A payment gateway is a behind-the-scenes technology that enables secure, smooth credit card transactions between a business and its customers online. It transmits customer card data from the company’s site to its processor and returns the transaction results.
In just seconds, the gateway handles crucial steps like encrypting info, processing the order, calculating taxes, screening for fraud, and using location to optimize the experience – essentially acting as a virtual cash register.
E-commerce now represents a sizable chunk of overall retail, making up close to 10% of total global sales, according to eMarketer, and continuing to grow.
Brazil is the top e-commerce market in Latin America and one of the fastest-expanding worldwide. Advanced payment systems are essential, especially in emerging tech regions like Brazil, where gateways are key to hassle-free transactions.
Many players have a role in online purchases. But the payment gateway, linking consumers and businesses, is likely the most vital. Gateways come in many varieties, each fulfilling a key e-commerce function.
A gateway is mandatory to complete any online transaction – without one, no sale.
With numerous gateway providers, it’s best to first understand their core buyer and seller functionality. One can then evaluate options based on security, reliability, and user experience. But first, let’s cover the gateway basics.
Payment Processor Vs Payment Gateway Vs Payment Method
When you buy something online, your payment goes through a few steps behind the scenes before it’s complete. You may have heard of payment gateways and processors, but how exactly do they work together to handle your transaction? Let me break it down.
A payment gateway acts like a security guard, checking your payment details and giving the okay for transferring your money. But it doesn’t actually move the funds – that’s the payment processor’s job. The processor takes your approved payment and sends it through your chosen system, whether a credit card or PayPal.
So, in short, the payment gateway authorizes the transaction while the processor transmits it according to your selected payment method. It’s a team effort to process your purchase from start to finish securely! Understanding the role each one plays helps make sense of what’s happening digitally when you click “buy.”
Payment methods: The means through which a transaction is financed. These include plastic money, electronic wallets, bank transfers, and bitcoin. Customers can choose the most suitable way of payment when purchasing an item.
Payment gateway: A payment gateway represents a financial transaction processing service operating in an online business’s background. In addition to updating buyers on the progress of their purchases, it facilitates communication among the acquirer, merchant, and payment processor.
Payment processor: This organization acts as a go-between for the many parties involved, from providing a secure entry point to handling all financial transactions and collecting fees. When a buyer makes a purchase, the payment processor is liable for transferring the funds to the vendor’s bank account.
Payment Gateway Process
You may expect a quick and precise electronic exchange when conducting business online. Money is kept secure and moved between parties during this process. Nothing takes longer than the time it takes to load a confirmation page.
The Payment Gateway: How Does It Function?
The consumer can make an online purchase thanks to the payment gateway.
Due to the lack of personal connection between the seller and buyer, this is essential; otherwise, the transaction could only take place at a physical location equipped with a cash register or credit card machine.
Instead, the gateway performs the cash register function by retrieving the tender. It accepts data in an electronic form, which is then transmitted to the vendor. A reliable payment gateway should be quick, safe, and simple.
Explain the process of a transaction.
Payment gateway transactions are straightforward. A user accesses the gateway when they login to the payment portal.
The consumer initiates the payment process by providing their financial details (bank account, debit card, or credit card number).
After the transaction has been processed and authorized by the payment system, the payment processor will deposit the funds into the seller’s account.
An Example of A Typical Business Transaction
American Jessica, employed in Santos.
- Jessica has decided to enroll in an online course to prepare for her new work in Santos, where she is based as an American.
- She does this by searching for and adding an appropriate course to her virtual shopping basket. The click of a button on the screen transports her to an online store where she may finalize her purchase. To purchase in Brazil, this portal is the payment processor.
- Following her billing and shipping information request, she enters it and presses the “submit” button.
- Jessica has finished her part of the process by entering her payment details into the payment gateway.
- Her online school will get the money when the payment processor receives her information and processes it.
Is it safe to use a payment gateway?
I understand why you might worry about secure payment gateways – no one wants their info stolen online! But the good news is that these systems can protect your customers when set up properly.
If you’re picking a payment gateway, look into options like . They follow super strict security rules to encrypt info and prevent fraud. Extra verification features like 3D security are great, too, since they make customers feel safer about buying from you. And you want PCI certification – it means they passed serious safety tests.
The bottom line is that the right gateway with encryption, digital signatures, tokenization, etc., can lock down your customers’ data. It just takes some research to find one that watches your back. But secure options are out there. So don’t stress too much – you’ve got ways to process payments if you plan safely.