Important Questions to Ask when Evaluating a Payment Gateway
India is undergoing a digital revolution with a profound rise in demand for e-commerce, online payments, and traditional services shifting online. An article published by Statista Research Department puts the number of digital transactions in India in the Financial Year 2021 at nearly 44 billion.
With the volume of digital transactions increasing exponentially, businesses are having to adapt to the digital atmosphere. For businesses that are yet to make a move, this is the right time to update themselves to the latest market needs. The most efficient way to accept online payments is via a payment gateway.
That being said, not all payment gateways come with the same features. Some may charge atrociously high fees; some may not support all payment modes, some may require intensive coding for payment gateway integration.
This makes it crucial to understand the fine print of the features offered by a payment gateway before selecting one for your business. Following are eight essential questions that a merchant must ask when evaluating a gateway.
What payment modes are supported?
Online payment can be initiated using several methods. It is up to the customer to choose which way suits them the best. The most common payment modes in India are credit cards, debit cards, net banking, UPI, and mobile wallets. Supporting a customer’s preferred payment mode is also synonymous with more customer satisfaction.
The more methods the business supports, the bigger its customer base. The best payment gateway for India that supports more than 100 payment modes is Zaakpay. Before opting for any payment gateway service, merchants must confirm the modes that it supports.
What are the processing costs and terms & conditions?
Payment gateway services charge the businesses for the transactions. Merchants should go through the costs of the gateway service thoroughly. They should specifically check for the set-up cost and any hidden and additional costs to ensure they can afford the service.
The cost is usually based on the type of business, expected volume of transactions, and supported payment mods, among other factors. It is also important to review the terms and conditions laid down by the gateway service. Few services also charge an annual or monthly maintenance charge or a fine for not meeting the minimum transaction volume threshold.
What are the security features of the payment gateway?
Accepting online payments comes with a lot of risk of cyber-attacks. No customer would want their sensitive payment information to be stolen. They would avoid paying through a gateway that seems shady or questionable.
The gateway should be PCI DSS compliant and encrypt the customer data to protect against cyber-frauds for maximum security. A secure gateway will automatically lead to better sales figures. Merchants should analyze the security features offered by the gateway along with how frequently they are updated.
Is it easy to integrate the gateway into the website?
The business website is built on a suitable platform. It has to be checked if it is possible to integrate the gateway into the website platform. The ease with which the gateway can be integrated is also essential. Modern gateways come with no-code plugins for all major website platforms that can be directly integrated.
Merchants should also ask about the customer support provided through the integration process and the estimated time to get everything started. The best payment gateway for India that activates the merchant account in around 24 hours is Zaakpay.
How efficient is their customer support?
Round-the-clock customer support is crucial for any merchant because payment-related issues can come up anytime. They also need to confirm the domains for which the customer service would be available. Merchants might need technical support if the gateway stops working.
At other times, they might need administrative assistance in checking a payment status. They might also need help with tracking down incomplete or fraudulent transactions. The gateway service has to be well-equipped to provide all such support. Zaakpay, the best payment gateway for India, offers 24/7 customer support to merchants and their customers.
Are checkouts easy?
Merchants should also confirm the checkout process of the gateway. Does the gateway require mandatory registration for payments? Does it offer the facility of guest checkout? Many customers abandon the purchase if the checkout process is long and complicated. Merchants should also check the experience across several devices.
The customer base can be spread across devices with different screen sizes. So checking if the gateway offers a consistent experience across all such devices is important.
What are the customization features of the gateway?
Customizing the gateway as per the needs of the business brings an edge. Few gateways provide the facility to customize the appearance to provide a consistent user experience. Merchants can check if the gateway provides customizing the color scheme, font, logos, and other look-and-feel.
Customers also appreciate the feature to save payment information for making future transactions easier. Does the payment gateway provider do that? Can the merchant customize which features to provide to the customers?
How easy is it to cash out?
Small businesses require a steady cash flow. Merchants should ask about the cash-out process well in advance. They must also check if the gateway would work with their existing bank account or if a new account needs to be opened.
Another vital question is if there is any minimum cash-out threshold below which the service won’t allow cashing out. Checking the amount of time it would take to process a payment is also pertinent. Any bulk payment processing charges also have to be checked.
Conclusion
Businesses need to research and evaluate all available payment gateways before deciding on the final one. The cost of the gateways must also be compared against each other to find out the most suitable one.
