--- title: Meet Transaction Surges with an Always-on, Robust VAS Solution description: Electrum's Digital Goods and Services platform can maximise uptime and provide quick turnaround times to keep up with customer demand for VAS offerings. image: https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/6257bcefe3cd453e3d87badc_BF-Blog2-3.png --- [![Electrum](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Electrum_October2023/images/header-logo.png?width=500&height=150&name=header-logo.png "Electrum")](https://www.electrum.co.za/) ![Back Button](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Electrum_October2023/images/back.svg) Back ![Close Hamburger](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Electrum_October2023/images/close.svg) - [Home](https://www.electrum.co.za/) - Schemes - Schemes - Clearing House Payments - [PayShap](https://www.electrum.co.za/schemes/payshap) - [Real-Time Clearing](https://www.electrum.co.za/schemes/real-time-clearing) - [EFT Debit & Credit](https://www.electrum.co.za/schemes/electronic-funds-transfer) - 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[Account Verification Services](https://www.electrum.co.za/schemes/account-verification-services) - Alternative Payment Methods - [Cash Vouchers](https://www.electrum.co.za/payments/cash-vouchers) - Value-Added Services - [Prepaid Airtime and Data](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/prepaid-airtime-and-data) - [Prepaid Electricity](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/prepaid-electricity) - [Bill Payments](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/bill-payments) - [LOTTO](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/lotto) - [Betting](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/betting) - [Travel and Event Ticketing](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/travel-and-event-ticketing) - [Digital Vouchers](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/digital-vouchers) - Solutions - [Clearing House Payments Modernisation](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/clearing-house-payments-modernisation-for-existing-banks) - [Turnkey Clearing House Payments](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/turnkey-clearing-house-payments-for-new-banks) - [Enterprise Payments Channel](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/enterprise-payments-channel) - [PayShap-Ready QR Code Issuing](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/payshap-ready-qr-code-issuing) - [PayShap for Retailers](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/payshap-for-retailers) - [Cash Voucher Issuing and Distribution for Banks](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/cash-voucher-issuing-and-distribution-for-banks) - [Cash Voucher Retail Expansion for Banks](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/cash-voucher-retail-expansion-for-banks) - [Retail Cash-In and Cash-Out Expansion](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/retail-cash-in-and-cash-out-expansion) - [High Volume POS-Integrated VAS Services](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/high-volume-pos-integrated-vas-services) - [Expanded VAS For High-Growth Digital Channels](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/expanded-vas-for-high-growth-digital-channels) - [Developers](https://api.electrum.io/) - Resources - Documentation - [Implementation Guides](https://www.electrum.co.za/documentation/product-guides) - [Solution Updates](https://www.electrum.co.za/solution-updates) - News - [Blog](https://blog.electrum.co.za/?__hstc=17958374.bff00b489d6fac1f58737d8799a2a91d.1721396613638.1724837978417.1724842684665.23&__hssc=17958374.47.1724842684665&__hsfp=3812773586) - [Press Releases](https://www.electrum.co.za/press-releases) - Insights - [Reports, whitepapers & flyers](https://www.electrum.co.za/insights) - Careers - [Jobs & Opportunities](https://www.electrum.co.za/careers) - [Interview Process](https://www.electrum.co.za/careers/interview-process) - [Trust](https://trust.electrumsoftware.com/) [![Contact](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/142132879/7f102097-b88c-49fd-b727-90c8e1009d5a.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/142132879/7f102097-b88c-49fd-b727-90c8e1009d5a) ![Hamburger](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Electrum_October2023/images/hamburger.svg) [Innovation](https://blog.electrum.co.za/tag/innovation) [VAS](https://blog.electrum.co.za/tag/vas) # Meet Transaction Surges with an Always-on, Robust VAS Solution November 11, 2021 ![Electrum Software](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/favicon.png) Electrum Software ![Post Header](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Electrum_October2023/images/banner-bg.svg) ![Meet Transaction Surges with an Always-on, Robust VAS Solution](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/6257bcefe3cd453e3d87badc_BF-Blog2-3.png) For businesses that sell digital goods and services, the pressure to provide an online, fully-functional service 24/7 exists 365 days a year – not just on days like Black Friday. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure that your platform can cope with any volume of demand and operate reliably. Here’s how working with a technology partner can help you provide a trustworthy solution that will continually delight your customers. Black Friday sales typically attract large numbers of customers for 24 hours while discounts are on offer. While intense, this level of demand is the exception rather than the rule for retailers that sell physical products, like electronics or clothes. For businesses that offer digital goods and services, on the other hand, high demand is an everyday reality– especially as consumers expect to access goods like airtime, data and electricity from their chosen provider seamlessly and immediately. However, because so many outlets provide these goods, consumers can shop elsewhere if their first-choice provider is down. > A bad experience could cost you customer loyalty if you cannot provide the easiest, most reliable service every time. That’s why it’s critical to ensure your system is robust, reliable and always able to cope with varying demand levels. Providing an always-on service can be challenging with so many moving parts, like reliance on external providers and fluctuating request volumes, going into it. Working with a technology partner with a proven track record of delivering reliable solutions can help you get this right. ## Provide a reliable service To become your customers’ go-to VAS provider, you need to make sure your system ticks the following boxes: ### Always online Providing a comprehensive VAS offering relies on multiple external providers and aggregators. The downside of this is that if their service goes down, you go down too, which will lose you business. Electrum’s [preferential routing](https://electrum.co.za/how-electrums-smart-routing-can-help-vas-businesses-strengthen-customer-loyalty/) means you never need to turn customers away. The solution allows you to access multiple providers and aggregators through a single integration point and connect to them in order of preference. This means that if your first choice goes down, you’re automatically routed to your second-, third-, fourth-choice provider. This switching capability ensures maximum uptime, which allows you to protect your commission, offer the best value deals and retain customers. ### Quick turnaround times Being able to access the goods they need quickly is important for consumers. This means that your system needs to operate at a seamless level, no matter the demand you’re faced with. Electrum offers a [load balancing solution](https://electrum.co.za/balancing-multiple-service-providers-can-reduce-risk-and-boost-revenue/) to help with this. By connecting you to several providers through a single interface, the volume of transactions is spread across providers, rather than routing every transaction to a single provider, which might fail. You decide on the best proportion of traffic to different providers so that you maximise profit. Our switching system then distributes traffic quickly and efficiently so that the transaction load is balanced. *In conclusion: In a fast-changing world, working with a technology provider that can help you build an always-on, highly reliable solution is key to staying ahead. If you’d like to hear more about how Electrum can help you provide a robust VAS solution that even Black Friday won’t take down,* [*get in touch with us here*](https://electrum.co.za/contact/)*.* ![Electrum Software](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/favicon.png) Electrum Software Electrum is the next-generation payments software company, powering payments for banks and retailers. Since 2012, we have established ourselves as a respected software partner through our deep expertise and track record in delivering trusted cloud-native payments solutions. [More posts by  Electrum Software](https://blog.electrum.co.za/author/electrum-software) Recent Blog Posts ![Electrum Upgrades Capitec’s Cellphone Banking Service](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/6257bbc45e6962d8005f465e_4160163_thumb-Nov-21-2023-06-48-51-2770-AM.jpeg) ### Electrum Upgrades Capitec’s Cellphone Banking Service ![How to Build a Full-Complement VAS Solution for Your Business](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/6257bc9cab1576eff16f2287_building-a-vas-solution-1-Nov-21-2023-06-44-26-5139-AM.jpeg) ### How to Build a Full-Complement VAS Solution for Your Business ![Mid-Year News from our Product Team](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hubfs/Update_PRN_July_blog_cover.png) ### Mid-Year News from our Product Team # Electrum Newsletter Quarterly insights and news to help you keep up with the latest changes in the payments landscape [![Electrum](https://blog.electrum.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/Electrum_October2023/Images/footer-logo.png?width=500&height=150&name=footer-logo.png "Electrum")](https://www.electrum.co.za/) ###### Company - [Trust](https://trust.electrumsoftware.com/) - [About us](https://www.electrum.co.za/about-us) - [Press Releases](https://www.electrum.co.za/press-releases) - [Jobs and Opportunities](https://www.electrum.co.za/careers) - [Interview Process](https://www.electrum.co.za/careers/interview-process) ###### Clearing House Payments - [PayShap](https://www.electrum.co.za/schemes/payshap) - [Real-Time Clearing](https://www.electrum.co.za/schemes/real-time-clearing) - [EFT Debit & Credit](https://www.electrum.co.za/schemes/electronic-funds-transfer) - [Account Verification Services](https://www.electrum.co.za/schemes/account-verification-services) ###### Value-Added Services - [Prepaid Airtime and Data](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/prepaid-airtime-and-data) - [Prepaid Electricity](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/prepaid-electricity) - [Bill Payments](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/bill-payments) - [LOTTO](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/lotto) - [Travel and Event Ticketing](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/travel-and-event-ticketing) - [Digital Vouchers](https://www.electrum.co.za/digital-goods-and-services/digital-vouchers) - [Cash Vouchers](https://www.electrum.co.za/payments/cash-vouchers) ###### Solutions - [Clearing House Payments Modernisation](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/clearing-house-payments-modernisation-for-existing-banks) - [Turnkey Clearing House Payments](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/turnkey-clearing-house-payments-for-new-banks) - [Enterprise Payments Channel](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/enterprise-payments-channel) - [PayShap-Ready QR Code Issuing](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/payshap-ready-qr-code-issuing) - [PayShap for Retailers](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/payshap-for-retailers) - [Cash Voucher Issuing and Distribution for Banks](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/cash-voucher-issuing-and-distribution-for-banks) - [Cash Voucher Retail Expansion for Banks](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/cash-voucher-retail-expansion-for-banks) - [Retail Cash-In and Cash-Out Expansion](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/retail-cash-in-and-cash-out-expansion) - [High Volume POS-Integrated VAS Services](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/high-volume-pos-integrated-vas-services) - [Expanded VAS For High-Growth Digital Channels](https://www.electrum.co.za/solutions/expanded-vas-for-high-growth-digital-channels) ###### Resources - [Implementation Guides](https://www.electrum.co.za/documentation/product-guides) - [Solution Updates](https://www.electrum.co.za/solution-updates) - [Reports, whitepapers & flyers](https://www.electrum.co.za/insights) - [Blog](https://www.electrum.co.za/blog) - [Developer Portal](https://api.electrum.io/) ###### Contact us - [Electrum Payments,Building 3, Podium Level, Riverlands Mall51 Gogosoa StreetObservatoryCape Town 7925, South Africa](https://g.page/ElectrumPayments?share) - [hello@electrum.co.za](mailto:hello@electrum.co.za) - [+27 21 448 6422 (office)](tel:+27214486422) - [+27 21 447 1227 (support)](tel:+27214471227) © 2026 Electrum Payments - 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