By 2023, over 2 billion individuals have bought something online at least once, which highlights just how vast and available e-commerce has become. Businesses must build a payment gateway into their app or website to handle these electronic payments, including credit or debit card transactions. The great thing is that payment technologies have advanced to the point where integration can be incredibly straightforward. Let’s explain how to integrate payment gateway and steer you through the details of the process. You can either tackle this yourself or seek help from a fintech software development company.
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A payment gateway is a technology tool that acts as the go-between for electronic payments to make it possible for both physical and online stores to securely accept various payment methods like credit cards and digital wallets. It connects customers, businesses, and banks during transactions. What a payment gateway does includes:
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Contact usIn short, payment gateways ensure fast, secure, and smooth payments, offer insights, and provide security against fraud.
Payment gateways fall into one of two categories.
Hosted Payment Gateways take your customer off your site’s checkout page. When they’re ready to pay, they’re moved to the payment service provider’s site to input their payment information. After the transaction is complete, the customer is sent back to your website. PayPal is a classic example of this. The main advantage here is that the service provider handles the security and payment processing, which reduces your workload and compliance requirements.
Non-hosted or on-site payment gateways keep your customers on your website during the payment process. Businesses that have their own payment gateway directly integrated into their website offer a seamless checkout experience. This option offers more control over the user experience but also introduces the responsibility to ensure transaction security and compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards.
Sometimes, businesses opt for a white-label payment gateway as an alternative to a non-hosted payment gateway solution. These pre-made solutions can be personalized and branded, as PayXpert and Akurateco have done.
Related – Payment Gateway Development: What You Need to Know
Incorporation of an online payment gateway into your business operations can significantly benefit your business in several ways:
In simple terms, online payment gateways are super important for running e-commerce smoothly. When you pick the right one and use its advantages, you really boost your business and keep customers happy.
Source: Stellarmr
Before we dive into how to integrate payment gateway into a website or mobile app, let’s explore some of the top service providers in the market.
Payment Gateway | Features | Best For | Fee |
Stripe | Comprehensive API, Global Support | Global businesses, tech-savvy startups | 2,9% +$0.30 per transaction |
PayPal | Wide acceptance, Buyer protection | Small to medium businesses, e-commerce | 2,9% +$0.30 per transaction |
Square | Integrated POS system, Easy setup | Retail, in-person, and online sales | 2.6% + $0,10 for most in-person transactions |
Braintree | PayPal subsidiary, Advanced fraud protection | Businesses that need robust security | 2,9% +$0.30 per transaction |
Apple Pay/Google Pay | Faster checkout, secure transactions | Businesses with Android (iOS) user base | No direct fees. Transaction fees depend on your chosen payment gateway. |
Related – Building Payment Systems Based on Distributed Architecture
Integration of an online payment gateway into your online business setup is critical for enabling secure and efficient financial transactions. Here’s how you can do it straightforwardly.
When you select a payment gateway, consider two main factors: scalability and security. You want a gateway that can grow with your business and handle increasing transaction volumes without a hitch. Equally important is the security it offers, as it needs to protect sensitive financial data.
Also, pay attention to the fees involved. Different gateways offer various pricing models, which include transaction fees, monthly fees, and setup fees. Seek a harmony between price and necessary features. Also, consider the variety of payment methods supported, the simplicity of system integration, and the level of customer service the provider delivers.
Before you integrate a payment gateway, you must ensure your website is technically prepared. One critical requirement is an SSL certificate, which encrypts data between the customer’s browser and your server, adding a layer of security to transactions.
Another factor to think about is the platform your website uses. Certain gateways offer plugins or extensions for popular e-commerce systems like Shopify or WooCommerce, which smooths the integration process. If you have a custom-built site, you should collaborate closely with developers to ensure compatibility.
The payment gateway you select might require the creation of a merchant account. This particular bank account enables your business to process payments made with credit and debit cards. The process requires providing detailed business information, financial history, and a credit check. Some options offer a combined service, integrating the merchant account and gateway to simplify the setup process.
Bear in mind: This explanation is streamlined, and the precise requirements and steps can differ based on the payment gateway selected.
Payment gateway integration is a crucial step for businesses that aim to accept online payments, whether through a website or a mobile app. Let’s break down this process.
For Websites
For Mobile Apps
This means you tailor the payment process to be both on-brand and smooth. It’s about tweaking the appearance and functionality of the payment gateway to align with your business’s vibe and your customers’ expectations.
You can use the customization options provided by the payment gateway to aligning the look and feel of the checkout page with your branding. Some gateways offer more flexibility than others, so consider this when choosing your payment gateway integration services provider.
Ensure you rigorously evaluate the payment procedure in a sandbox setting before launching it publicly. This is a safe space where you can simulate transactions without moving real money. Testing helps ensure that the payment flow is smooth, secure, and user-friendly, and it allows you to catch and fix any issues before customers are affected.
To reduce the total customer effort for payment, try to simplify the entire journey. Eliminate unnecessary steps and minimize the number of forms required during checkout. Explore options like one-click payment or guest checkout features to expedite transactions for returning and first-time customers.
Vadim Struk, product manager at Relevant Software
When you add a payment gateway to your app, remember – security is key. You’ve got to keep customer information safe and ensure all transactions go through securely.
Always prioritize the use of encryption and tokenization techniques for all payment transactions. Encryption converts sensitive data into a secure format that can only be read with a decryption key, while tokenization replaces sensitive information with non-sensitive equivalents, keeping the essential details without risking security.
Staying in line with laws like GDPR isn’t just about avoiding fines; it shows your customers that you respect their privacy. Ensure your payment process adheres to these laws by obtaining consent where necessary, being transparent about data usage, and securing customer data against breaches.
Regularly review and update your security protocols to keep up with the latest standards and mitigate emerging threats.
Vadim Struk, product manager at Relevant Software
Effective troubleshooting and support play crucial roles in the integration and maintenance of a payment gateway. No system is perfect, and you’re likely to encounter challenges along the way.
Common challenges include incorrect API implementation, compatibility issues with web or mobile platforms, and payment declines due to security features. Address these issues through documentation review, SDK or API updates, and consulting the gateway’s support team for specific problems.
Regular monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure the payment gateway functions smoothly. Ensure your integration stays current with the newest security enhancements and software upgrades. Additionally, monitor the success rates of transactions and listen to customer feedback closely to swiftly resolve any arising concerns.
It’s wise to have backup systems in place. This way, if your primary service faces downtime, you can switch to a spare, minimizing any disruption to your users.
Vadim Struk, product manager at Relevant Software
Related – Building Payment Systems Based on Distributed Architecture
Let’s dive into two real-world examples: Optimum Pay Group (OPG) and FISK, where we see firsthand the transformation that comes when you match a business’s unique needs with innovative, customized payment technologies.
Optimum Pay Group, an award-winning global fintech powerhouse in 2019 and 2020, faced a challenge: their existing third-party payroll system was holding back their growth. And they hired us with a mission to transform this bottleneck into an opportunity.
A dedicated Relevant team coped with this task perfectly and developed a secure, web-accessible payroll and accounting software from scratch, featuring user management, a staff dashboard, a streamlined registration process, and detailed reports. This custom solution for Optimum Pay Group’s needs positions them for continued expansion and success in the payroll services market.
The CEO of 55th Degree approached Relevant to develop fintech software. The goal was to create an MVP for an innovative platform that combines automated investing with virtual card tipping. This feature gives users immediate control and use of their tips. The main challenge involved integrating various financial APIs for KYC, card issuing, and bank connections, such as Plaid and Stripe.
Our team rolled out a fully functional MVP right on schedule and within our budget, packed with features such as investment choices, simple QR code money transfers, and secure linking of various bank and brokerage accounts. This project was 55th Degree’s first leap into the digital product space, laying a solid foundation for growth ahead.
Ready to turbocharge your business with top-notch payment gateway integration services? At Relevant Software, we specialize in customizing payment gateways to boost your transactions, ramp up security, and elevate the user experience, as seen in our successful OPG and FISK projects.
Our comprehensive suite of software development services (e-commerce, retail, etc) equips you to address any technological challenge. With the option to bring on board skilled remote developers, you can harness the power of IT outsourcing at your convenience.
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