Given the current pandemic situation, people have almost stopped buying anything from local retailers and have resorted to shopping online. Online purchasing has been a key factor in the sustainability of the economy in the past couple of years. From the most common goods to luxury items, we all have started depending upon websites for all our needs. eCommerce has become an integral part of our lives, and we spend a good chunk of our time shopping online. This means that the need for a safe and secure mode of payment is all the more necessary.
A payment gateway is the only mode through which successful online shopping can be done. It offers a way for customers to make digital payments online safely. It needs an application that is connected to the bank through which the payment is being made. In the current year, it is estimated that the payment gateway industry in India will be increasing at a growth rate of 15%.
It is the easiest and most secure way to make online payments without the possibility of risk. As an eCommerce merchant, you must integrate a reliable and safe payment gateway with your website. This would not only help customers to go through the checkout process smoothly but would also help you to organize and safeguard your earnings through digital payments.
The following article will discuss the points that must be kept in mind while integrating an eCommerce payment gateway with your website. We would also mention the steps involved in the process of payment gateway integration.
Things to Keep in Mind while Integrating Payment Gateway with your eCommerce Website
Before integrating a payment gateway with your eCommerce website, consider certain points. If you adhere to the following tips, you will not face any problems with your payment gateway. it would be ideal if you could insert online retailers, but if not, retailers is also fine
The points are as follows:
- Choosing the Right Gateway: First and foremost, the most important thing to keep in mind while gateway integration is choosing a suitable payment gateway for your website. This may sound simple enough but requires a lot of calculations and analysis. You would have to make a choice between a hosted gateway and an integrated gateway. A hosted gateway redirects the customer to the processor of the platform in order to complete the transaction. In the case of an integrated gateway, the customer would be connected to your website through an Application Programming Interface (API).
- Choosing the Right Payment Service Provider: A payment service provider is a third-party provider which assists you in receiving digital payments made by customers. The right payment service provider would be the one that supports multiple payment modes and currencies. A well-known service provider such as Zaakpay would be more reliable and would ensure the safety of transactions. Make sure to read the reviews of different payment service providers before zeroing in on a particular one. A trusted and known name in the industry would be one that does not have power backup issues. Also, inquire about the packages offered by the service provider and analyze your requirements.
- Considering Reviews: Analyzing eCommerce payment gateway reviews are extremely important. Reviews by other merchants are a great way to know about the real picture. The payment gateway which you think would provide the best service might just look suitable on the surface. The actual performance and compatibility will be revealed in the reviews. Customers also leave comments on eCommerce websites regarding their experience with payment processing while shopping. Ignoring the bad reviews might cost you a lot in terms of loss of revenue.
- Selecting Payment Methods: While selecting a payment mode, you would have to go through a number of different methods available all around the world. Make sure your chosen mode is accepted and well-received amongst your target audience. Certain companies work globally, whereas some are restricted to a particular area. In India alone, the companies allowing digital payments have increased with a growth rate of 30.2%. This is not the only thing to keep in mind; you should also consider a payment method that your payment service provider supports. The compatibility between your selected method of payment and customers should be of paramount importance.
- Gateway Fees: Every payment gateway charges a set amount of fee for providing its services to eCommerce merchants. It is important to know and weigh in the fee charged by different payment gateways. Most gateways charge a fee per transaction, while others charge a monthly fee for services. Evaluate both these scenarios and make decisions accordingly. Whichever option secures your long-term revenue and lets you conduct your business most efficiently would be the ideal one for you.
Steps to Integrate Payment Gateway with your eCommerce Website
There are 5 steps involved in integrating an eCommerce payment gateway with your website. They are as follows:
- The first step would be to open a merchant account. To do that, you would have to contact your preferred bank. You can also open an account with a suitable payment service provider.
- After obtaining an account, it is time to choose a suitable payment gateway that fulfills your requirements. The payment gateway would allow you to accept payments on your website. Choose a gateway that is compatible with different devices and currencies.
- Integrating a payment gateway differs with different hosts. It depends on which host you have chosen to integrate. Every host has a different process of integration.
- The next step would be to make sure that you are not holding on to a lot of information provided by the customers. This would increase the customers’ trust in the website and result in repeat purchases.
- The last step would be to make sure there is no misrepresentation of facts and information, which could result in loss of money for you as well as for the customer. This can be avoided at the time of choosing the payment gateway and ensuring its credibility.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the information mentioned in the above article is beneficial for any eCommerce business owner who is willing to make online shopping a safe and enjoyable experience for the customer. By integrating the right payment gateway, you can make sure that you would not lose money in the form of revenue.
