An important part of running an online store is accepting payments from customers, so it’s essential to provide them with different ways to do so. In 2022 alone, the US e-commerce online payments market exceeded a trillion dollars. Mobile purchases accounted for 40% of this, the highest it’s ever been.

This means that online payments are a must for any e-commerce player hoping to survive in the highly competitive but vast market. With the right payment methods, you can increase conversions, lower the number of people who abandon their shopping carts, and make the checkout process easier for your customers.

This article will discuss the different payment gateway types and why you might want to use them. So, whether you’re just starting or looking to upgrade your current setup, keep reading to learn about the best e-commerce payment methods for your business.

Key Highlights

• Payment methods play a crucial role in the success of e-commerce businesses
• Diversifying payment options increases customer trust and satisfaction
• Top payment options include credit/debit cards, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Stripe, and Apple Pay
• Consider security, fees, and customer support, when choosing your payment gateways
• Choose a good web host, website builder, and payment gateway when putting up an e-commerce site.

What are Online Payment Gateways And How Do They Work

A payment gateway is a cutting-edge solution that allows merchants to process payments, whether online or in person easily. This innovative technology protects the customer’s financial information by encrypting it during transmission to the merchant’s account for approval. In eCommerce, they are online payment processing portals that offer you, as a merchant, a flexible and secure method to accommodate your customers’ payment preferences.

Key players in an Online Payment Gateway

In the world of payment gateways, several key players work together to make transactions secure and seamless. Here is the cast:

The Merchant: the business that accepts payments from customers.

The Customer: the one making the payment.

The Payment Gateway: the technology at the heart of the transaction, processing and facilitating the payment.

The Issuing Bank: the source that issued the customer’s debit or credit card.

The Acquiring Bank: the bank that provides the merchant with the payment gateway and handles the payment process.

Each player plays a role in the process, and by combining technology, finance, and security, the payment gateway ecosystem creates a trustworthy and convenient experience for merchants and customers alike.

How Do Payment Gateways Work?

Here’s an overview of how all key members work together during an online payment:

Purchase by the customer: The customer starts the transaction by picking items to buy on an eCommerce site and going to checkout.

Collecting payments: The payment gateway safely collects the customer’s payment information, like credit card details, and encrypts it before sending it.

Merchant approval: The encrypted payment information is sent to the merchant’s payment gateway for review.

Processing: The merchant’s payment gateway forwards the transaction details to the payment processor.

Authorization: The card network works with the customer’s issuing bank to make sure there are enough funds for the payment and to approve it.

Fund transfer: If the payment is approved, the funds are transferred from the customer’s account to the merchant’s account through the acquiring bank.

Security measures: The payment gateway uses advanced security measures, like encryption and fraud detection algorithms, to keep the customer’s sensitive information safe.

Completion: The customer’s payment information is safely stored, and the transaction is completed. The customer gets a confirmation, and the merchant gets paid for what they have sold.

Why Offer Multiple Online Payment Methods?

While settling for just one payment method may seem sufficient for some e-commerce businesses, limiting payment options can prove to be a roadblock to expanding customer reach and scaling up. You might be denying yourself several prospects who do not have access to that payment method.

It’s time to break free from the conventional approach and embrace a more inclusive and convenient customer payment system. Here are some reasons you should go for multiple online payment methods in your e-commerce business.

For Your Customers

Increased convenience for customers: Offering multiple payment options ensures that customers have a variety of ways to make purchases and eliminates any inconvenience they may face when paying with a preferred method that isn’t available. This helps to improve the overall shopping experience.

Better support for customers with limited payment options: For customers who may have limited payment options, offering multiple payment methods can significantly impact their ability to make purchases. This includes customers who don’t have credit cards or prefer to pay other ways.

Ability to cater to different regional payment preferences: Different regions may have different payment preferences. By giving customers different ways to pay, you can meet their needs and make it easy for people from different parts of the world to buy things from your site.

Improved overall user experience: Offering multiple payment methods can simplify the checkout process, making it easier and more streamlined for customers to complete their purchases. This helps to improve the overall user experience and encourage repeat business.

For Your Business

Customers today expect it: In today’s digital age, customers have come to expect multiple payment options when making online purchases. Not offering multiple payment methods could put your business at a disadvantage compared to competitors who do offer multiple options.

Reduces dependency on a single payment provider: By offering multiple payment methods, you will avoid being at the mercy of a single payment provider, which can be a major disadvantage if that provider experiences technical issues or outages.

Wider customer reach and accessibility: With multiple payment methods, you appeal to a larger customer base and reach customers who might not have been able to buy from your site if you offered only one payment method.

Improved checkout conversion rates and reduced risk of cart abandonment: making it easier for customers to complete their purchases.

Improved business reputation and credibility: Offering multiple payment methods can help to improve your business’s reputation and credibility by demonstrating your commitment to providing customers with the best possible shopping experience.

Types of Online Payment Methods

Online payment methods have come a long way in recent years, giving people a number of options to choose from when making purchases online. Here are the ones your e-commerce business should leverage:

Bank Transfers: This may not be the most popular method, but it’s still an important option to include in your e-commerce store. You can see it as a fail-safe payment choice, and it doesn’t require your customer to have a credit or debit card.

Credit or Debit Cards: These are widely accepted and offer convenience for your customers. They’re processed through payment gateways, with popular brands including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

Digital Wallets: These store payment information and allow your customers to pay quickly and easily without having to enter their details every time. Examples include Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, PayPal, and Google Pay.

Mobile Payments: With this method, your customers can easily use their smartphones to make payments on your e-commerce site. Remember that 40% of e-commerce purchases have been made via mobile payments, and they are becoming increasingly popular. Some popular options include Samsung Pay and Zelle.

Cryptocurrencies: If your business is looking to tap into the world of digital currencies, accepting payments in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies can be a unique selling point. It’s crucial to keep in mind, though, that this remains a fairly specialized choice.

Each of these methods has its pros and cons. However, making all of these options available to your customers will undoubtedly reduce cart abandonment. This is because most of them will have at least one of these.

Is It Really Worth the Time and Effort to Add New Payment Options?

It can be exciting and stressful to add new payment options to your e-commerce platform. On the one hand, it can attract more customers and make it easier for them to check out. On the other hand, integrating and keeping up with these new payment methods can take time and effort. Here’s a look at the potential benefits and drawbacks of expanding your payment options.

Pros

Cons

Ultimately, whether or not it’s worth the time and effort to add new payment options will depend on your business’s specific needs and goals. But with data showing that not having multiple payment options can greatly reduce your checkout conversion rates, it’s worth considering how the potential benefits outweigh the drawbacks for your e-commerce business.

What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing a Payment Gateway?

To ensure the success of your online store, it is essential that you carefully analyze your payment gateway options. Each payment gateway has its own set of features and benefits, from security features and transaction fees to customer service and the overall user experience. Some of the most important aspects to think about while comparing various payment gateways for your company are as follows:

Security

Keeping your customers’ private data, including payment details, safe is a top priority. An encrypted payment gateway must protect your customers’ personal information, so make sure you choose one that meets PCI standards.

Costs

Payment gateway fees can vary substantially. To find the most cost-effective solution for your company, you should weigh the monthly fees, transaction fees, and other associated charges.

Customer Support

When problems arise with your payment gateway, having access to a competent and prompt customer care team can make a world of difference. The best payment processors will provide round-the-clock service and have a history of rapidly and effectively resolving client complaints.

User Experience

A more streamlined and simple checkout process can significantly impact your conversion rates and the number of items left in abandoned carts. It is important that the payment gateway you select works well with your e-commerce platform and that your customers have a simple and streamlined checkout experience.

Integration with other systems

To ensure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently, you may want to think about integrating the payment gateway with other systems you already use, such as accounting and shipping management software.

Reporting and Analytics

Look for a payment gateway that allows for in-depth monitoring and analytics so that you can monitor important KPIs like sales, transaction volume, and customer behavior.

Payment Methods to Consider (Top 5 Brands)

There are several brands fostering the use of online payment methods out there. Here are the top five you should have on your e-commerce site:

PayPal

PayPal is one of the pioneer and most well-established payment platforms out there. It offers secure payments, fast transactions, and a user-friendly interface for your customers. It’s trusted by millions of merchants worldwide due to its support of multiple currencies and being an OG in the Fintech world. Its fees are also reasonable and transparent, so it’ll be a great option for your e-commerce business.

Stripe

Stripe is a popular payment giant that offers several payment features and integrations. It is known for its fast and secure payments, easy setup process, and transparent pricing. Consider using them as they also support multiple currencies, have a wide customer base, and offer several payment options, including bank transfers and credit card payments.

Amazon Pay

Adding Amazon Pay to your online store will be a smart move. As one of the most popular websites, almost all of your customers already have Amazon accounts, which makes it easy for them to check out.

This integration gets rid of any trouble in the payment process and makes it easy for Amazon customers to shop on your site without having to enter their payment information.

Also, Amazon Pay has top-notch fraud protection, which gives your customers and your business an extra layer of safety.

Square

Square is a payment gateway that is designed for small businesses. Its payments are fast and secure, and its fees – transparent and reasonable. It will support multiple payment methods you integrate into your website, including credit cards, bank transfers, and digital wallets. It is also known for its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support.

Google Pay

Google Pay streamlines the checkout process for online customers, offering a secure and contactless payment experience. By integrating Google Pay into your e-commerce site, you can access a vast pool of card information saved to Google Accounts and expand your customer base.

Why do Dropshippers Need E-commerce Payment Gateways?

If your e-commerce style is Dropshipping, you’d agree that you operate in a unique and fast-paced e-commerce environment that requires efficient payment processing. It’s not just important to have multiple e-commerce payment gateways, but essential to choose the right one. This simple thing can make a huge difference in your business’s success.

Here are the key reasons why you’ll need e-commerce payment gateways as a Dropshipper:

Secure Transactions

A trusted payment gateway handles security of the financial data for both you and your customers. AliExpress is well known for having a good financial security for both their merchants and buyers, leading to a better reputation for the company.

Streamlined Checkout Process

Simplifying the payment process helps reduce the number of shoppers who quit their carts and increase the number of customers who make a purchase.

Global Reach

You can attract buyers from all over the world and grow your business when you have several payment methods at your fingertips. This has been a major advantage for the global spread of Amazon who also have their own payment gateway – Amazon Pay.

Customer Trust

Money matters are critical worldwide and customers already find it difficult to trust others with their money. Your dropshipping businesses can benefit from an increase in customer trust and brand credibility by having several secure payment gateways.

Integration with E-commerce Platforms

Most reliable payment gateways are compatible with the most popular e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. This saves you precious time and effort as well.

Payment Processing

A payment gateway processes payments for you, freeing up time and resources for you to focus on other areas of operation.

Successful dropshipping businesses such as Shein, AliExpress, and Wish have implemented effective payment gateway strategies by choosing gateways that are secure, easily integrable, support international payments, have low fees, and provide fast and reliable payment processing. By following in their footsteps and considering these key factors, you’ll ensure a smooth and successful payment process for your e-commerce business.

Conclusion

From providing convenience to customers, to increasing credibility and reputation, eCommerce payment gateways play a critical role in the overall success of an e-commerce site. Whether you are a small business owner or a large enterprise operating an e-commerce site, you must carefully consider the various payment options available to determine which ones will work best for you and your customers.

Next Steps: What now?

• Choose a website builder and build your e-commerce site
• Find a web-hosting service
• Decide on the best payment gateway solutions for all your prospects.
• Integrate your payment gateways with your e-commerce website
• Test your payment system to ensure it’s working properly
• Start promoting your e-commerce site and start selling products

Further reading – Useful Resources

• What is e-commerce? An Introductory Guide
• The Challenges of eCommerce and How to Overcome Them
• Business Models In eCommerce
• How to Start an eCommerce Business: The Ultimate Guide
• Best Ecommerce WordPress Themes in 2022
• Google Pay
• Top 10 online payment methods for e-commerce sites