On this episode of Payments Ground Game, hosts Elaina Smith and Kevin Smith are joined by Evan Wain, President and COO of Ordr, an ISV making big moves in the world of sports and entertainment payments. The conversation dives into how Ordr identified and tackled the unique challenges that sports teams and live event organizations face—moving beyond legacy payment systems to provide seamless, data-driven solutions that actually improve the fan experience and back-office operations. From optimizing reporting and reconciliation to helping teams better understand their customers, Evan shares how a focus on service, education, and true partnership has led Ordr to win over major clients like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, and Chicago Sky. Whether you're in payments, tech, or just curious about what really happens behind the scenes at your favorite live events, this episode uncovers the tactics and mindset that drive payment solutions that perform.

Learn more about Ordr.io

Connect with Evan Wain, President & COO of Ordr on LinkedIn

• (00:00:04) - Payments Ground Game: Order's Strategic Growth
• (00:00:55) - Meet Order's Founder and Chief Executive
• (00:01:42) - Secure Bank Card Expands into Sports and Entertainment
• (00:08:41) - How PaymentOps Went From Small Business to Global
• (00:09:58) - What were the other gaps that Sports Entertainment Software helped with?
• (00:10:43) - In addition to bridging the technology gaps,
• (00:11:52) - How the Knights Can See How They're Behaving
• (00:19:23) - Sales 101: Solution Based Thinking
• (00:24:08) - Secure Bank Card and Order: Working Together
• (00:28:32) - Order CEO Discusses Future Plans

In this episode, hosts Elaina and Kevin Smith tackle the sweeping changes coming to Visa’s Level 2 and Level 3 interchange programs. You’ll get an inside look at how these programs originally incentivized B2B transactions with lower rates—if merchants supplied enhanced transaction data—and how, over time, shortcuts and “junk data” have led Visa to rethink the system completely.

Elaina and Kevin break down what Level 2 and Level 3 interchange really mean, the evolution and unintended consequences of these programs, and what the upcoming changes in Visa’s Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP) will mean for ISOs, processors, and merchants. From a new assessment to the complete sunset of Level 2 for most merchants, discover why it’s crucial to adapt quickly and how these changes could impact revenue, reconciliation, and business strategies across the payments landscape.

If you’re involved in B2B payments—whether as a merchant, sales office, processor, or gateway—this is an episode you can’t afford to miss. Tune in for insights, practical advice, and the critical steps you need to take now to stay ahead of Visa’s evolving rules.

On this episode of Payments Ground Game, hosts Elaina and Kevin Smith pull back the curtain on the process of monetizing payments for ISVs entering the space. Inspired by a recent conversation with an ISV looking to transition from Stripe to a more lucrative payments partnership, Elaina and Kevin walk listeners through the critical questions and considerations every software vendor should explore before signing on the dotted line.

From understanding your business model and mapping out the payments process, to divvying up responsibilities like underwriting, risk, and customer service, this candid, "off-the-cuff" discussion covers the nuts and bolts ISVs need to navigate. The duo dives into the importance of knowing your card mix, choosing between cookie-cutter or custom pricing, and the often overlooked complexities of hardware certification and billing.

Along the way, they stress the value of slowing down negotiations, investing in expert consultants and attorneys, and having thoughtful discussions about risk and revenue shares—rather than jumping straight to price. If you’re an ISV thinking about getting into the payments game, or just want to avoid the biggest pitfalls, this episode is packed with practical advice, real-world scenarios, and the kind of questions you should demand answers to before you launch.

• (00:00:04) - Payments Ground Game: Monetizing Payments
• (00:08:26) - No PIN debit at checkout
• (00:10:03) - IsV liability discussed in financial terms
• (00:11:40) - Certification to a POS: The Best Path for Your Business?
• (00:15:25) - Marathon: Merchant Billing, Underwriting
• (00:17:38) - IsV Payments: Revenue Sharing
• (00:22:13) - Payment Services: Revenue Share and Schedule A
• (00:26:49) - How To Get Certified as a Payment Processor
• (00:29:38) - A Taste of Ben's