguards support compliance, without slowing down your operations.
Fair, flexible, and focused on you
As a privately owned UK company, SmarterPay doesn’t answer to external investors – we answer to our customers. That means our pricing is designed to be fair, sustainable, and transparent. It also means you get dedicated, human support from a team that understands public sector challenges.
Our customers range from large local authorities and NHS trusts to charities and educational institutions. We’ve helped each one reduce costs, improve control, and gain confidence in their payment and collection operations.
We also offer flexible pricing and modular functionality, so you only pay for what you use. Whether you process hundreds or thousands of transactions, SmarterPay scales with you. That flexibility helps public sector organisations plan budgets with confidence and avoid unnecessary overheads.
Making digital transformation count
Digital transformation isn’t just about modernising IT systems; it’s about creating secure, connected, and citizen-friendly services. Payments are a vital part of that journey. With SmarterPay, you can protect your organisation from fraud, simplify your processes, and provide a better experience for both your teams and your communities.
We understand the pressure on public sector teams to modernise without disrupting service delivery. That’s why SmarterPay is built to work alongside – not against – your current systems and processes.
