German Acquiring Platform Modernization & Migration

A global acquiring service provider initiated a large-scale modernization program in Germany to replace its legacy acquiring system. The objective was to build a new, end-to-end processing platform, deploy a full range of GP services, and migrate the entire legacy merchant portfolio of approximately 10,000 clients with minimal churn. As the Program Manager for the technical delivery stream, our leadership was instrumental in building the new platform, managing the complex service rollout, and designing the migration strategy. The project successfully enabled end-to-end processing, launched 13 new services, and initiated a rapid migration plan set to complete within eight months.

The Challenge

The program’s primary objective was to decommission a legacy platform in a critical European market. This presented several complex challenges:

• Technical Build-Out: Building a new, fully compliant acquiring platform from the ground up to handle end-to-end transaction processing for the German market.
• Large-Scale Product Rollout: Introducing a complex suite of new products and services that were not supported by the legacy system.
• High-Risk Client Migration: Planning the migration of ~10,000 merchants to a new platform and new product set simultaneously, carrying a significant risk of service disruption and client churn.
• International Stakeholder Management: Aligning technical delivery and business objectives across diverse management teams in Germany, the Czech Republic, and international GP headquarters.

Our Role & Solution

As the Program Manager for the technical delivery stream, our role was to ensure the new platform was built, tested, and ready for market. This involved a hybrid leadership and analytical approach:

• Technical Program Leadership: Directed the end-to-end build of the new acquiring platform, coordinating all technical teams and resources to enable full transaction processing capabilities.
• Strategic Migration Analysis: Provided dedicated business and IT analytical services specifically for the migration initiative, mapping legacy products to new services and defining the technical migration logic.
• Stakeholder Representation: Acted as the central point of contact for the technical stream, representing the initiative and reporting on progress to German, Czech, and international GP management.
• Flexible Delivery: Managed project scope to accommodate critical, high-value additions while maintaining the core timeline.

Key Achievements & Results

The program successfully delivered a modern, scalable platform ready to serve the German market, meeting core objectives while adding significant out-of-scope value.

1. Enabled End-to-End Platform Processing Successfully delivered the new technology stack, enabling full end-to-end transaction processing on the new GP platform, forming the foundation for all future products and merchant services.

2. Launched 13 New Services Orchestrated the technical delivery and market rollout of 13 new services, significantly enhancing the company’s product-market fit and competitive offering in Germany.

3. Created a Rapid, Viable Migration Plan Designed and initiated the merchant migration plan, which began in May 2025. The plan provides a clear delivery roadmap to migrate all ~10,000 legacy clients by the end of 2025, achieving a full portfolio migration in just eight months.

4. Delivered Critical Value Beyond Original Scope While managing the core delivery, the team successfully integrated several high-value requirements that were not in the original project scope

5. Improved International BAU Processes To ensure long-term success and operational alignment, we established new Business-As-Usual (BAU) process improvements, including a standing monthly service meeting between the Czech and German operational teams.