Your guide to online payment methods

Which online payment methods are the best for expansion?

Payment methods have evolved significantly from the traditional ‘cash or card?’ society. To meet the growing e-commerce demand, merchants must keep up with the evolving needs of customers in diverse markets. Perhaps nowhere is this challenge more prominent – and yet more overlooked – than in the question of which online payment methods merchants should offer their customers. In order to deliver a localized checkout experience, many merchants are focused on the question of how to offer as many popular online payment methods as possible – with a need to integrate these as easily and seamlessly as possible within existing payment stacks.

 

How can merchants determine which payment methods to offer – and what must merchants do to ensure that they can make the most popular payment methods available to customers regardless of geography? Read on for an overview as well as an introduction to PayU’s online payment methods offering.

Graphic showing an example of PayU payment method options at checkout

The e-commerce boom’s impact on payments

 

E-commerce was the long-term trend in retail even before the pandemic, a trend which has only accelerated since everything changed in the Spring of 2020. Shopping online has become the norm for more global customers than ever before – a new reality which has given way to new, alternative, payment methods beyond the traditional credit and debit card providers. Although alternative payment methods are responsible for a growing number of transactions in Western Europe and North America as well, they are particularly prevalent in emerging markets. Credit card penetration in India is just 4%. In Latin America, meanwhile, local payment methods account for more than two-thirds of all online transactions.
 
Alternative payment methods typically offer customers better flexibility in payments (such as Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL), payment with e-wallets, cash options, and more). At the same time, these online payment methods function can also as a means of digital and financial inclusion for unbanked populations who do not have access to traditional credit cards or bank accounts.
 
Some alternative payment methods were created as extensions of traditional payment schemes (and thus built atop of already existing infrastructures), while others set up their own unique frameworks separated from the traditional frameworks. From a merchant perspective, this can create a tangling array of financial and technological layers to untangle when it comes to offering payment methods that might not be popular in most of the world – but could be the norm in a particular market.

Why offer more payment methods?

Reach new customers

By accepting a wider range of online payment method options (such as local credit cards, bank accounts, and alternative payment methods) businesses can remain flexible and reach more of the market.

Expand globally

Offering payment methods that are easy and familiar to your new customers is a critical – and often overlooked – aspect of localizing your product for new international markets.

Improve conversion rates

Leverage PayU’s expertise to select the payment methods that will help you reduce friction at checkout, increase payment approval rates, and boost your online sales.

Global vs. local – which payment methods should you opt for?

When customers pay for online purchases, businesses should always be mindful of the co-existence of two competing forces at work. On the one hand, e-commerce is becoming increasingly globalized – with credit cards at least somewhat prevalent in most markets around the world. At the same time, we see an exponential growth of local payment preferences, which are often geography-specific and unique to specific target markets.

 

It is therefore important to build an online payment methods strategy that offers the best of both worlds – encompassing a mix of common and popular global payment method options, while also offering the most important local payment methods in key target markets around the world.

 

 

The importance of local payment methods

The ability to offer local forms of payment is important for increasing customer satisfaction, reducing cart abandonments, and maximizing transaction approval rates. When expanding into new markets, a willingness to offer local payment method options is an important way that companies can localize their brand and product. In many countries, traditional credit cards and digital wallets are secondary to more popular local payment methods, which are often unique to each market.

 

In addition to facilitating a higher rate of checkout conversations, transactions using local payment methods often have a higher rate of acceptance since local acquirers and banks are more likely to approve payments from local customers.

Overview of global and local online payment methods offered via PayU Hub

Payment methods overview

The growing number of online payment methods shows the extent to which customers are increasingly open to non-traditional ways of paying. While credit cards are still the most popular payment method in many markets, a growing number of alternative payment methods are offering customers new and often more flexible ways to pay for their purchases.

 

Let’s dive in and explore some of the most key payment methods in the market today:

 

 

Credit Cards

  • Credit cards are payment cards issued by a bank or other financial services company, giving the holder an option to borrow funds. Credit cardholders (who may pay annual service charges) draw on a credit limit approved by the card-issuer such as a bank, store, or service provider.

 

  • In many emerging markets, local credit card issuers play a significant role in the e-commerce landscape

 

 

Debit Cards

  • Debit Cards are payment cards that deduct money directly from the cardholder’s checking account. They offer the convenience of credit cards and many of the same cardholder protections.

 

  • Unlike credit cards, debit cards do not allow the user to go into debt. In addition, debit cards often have a daily purchase limit.

 

  • As with credit cards, in most markets local banks issue their own debit cards, creating another payment layer that the payment gateway/payment processor typically navigates on behalf of the merchant

 

 

Alternative Payment Methods (APMs)

  • Alternative payment methods are categorized as non‐traditional payment methods (e.g. not credit cards or cash)

 

  • Alternative payment methods include forms of payment such as e-Wallets (Google Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, WeChat), bank transfers, Buy-Now-Pay-Later methods, and more.  The majority of these forms of payment can be used in both POS (point of sale) terminals (I.e., physical shops), as well as online.

 

  • APMs work in a variety of frameworks, whether as extensions of traditional payment methods (e.g.  where they are linked to a credit card and rely on the card issuer’s approval). That said, they can also have their unique infrastructure, as a standalone solution separated from traditional frameworks.

 

 

E-Wallets

  • Digital wallets (also known as e-wallets or mobile wallets) encompass different forms of software that provides the equivalent of a wallet for electronic commerce, often storing several payment methods in one place

 

  • Key global players include many household names such as PayPal, ApplePay, Google Pay, and WeChat Pay

 

  • E-wallets are popular all over the world – that said, many local markets have their own digital wallet products which are unique to a particular country or region. It is important for online merchants to understand which popular local e-wallets they may want to cater to within a specific local marketplace.

 

 

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)

  • BNPL, or invoice payments, allow the merchant to be paid upfront before the customer pays for the transaction. The BNPL provider fronts the transaction amount and takes on any risk of fraud or payment defaults.

 

  • BNPL tends to result in higher transaction values, as well as higher conversion rates at checkout. For longer installment cycles, BNPL models benefit from the use of predictive algorithms which can provide instant credit decisions within the checkout process itself.

 

  • Invoice payments are extremely popular in much of Europe – notably Germany, Scandinavia, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In many emerging markets, BNPL acts as a means of financial inclusion, enabling people locked out of traditional credit sources to participate in the digital economy.

 

 

Bank and electronic cash transfers

  • Direct online bank transfers are a popular method of payment for e-commerce transactions, particularly in Europe

 

  • Electronic cash transfers, meanwhile, are popular in many markets with less established systems of traditional banking. In many Latin American markets, a number of popular homegrown payment methods allow customers to receive a code at checkout which can then be paid either with cash or bank transfer at a network of participating brick-and-mortar locations.

 

 

Open banking

  • Open banking options have been gaining prominence in recent years and are another online payment method in which customers initiate a payment to a merchant or corporate in the same way that they would pay via bank transfer

 

  • Payment is performed instantly via the customer’s mobile banking app or online banking portal, resulting in faster conversions and higher approvals

Apple Pay and Google Pay

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One platform, a full range of online payment methods

The ability to offer local forms of payment is critical for building credibility and trust with online customers – especially when expanding to new markets. In many countries, traditional credit cards and digital wallets such as Apple Pay and PayPal are not commonly used, or are secondary to other more popular payment options, many of which are unique to each market.

 

From local banks, credit cards, and digital wallets to e-commerce installments and other consumer credit options, alternative payment methods account for a significant share of overall online payment transactions in emerging markets. By using a platform that offers a wide range of local payment methods in multiple markets, merchants selling across borders can offer the payment options most preferred by consumers in each market, with higher conversion and payment acceptance rates, and lower transaction fees.

 

PayU supports all major credit cards and other common online payment methods used around the world – along with an extensive range of local and alternative payment options that will help you to reach the broadest possible share of customers in any market.

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Payment methods FAQs (6)

What are the payment methods in an online transaction?

The payment methods in an online transaction refer to the means of payment (e.g. cash, credit or debit card, bank transfer, or alternative payment methods). PayU’s platform provides access to hundreds of local and global online payment methods around the world, helping merchants to maximize their reach.

Which payment method is most commonly used in online transactions?

Although credit and debit cards remain the most popular online payment methods globally, this varies greatly by region. Digital wallets, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), and other alternative payment methods are increasing in popularity around the world. In Europe, many online orders are paid via direct bank transfer. And in many emerging markets, cash voucher schemes account for a significant share of e-commerce transactions.

What are the most popular payment methods online?

The most popular payment method is different in every country. Even in countries where credit and debit cards are the most popular online payment method, the market is often dominated by cards issued through local banks as opposed to the major credit card companies. In order to reach the most customers, merchants should seek to offer many different local and global online payment methods to meet a broad range of needs.

Why is it important to have different payment methods at checkout?

Offering more online payment methods helps merchants meet customers where they are, resulting in a better checkout experience, fewer shopping cart abandonments, and more repeat customers. Offering local payment methods also helps to increase transaction approval rates, leading to increased revenue and fewer false declines.

How easy it is for merchants to integrate local payment methods?

The ease of integrating local payment methods depends on the capabilities of the payment gateway. Many payment gateway technologies only provide access to a limited range of payment methods. By connecting to PayU’s global platform, merchants can offer hundreds of popular local payment methods and accept payments in any global market.

Which payment methods does PayU support and in which markets?

We are constantly updating the payment methods available locally and globally through PayU. To learn more about all of the different payment methods supported by PayU, browse through our payment methods catalog.

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See how offering the right payment methods can help your business to maximize conversions and approval rates. Get in touch with a member of our team to learn more.
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