Givex, a global provider of powerful card management technologies including gift, loyalty and other stored value programs, and Merchant Link, a leading provider of secure enterprise payment solutions, announced the successful integration of Givex gift card programs with Merchant Link’s gift card gateway (version 50.0).

In addition to processing real-time transactions from the Givex gift card program, retailers and other merchants using Merchant Link’s gift card gateway will benefit from the enhanced customer support services offered by the two organizations, including around-the-clock technical support, online reporting, program administration, card marketing and card production.

“We are pleased to integrate Merchant Link with Givex gift card services,” said Patrick Brown, vice president, marketing, Givex. “Over the past few years, gift card programs have proven to be the most attractive value-added application to retailers, providing enhanced brand marketing capabilities, strong customer loyalty and improved revenue streams.”

“We anticipate that this integration of two leading payments services will enhance our collective customers’ businesses,” said Christopher Justice, president, Merchant Link. “The initial pilot program results point to a successful relationship for all parties involved, including our core customer base. This reinforces what our customers have come to expect from Merchant Link–a comprehensive, secure data platform–while adding greater flexibility and consumer choice in payment products at the point of sale.”

Initial response to the joint program has been positive. “Thanks to the Givex/Merchant Link gift card capabilities, our business has grown,” said Laryl Laetsch, controller, QSC Restaurants, Inc., a Wendy’s franchisee located in Colorado. “Not only are we seeing an increased ticket size at the register, we now have such confidence in our technical solution that we can spend time concentrating on what it is truly important in our business, serving our customers.”