Customers nowadays expect to be able to buy when – and how – they want, prompting businesses to broaden their product offerings to meet this demand. This includes not only moving catalogs and business information online but also providing multiple payment options. A variety of payment methods help you do business whether your customers visit you in-store or online. Cash, debit/credit cards, your company should accept these widely accepted payment methods. Your payment processor should as well.
Let’s go over some crucial aspects of payment processing for small businesses today to make sure you’ve got everything covered.
We’ll go over some payment terminology.
The person who purchases your product or service is referred to as the customer/client.
When it comes to the payment process, the merchant is you. The merchant is the person who accepts money in exchange for goods or services.
The merchant account is the bank account where your funds are held before being released to your company’s bank account. A merchant account is required for all businesses and organizations that accept payments. Your acquiring bank or payment processor may provide them.
The tool or service that facilitates transactions is referred to as a payment processor/payment service provider. This is a third party that is set up to securely and quickly accept a variety of payment options, both in-person and online. (We’ll go over this role in greater detail below.)
Settlement is the point in the purchasing process when the funds have cleared the merchant account and are available in your bank account.
A payment service provider (PSP) or payment processor allows merchants to accept payments via a variety of payment methods, including debit and credit cards, eWallets, bank transfers, and others. A payment processor is an essential part of doing business, whether in-person or online. This third party is in charge of receiving customer payment data, securely processing it, and protecting merchants from fraudulent transactions.
Your payment processor will integrate seamlessly into your online store. Just as it does in your day-to-day operations in a physical storefront. In this case, however, rather than working with a physical point of sale system, the payment processor appears to be a “silent partner” in the eyes of your customers.
Within seconds, the processor receives payments through the gateway, sends the data to the issuing bank for approval, and sends a message back to the site to confirm the order transaction.
Customers value convenience and efficiency in the online world. But this should not come at the expense of security for merchants and buyers alike.
In stores where merchants accept cash payments and look customers in the eyes. It is the merchant sales representative’s responsibility to perform checks and balances to protect themselves and cardholders from fraud. Common methods of validating purchases include asking for identification, comparing signatures, and requiring PIN input.
Merchants in the eCommerce space rely heavily on payment processors to protect them from fraudulent transactions and chargebacks. A reputable payment processor will have a dedicated fraud team that is in charge of staying ahead of fraudster trends. The PSP will also have a way to communicate if any red flags appear. And will quickly blacklist any payment method that they deem suspicious.
However, that is not the only layer of security that is required. When customers make purchases, sensitive data is entered and sent to the merchant as well as between banks. A trustworthy and reliable payment processor contributes to customer trust by ensuring that sensitive data is sent securely and privately via high levels of encryption.
There are numerous digital payment methods available today, and each customer has a preferred method. Merchants can reach a larger number of customers by allowing customers to use their preferred payment method (and keep them happy, and loyal). Merchants should choose an Online eCommerce payment gateway processing provider that accepts a wide range of payment methods, including debit and credit cards, bank transfers, mobile payments, and eWallets.
When eCommerce merchants switch from COD to digital payment options, there are numerous advantages for both the merchant and the customer. Merchants can reduce risk and fees, increase efficiency, and gain happy, loyal customers by selecting a payment processor that can securely accept a variety of payment types.
Let’s walk through a simple scenario to demonstrate how online payment gateway processing works.
Your customer chooses a product in-store or online. They either bring the item to the register or add it to their online shopping cart before clicking “checkout.”
The customer must make a decision on how to pay. They choose to pay with their preferred credit card and either hand it to the cashier or enter their information into the online form.
These details are encrypted before being sent through the payment gateway, which sends the necessary data for validation and confirmation.
A request is sent to the customer’s credit card company or issuing bank for transaction approval (by confirming the funds are available). This is referred to as the authorization process.
The payment processor is notified once the payment is approved. While the purchase is being completed, the funds are transferred into your merchant account.
Small businesses should ask some critical questions when choosing a PSP. Processing fees and settlement times vary greatly between PSPs, which can have a significant impact on the cost of doing business and cash flow. Choose an Online Payment Providers that is swift, secure, and has low transaction costs. Discuss settlement times with your PSP, as some only settle funds once or twice per month.
You can accept payments in a variety of types and currencies in person and online with a payment processor like Amald. With PCI DSS Level 1 security, you can be confident that your customers – and your – data is secure. Amald also has a fraud prevention team that works around the clock. Real-time settlements allow you to receive funds from transactions immediately, which improves your cash flow.
If you’ve been manually processing payments up to this point, you’re probably wondering if there’s a better way. People were hesitant to enter their credit card information online ten years ago. Today, three out of every four Internet users bank online.
The world of online payment gateway services may appear complicated, but at its heart, it is simply about making it easier for your members, customers, or donors to support you in a way that is convenient for them.
To adapt to the new technology of online payment services, human behavior has changed rapidly. If you want to reach all of your potential customers, and members, you must now offer an online payment option, regardless of your organization.
Within seconds, the processor receives payments through the gateway, sends the data to the issuing bank for approval, and sends a message back to the site to confirm the order transaction.
Customers value convenience and efficiency in the online world, but this should not come at the expense of security for merchants and buyers alike.