Aspen Payments

Elavon addressed several strategic challenges Aspen had faced with previous partners including visibility of lead ownership, onboarding complexity, lack of sector understanding and slow response times. “We’d struggled with onboarding delays and poor communication before,” Pete explains. “Elavon brought clarity, accountability and a real sense of partnership.”

That early commitment laid solid foundations. Pete describes the relationship as one built on trust, mutual respect and genuine friendship. “The Elavon people I work with are genuinely my friends now. We speak most days; we know what each other’s weekends look like. I like that a lot.”

Day-to-day collaboration is hands-on and responsive. Aspen and Elavon work together on customer onboarding, campaign planning and bespoke integrations. “Whether it’s travelling across the UK to meet clients or navigating complex compliance requirements, Elavon is with us every step of the way,” Pete says. “They’ve helped Aspen streamline operations, improve lead conversion and deliver better service to our customers.”

Some of the most impactful joint projects include transitioning 50+ Gleaner sites to Elavon, supporting 20+ Penny Petroleum locations, and onboarding Fuel Supply Channel Islands despite complex ‘know your customer’ requirements. The Applegreen integration for fuel-only applications is another example of how Elavon has tailored its support to Aspen’s needs.

“With Elavon support, we’ve signed up complex groups, single merchants and ecommerce accounts,” Pete adds.

Looking ahead with confidence

As the rise of outdoor payment terminals and self-service solutions reshapes the forecourt experience, Aspen continues to evolve. It’s working with accredited providers in the outdoor payment space, and every new sign-up in this area goes through Elavon exclusively.

Elavon support extends beyond technical integration. Marketing contributions and incentives have helped Aspen upgrade ageing terminals and offer competitive packages. “Elavon has helped us offer incentives and support customers in meaningful ways,” Pete says. “The support we get is second to none. Genuinely, I don’t think we’d get that from other payments provider.”

Looking ahead, Aspen aims to expand into big oil, particularly on the dealer side of the business. The company is also considering exploring opportunities beyond fuel, tapping into other retail environments where its existing customers operate. 

Pete’s advice is clear to payments technology companies considering a partnership with Elavon: be open, be specific and expect to be held accountable. “Don’t hold back – tell Elavon everything about your business. They need to understand your unique selling points, customer base and competitive landscape. That’s what makes it work.”

He emphasises the importance of avoiding identikit solutions. “Every business is different. A ‘partner in a box’ doesn’t work; Elavon understands that. It’s why our partnership has been so successful.”

For Pete and Aspen, the relationship with Elavon is more than a commercial arrangement. It’s a strategic alliance built on shared goals, mutual support and deep understanding of the sector. “I always joke we’re the junior partner in this relationship,” Pete notes, “but it’s a real honour to be taken seriously by a company like Elavon.”

The results speak for themselves. “The most profitable part of what Aspen does now is the Elavon partnership,” Pete concludes. “It’s a lovely, lovely business. The customer retention is superb.”