Elavon is a global payment processing company that provides businesses of all sizes with the tools they need to process payments securely and efficiently. Founded in 1991 as NOVA Information Systems, the company rebranded as Elavon in 2001 and has since become one of the largest payment processing companies in the world. With headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, Elavon operates in more than 30 countries and processes over 3 billion transactions annually.
The growth of Elavon
Over the years, Elavon has grown through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. In 2008, the company acquired UK-based payment processor, The Logic Group, which helped to expand its presence in Europe. In 2011, Elavon acquired Canadian payment processor, Collective Point of Sale Solutions, which helped to expand its presence in North America. In 2014, the company acquired Irish payment processor, Realex Payments, which helped to expand its presence in Europe even further.
Despite its size and success, Elavon faces stiff competition from other payment processing companies, including former Nets A/S now NEXI, Bambora, and Worldline. Let’s take a closer look at each of these competitors and how they stack up against Elavon.
NEXI: Formerly Nets A/S
NEXI, formerly known as Nets A/S, is a Danish payment processing company that was founded in 2010. Like Elavon, NEXI has grown through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. In 2019, NEXI acquired the Polish payment processing company, Dotpay/eCard, which helped to expand its presence in Central and Eastern Europe.
One of the key differences between NEXI and Elavon is their target markets. While Elavon primarily serves the North American and European markets, NEXI has a much broader geographic focus. In addition to Europe, the company also operates in the Middle East and Africa, as well as several countries in Asia-Pacific.
Another key difference between the two companies is their focus on different types of payment processing. While Elavon primarily focuses on traditional card-based payments, NEXI has a strong focus on digital payments, including mobile payments and e-wallets.
