If you’re reading this, you’re probably searching for the best tool to collect payments from your customers and need to understand the differences between diverse solutions available on the market. Here’s a brief guide to selecting the right payment gateway for your online business. I hope that the form of Q&A will make it easier for you to get a grasp of the matter instantly. 1. What is a Payment Gateway? First things first! Let’s start with a clear definition. Payment gateway is a service enabling authorization of transactions carried out by customers in an online store with diverse paym ..read more

Fintech insiders oftentimes erroneously assume that consumers, let alone merchants, know much more about the payment ecosystem than they actually do. This might lead to disturbing misunderstandings, make companies miss business opportunities, consumers get a headache and vendors fritter away their marketing budgets. It’s quite a paradox as online payments should and can support both business and consumers by making e-shopping easier, more convenient, and profitable. Indeed, payment value chain might, at first glance, seem a bit complicated and the omnipresent jargon definitely does not help to ..read more

Once you have gone through dozens of websites explaining how to open an e-store, terms such as KYC or merchant onboarding may ring a bell with you. You will deal with them before jump-starting your online business, so understanding what they mean in advance is going to save you much time. What is KYC in the context of online payments and how does it relate to the merchant onboarding procedure? What Does KYC Stand for? KYC is an acronym for Know Your Customer (alternatively Know Your Client) but the long version is seldom used. It’s a process during which a business entity verifies the identity ..read more

The Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday is coming, and retailers are gearing up for the biggest shopping day in the UK! Bonus, it is a four day weekend! London, UK – October 21st 2014: Queen Elizabeth II framed in the window of an ornate ceremonial coach passes along the Mall in central London during a welcome ceremony and procession for a foreign dignitaryHere are some tips for retailers to make the most of your payments on Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday: 1. Make sure your payment processing system is ready for the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday rush! 2. Plan and have your inventory ready to go. 3. O ..read more

Businesses of all sizes are always looking for ways to increase profits and grow their customer base. One of the best ways to do this is by implementing a payment processing strategy that works for your business. In this blog post, we will discuss different payment processing strategies that you can use to grow your business! Increase profits and grow using these proven strategies! 1. Offer customers the option to pay via credit or debit cards Credit and debit cards are a fast, convenient way to pay. They’re also one of the most secure payment methods around. Visa is so confident in their secu ..read more

Here are some details about the security standard required by the Second EU Payment Services Directive (PSD2).  Implemented across several countries, the PSD2 includes an updated Strong Customer Authentication. This authentication version of a 3DS 2.0 protocol reshapes the payments ecosystem.  Let’s discuss what 3DS 2.0 is. Additionally, this feature will share trends and industry concerns with this new protocol. This commentary also features bonus expertise from Straal’s CCO, Chief Risk Officer and VP of Engineering. Enjoy! A short recap of PS ..read more

Every business needs to keep up the pace to survive. If you are a small and a medium business owner (SME) you need to face many complexities in running and growing your businesses.  Since cash is no longer king, business owners now have many opportunities to digitize their payment processes that will be beneficial and convenient for buyers and sellers. The tech revolution made modern payment capabilities accessible to micro and small businesses. But there are so many payment methods to choose from: which one is the right one for you that will address the specific needs of your business? H ..read more

Simplifying and streamlining payment flow should be a top priority for every member of the payments chain in the industry. Easier said than done? Not this time! In this episode of Partners to Follow, please meet SEPAexpress, our whitelabel Direct Debit provider. Straal: Can you tell us about your journey to create SEPAexpress? Franz Guttenberger, Managing Director at SEPAexpress: Founded by Payment enthusiasts, SEPAexpress is a cloud based white label product to process Direct Debit transactions for online and offline commerce. The idea was to make Direct Debits in e-commerce easier and safer ..read more

The second payment directive (PSD2) is a directive regulating payment services across EU countries. It is not only designed to improve the security of transactions, but also, in many cases, to provide a greater convenience for customers and increased conversions for merchants. Although some aspects of PSD2 were enforced over 2 years ago, its provisions for merchants and banks regarding SCA started being applied from early 2021. In our guide, we’ll take a closer look at PSD2 and the new requirements called Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), including 3DS. We’ll also explore the matter from ..read more

The Mobility-as-a-Service market is one of the most prominent beneficiaries of the development of digital economy. Mobility apps have not only changed the way people commute but also how they pay for it. Increasingly often, payments affect the competitiveness of MaaS companies. What makes payment solutions so important for the MaaS industry, and what to mind while choosing a payment platform for a mobility system? Defining Mobility as a Service Mobility-as-a-Service, commonly abbreviated to MaaS, is a relatively new concept. MaaS Alliance defines it as a phenomenon of integrating diverse trans ..read more