Online checkout & payment gateways: what they are and how they work

What is an online checkout?

When making a purchase online, the checkout process involves entering billing and shipping information, selecting a payment method, and confirming the order. The checkout page is the final step before a transaction is processed. It’s essential for businesses to optimize the checkout experience to increase conversions and reduce cart abandonment rates.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a technology that securely processes online payments from customers. It facilitates the transfer of sensitive information, such as credit card details, between the customer, merchant, and bank. Payment gateways use encryption and tokenization to protect this data and prevent fraud.

How do online checkouts and payment gateways work together?

When a customer enters their payment information on the checkout page, the data is securely transmitted to the payment gateway. The payment gateway then verifies the customer’s identity, checks for sufficient funds, and authorizes the transaction. If the payment is approved, the funds are transferred to the merchant’s account. The entire process takes only a few seconds.

Benefits of online checkout and payment gateways

Online checkout and payment gateways offer several benefits to businesses and customers, including:

• Convenience: Customers can make purchases from anywhere, at any time, and using any device.
• Security: Payment gateways use advanced security measures to protect customer information and prevent fraud.
• Increased sales: Providing a seamless and easy checkout experience can increase conversions and reduce cart abandonment rates.
• Global reach: Payment gateways enable businesses to sell to customers all over the world, regardless of their location or currency.
• Integration: Payment gateways can integrate with a variety of ecommerce platforms and tools, making it easy for businesses to manage their payments.

Online checkout and payment gateway best practices

To optimize your online checkout and payment gateway, consider the following best practices:

• Keep it simple: Streamline the checkout process by minimizing the number of steps and fields required.
• Offer multiple payment options: Provide customers with a variety of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
• Provide security: Use a reputable payment gateway that offers advanced security features such as encryption, fraud detection, and chargeback protection.
• Test and optimize: Continuously test and optimize your checkout process to identify and address any issues that may be impacting conversions.
• Provide support: Offer clear and concise instructions and support throughout the checkout process to minimize confusion and errors.

By implementing these best practices, businesses can improve their checkout process, increase conversions, and provide a positive experience for their customers.

Online checkout and payment gateway dictionary

Here are some important terms to familiarize yourself with that are often used to discuss online checkouts and payment gateways.

• Credit card authorization: Credit card authorization is the process of verifying that a customer’s credit card is valid and has sufficient funds to complete a transaction. This process typically involves sending a request to the issuing bank to authorize the transaction.
• Fraud management: Fraud management refers to the processes and systems that businesses use to prevent, detect, and respond to fraudulent activity related to online payments. This may include tools such as fraud detection algorithms, address verification, and chargeback management.
• Chargebacks: A chargeback occurs when a customer disputes a charge on their credit card and the funds are returned to the customer, often due to fraudulent or unauthorized activity. The merchant may be required to provide evidence to defend the charge and may incur fees or penalties.
• Hard decline: A hard decline occurs when a payment is rejected by the issuing bank due to insufficient funds, an expired card, or other issues with the cardholder’s account. The transaction cannot be completed.
• Soft decline: A soft decline occurs when a payment is rejected by the issuing bank for reasons such as an invalid CVV or address verification failure. The transaction can still be approved if the issue is resolved, such as by updating the billing information.
• Dynamic pricing: Dynamic pricing is a pricing strategy used by some businesses where prices are adjusted based on demand, seasonality, or other factors. Online retailers may use dynamic pricing to offer discounts or promotions to customers during certain times or based on their purchase history.
• Tokenization: Tokenization is the process of converting sensitive payment information, such as credit card numbers, into a unique token that can be used for payment processing without exposing the actual card number. This helps to improve security and reduce the risk of data breaches.
• PCI Compliance: Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance is a set of security standards that all merchants who accept credit cards must adhere to in order to protect customer data. PCI compliance includes requirements such as using secure payment gateways, encrypting data, and regularly testing security systems.

Frequently asked questions