JoinPAY Payment Solution Implementation at IRBIS Gas Stations

Client

Challenge

In February 2025, MST received an inquiry from VTB, one of Russia's leading banks, regarding a potential partnership. The objective was to implement JoinPOS software at gas stations within the IRBIS Group of Companies network. With over 27 years of active market presence, IRBIS Group is a well-established leader in its sector, managing an extensive network of modern gas station complexes across 11 key regions of the Russian Federation. To ensure a successful project kickoff, a series of trilateral video conferences were organized with representatives from VTB Bank, IRBIS Group, and MST. These meetings facilitated a detailed discussion of the project's implementation, leading to the creation of a comprehensive roadmap. This roadmap outlined both the key business objectives and the necessary technical specifications, ensuring a stable and secure operation for the entire system.

To ensure a successful project kickoff, a series of trilateral video conferences were organized with representatives from VTB Bank, IRBIS Group, and MST. These meetings facilitated a detailed discussion of the project's implementation, leading to the creation of a comprehensive roadmap. This roadmap outlined both the key business objectives and the necessary technical specifications, ensuring a stable and secure operation for the entire system.

The project's primary objective was to enable seamless acceptance of diverse payment methods – bank cards, the Faster Payments System (FPS), biometric authentication, and the innovative «VOLNA» technology – on PIN pads integrated with the IRBIS gas station's automated management system (ASU AZS). The client stressed that the solution had to be implemented without altering IRBIS's existing IT infrastructure. This demanded a highly adaptable solution that preserved the client's existing business processes as closely as possible.

Once the objectives, key milestones, and timelines were agreed upon, the MST team commenced the practical implementation of the project.

Implementation

The initial step was to identify suitable hardware to deliver the required functionality. Given that MST is an official distributor of Nexgo terminal equipment, the Nexgo N6 PRO smart PIN pad was selected. This terminal boasts a premium design, powerful hardware, and a wide array of features, including support for cutting-edge payment methods like biometric authentication. The device's high performance guarantees a smooth and rapid user experience, providing businesses with a rock-solid payment acceptance solution.

However, due to the tight deadlines for launching the pilot phase, it was decided, in close collaboration with the bank, to leverage previously validated equipment – Kozen P10f terminals These devices had already been used at the Finopolis 2024 exhibition, significantly accelerating preparations for the first test launch. The solution was rapidly deployed within the IRBIS test environment.

Following the initial launch, an expanded list of technical requirements identified was compiled based on testing feedback. The main adjustments concerned the format of receipts, the logic of report generation, and several user scenarios. Refinements were implemented to the reconciliation and reporting receipt formats to ensure alignment with IRBIS's established standards. Moreover, key data points were incorporated into operational receipts to satisfy the client's internal regulatory requirements.

A crucial stage involved implementing a feature enabling transaction cancellations without requiring card presentation – this functionality was integrated into the JoinPOS software. Furthermore, control over this setting was integrated into the JoinTMS terminal management system, ensuring centralized and streamlined configuration for future use.

In parallel with these enhancements, significant progress was made within the VTB Bank infrastructure. The main objective of this effort was to deploy the JoinTMS and MST BIO Proxy solutions within the bank's production environment. This entailed a rigorous security assessment, verification of compliance with banking regulations, and adherence to VTB's internal policies. Each software product underwent thorough expert evaluation, including an assessment of threat resilience and compatibility with the bank's existing ecosystem.

After satisfying all technical and organizational prerequisites, the first terminal equipped with JoinPOS software was officially launched in early April 2025 at an IRBIS network gas station. The terminal successfully began processing payments – including biometric, bank card, Faster Payments System (FPS), and 'VOLNA' technology payments – providing station patrons with a convenient and state-of-the-art payment experience.

Conclusion

MST has once again proven its ability to rapidly adapt its existing technology to meet the unique needs of its customers. Through cohesive teamwork and close collaboration with representatives from IRBIS and VTB Bank, the project was implemented swiftly, without compromising on quality or security.

The successful conclusion of this pilot phase has paved the way for a full-scale rollout the project across all IRBIS network gas stations. This unlocks new opportunities for partnership and underscores MST's ability to tackle highly complex projects within demanding timelines. We stand ready to offer both off-the-shelf and tailor-made payment solutions to banks and corporate clients looking to embrace innovative technologies within their business operations.