How to Add a Payment Gateway to Your Online Store

So, your online store is up and running. You’ve designed the perfect website or app, and you’re pretty pleased with it. All it needs now is a payment gateway. But how do you add a payment gateway? Can someone help?
In this blog, we tell you three easy ways to add a payment gateway to your online store and start accepting payments.

Easy ways to add a Payment Gateway

1. Hosted Payment Page

A hosted payment page is the simplest way to add a gateway to your online store. This is a page that is hosted by a third-party payment service provider (PSP).

How does it work?
When a customer makes a purchase on your website, they are redirected to the gateway page where they complete their payment with their preferred method. Once the transaction is approved, the customer is redirected back to your website. It also works using the pay-by-link feature. This is particularly useful if your business accepts mail and telephone orders (MOTO). All you need to do is send your customers a payment link by SMS, WhatsApp or email. They click on the link and are redirected to the hosted payment page where they can complete the payment with their preferred method. The main advantage of a hosted payment page is that all the payment processing is taken care of by the payment provider. You don’t have to handle any customer data. The hosted payment page comes with its own PCI DSS compliance, so you don’t need to worry about it either.

How do you add it?
All you need to do is download a plugin that works with your e-commerce platform (for example, Shopify), and you’re ready to go. It can be customized to carry your branding so that customers have a more rounded brand experience. This helps your customers trust that your website/app is safe.

Also read:
3 Ways to Accept Payments Without a Website in 2022
Top 4 Ways to Accept Payments On the Go in 2022

2. Mobile Payment Gateway (through Direct APIs)

Mobile shopping and in-app purchases are all the rage in Europe. In 2020, more than half of all e-commerce sales in Europe took place on mobile. People are spending more time on their smartphones, and subscriptions are hot. No wonder, mobile payments have grown rapidly. You can add a mobile payment gateway to let shoppers pay easily in-app or through their mobile devices. It is secure and provides a more seamless checkout. Use direct APIs so that customers don’t have to leave your app or website and can finish their checkout within. This helps you offer a more secure and seamless checkout. And a more unified brand experience. This helps to improve your conversion rates and win customer trust.

How does it work?
When a customer makes a purchase on the app, they are taken to a hosted payment page that has your branding on it. There, they can complete their payment in a fully secure environment using a preferred method. You can even design your own payment forms if you want more control over the look and feel of the checkout page.

How do you add it?
Mobile software development kits (SDKs) help you add a payment method to your business’s mobile app easily and within seconds. These SDKs give you all the features that you would get from a website-based payment form, including multiple payment methods, secure checkout, recurring billing, etc. Speak with your payment service provider to know more about mobile payments.

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3. E-commerce plugins

If you have a pre-existing online shop, you can use payment plugins to connect it to a payment gateway. These are specifically designed for e-commerce and offer great convenience in setting up your payments. They are easy to integrate and come with PCI DSS compliance.

How do you add it?
You can download plugins for most popular e-commerce platforms from your payment service provider and easily add it to your online shop. Ask your PSP on how to do this.

Another option is to build your own custom gateway. This gives you greater control over the entire process. But is also expensive, complex, and come with many variables that you have to look at. Plus, you will need the in-house expertise to build, test, and run such a complex system. The benefits of this method are greater control and visibility and secure. But you will have to store, process, and verify your customers’ payment data. Hence, you will have to get a PCI DSS certification. You also have to ensure the tightest security protocols to prevent fraud and data hacks. Our advice is to opt for a PSP that offers a gateway and also processes payments. This way they take care of security and compliance, since most reputed PSPs are certified and compliant. This leaves you free to focus on your business and outsource all hassle of payment processing to a third party.

You might like: 6 Tips to Choose a Payment Service Provider in Europe in 2022

How Can Novalnet Help?

We are a global PSP with decades of experience in helping Europe’s leading brands process their payments. Our AI-based payment solutions help you process payments easily and securely in a PCI DSS-compliant environment. Wherever you are in Europe, we ensure that your payments are running smoothly at all times, round the clock.
Reach out to us today to know more about how we can help.

Jose Augustine

Jose Augustine is the Chief Business Development Officer at Novalnet with extensive experience in European payment industry and a knowledge powerhouse.