In an increasingly competitive digital market, choosing the ideal payment gateway is essential to the success of any e-commerce business. This decision directly impacts your sales, customer experience, and the financial management of your business.
To help you with this choice, we have prepared this complete guide with detailed information about the different aspects to be considered when choosing a gateway and how PagBrasil can be your ideal partner in this process.
In this guide, you will find the following topics:
- Acquirers, sub-acquirers, and PSPs: Understanding the agents of online payment
- How PagBrasil processes your payments
- Essential criteria for choosing the ideal solution
- Why is PagBrasil the right choice for your business?
To start, what is a payment gateway?
Imagine that your online store is a house and the bank is another building. To take money from one place to another, you need a safe path, right? The payment gateway is this path, ensuring that the money reaches its destination without problems.
Acquirers, Sub-acquirers, and PSPs: Understanding the Agents of Online Payment
Before we dive into the criteria for choosing a payment gateway, it is essential to understand the role of the different agents involved in processing online payments.
Familiarizing yourself with these concepts will make it easier to understand the steps involved in each transaction and will help you make the most appropriate decision for your business.
Acquirers: These are the companies responsible for processing payments made with credit and debit cards. They capture card data, forward the authorization request to the card network (Visa, Mastercard, Elo, etc.), and, once the transaction is approved, transfer the funds to the merchant’s account, or, in the case of a digital transaction processed by a payment intermediary, to the intermediary’s account, which then passes the amount on to the merchant.
Examples of acquirers in Brazil include Cielo, Rede, Stone, and Getnet.
Sub-acquirers or payment intermediaries: They simplify the online payment acceptance process for merchants, connecting your e-commerce to a wide network of acquirers. With a sub-acquirer, you do not need to establish and manage multiple contracts and accounts, taking advantage of the conditions and rates already negotiated by the sub-acquirer with the acquirers.
In addition, having only one contract to manage simplifies the operation and reduces bureaucracy, including in reconciliations. The sub-acquirer is also responsible for transferring the transaction amounts to your bank account, safely and efficiently.
PSPs (Payment Service Providers): PSPs offer complete payment processing solutions, which may include payment gateways, intermediation, and other services such as issuing boletos, recurring billing, and fraud prevention. They simplify the payment receiving process, integrating different payment methods into a single platform and facilitating the financial management of your business.
PagBrasil, for example, is a PSP focused on payment solutions for the Brazilian market, combining the functionalities of a payment gateway and sub-acquirer in a single platform.
Differences between Payment Gateway and Payment Service Provider
Although often used synonymously, it is important to understand the nuances that differentiate these two solutions. This understanding will make it easier to choose the most suitable option for your e-commerce needs.
In simple terms, a payment gateway acts as a bridge between your online store and the acquirer. It collects customer data, encrypts the information, and transmits it securely to the acquirer, which then authorizes the transaction.
In this process, the gateway ensures data security and integration with your e-commerce platform, but does not manage the transaction funds. This way, you are responsible for contacting your acquirers, while the gateway makes the technological connection.
If you are looking for greater control over the financial settlement process and prefer to manage your own contracts with acquirers, but do not want to develop an integration with your platform, a payment gateway may be the ideal solution.
A payment service provider, on the other hand, offers a more complete solution. It takes responsibility for the entire payment flow, from transaction capture to fund transfer to your account. This includes connecting with acquirers, processing transactions, and managing funds.
In other words, the PSP acts as an intermediary between your store and financial institutions, simplifying the process and offering greater flexibility in managing your receivables.
If you are looking for a complete and simplified solution, with centralized payment management and flexibility to receive funds from different payment methods and manage only one contract, a payment service provider is the most suitable choice.
How PagBrasil Processes Your Payments
PagBrasil offers two main solutions for processing online payments for your e-commerce:
Payment Intermediation
With the intermediation service, PagBrasil acts as a complete facilitator, managing the entire payment process, from transaction capture to the transfer of funds to your bank account. This solution offers several advantages, including:
Simplification: You do not have to worry about managing contracts and accounts with different acquirers. PagBrasil centralizes the entire process, simplifying the financial management of your business.
Flexibility: You receive payments in a single bank account, regardless of the payment method used by the customer.
Security: PagBrasil guarantees the security of transactions and compliance with security standards, such as PCI DSS.
Hybrid Model
The hybrid model combines the advantages of intermediation with the flexibility of managing your own contracts with acquirers for credit card payment processing. In this model, PagBrasil acts as a payment gateway for credit card transactions, connecting your store directly to acquirers, so you can take advantage of your negotiations and conditions.
You use PagBrasil’s technology and resources, such as PagShield® anti-fraud, discounts for payment methods, and digital wallets, but the financial settlement is carried out directly by the acquirer. In the hybrid model, PagBrasil is responsible for processing and settling alternative payment methods, such as Pix, boleto bancário, and debit cards.
This solution is ideal for those looking for:
Control: You maintain control over the processing of credit card payments, being able to negotiate rates and conditions directly with acquirers.
Efficiency: PagBrasil guarantees fast and efficient processing of payments via Pix, boleto bancário, and debit cards. For credit card payments, you benefit from our technology and expertise in anti-fraud, in addition to the flexibility to configure installments and other payment options. The acquirer, in turn, is only responsible for processing and settling the amounts.
Both solutions offer security, state-of-the-art technology, and specialized support to ensure the best experience for you and your customers. Choosing the ideal model depends on your needs, your structure, and your business objectives.
Criteria for Choosing the Ideal Payment Gateway
Once you have defined the most suitable gateway model, you need to carefully analyze each provider, considering several aspects that will directly influence your customers’ experience and your business performance.
Security
The security of transactions and customer data is undoubtedly the most important factor. Prioritize gateways with PCI DSS certification, which attests to compliance with the stringent security standards of the payment card industry.
Also, look for robust anti-fraud features to minimize risk and protect your business from fraudulent transactions.
Integrations
The compatibility of the gateway with your e-commerce platform is essential to ensure a smooth and efficient integration process.
Make sure that the gateway offers integrations with the main platforms on the market, such as Shopify, Salesforce, and VTEX, in addition to chat commerce platforms.
Open APIs are also important to allow for customized and flexible integrations with your systems.
Types of Payment Gateway Integration
The integration between the payment gateway and your e-commerce platform is a crucial factor in ensuring a smooth and secure shopping experience for your customers.
There are different types of integration, each with its own characteristics and advantages. It is important to understand the differences between them to choose the option that best suits your needs and the structure of your business.
Redirect Checkout: The customer is redirected to the payment gateway page to complete the purchase. This option is simple to implement, and, with PagBrasil, the experience is very similar to that of checkout without redirection, optimizing the process and making the redirection almost imperceptible.
Transparent iFrame Checkout (without redirection): PagBrasil’s checkout is integrated into your website through an iframe, keeping the customer in your environment throughout the purchase process. This option offers a more fluid experience and increases customer confidence.
Transparent API Checkout (without redirection): PagBrasil’s API integration offers greater flexibility and control over the checkout process, allowing complete customization of your layout and user experience. This option is ideal for those looking for a tailor-made solution for their business.
PagBrasil.JS: With this solution, you can offer a more personalized payment experience and simplify the PCI DSS compliance process. PagBrasil.JS collects card data directly on your website, without this information passing through your servers.
This means that you only need to be compliant with SAQ A, the simplest self-assessment questionnaire for meeting PCI DSS requirements. This option ensures greater security and reduces the scope of compliance for your business.
PagBrasil Checkout (Payment Link): Ideal for those looking for a quick and easy-to-use solution, without the need for technical development. With the Payment Link, you generate a unique link for each transaction and send it to your customer by email, WhatsApp, a social network, or any other communication channel.
The choice of integration type depends on your needs, the structure of your e-commerce, and the level of customization you are looking for. To make your decision easier, here are some examples.
If you need a quick and easy-to-implement solution, or want to boost your Omnichannel sales, the Payment Link may be the ideal option.
If you use the Salesforce platform, PagBrasil offers seamless integrations that ensure a transparent checkout without redirects, keeping the customer in your environment throughout the purchase process. This optimized experience conveys more confidence, increases the chances of conversion, and strengthens your brand image.
The integration with Shopify, despite not being transparent, offers several advantages, such as:
- Ease of implementation, without the need for technical knowledge
- Exclusive features, such as those listed below.
Additional Features
When choosing a payment gateway, it is important to go beyond the basic payment processing functionalities. Additional features can optimize the management of your business, improve the customer experience, and boost your sales. Evaluate if the gateway offers tools that meet your needs and complement the essential functionalities.
Tokenization: Secure storage of customer payment data to facilitate future purchases, without the need to enter card data with each new transaction.
One-click buy: This feature allows your customers to make purchases with just one click, without the need to enter card data with each new transaction. This simplifies the purchase process, increases sales conversion, and builds customer loyalty, as they feel more comfortable completing their purchases quickly and efficiently.
Recurring billing: Easy setup of recurring payments for subscriptions and services, automating the billing process and reducing delinquency in your subscription club.
Anti-fraud: Advanced tools to prevent fraud and protect your business, such as real-time risk analysis, behavioral analysis, and identity verification.
Reporting: Generation of detailed reports on your transactions, with information on sales, cancellations, chargebacks, and other relevant data for your business.
Payment Methods: The variety of payment methods offered directly impacts your ability to meet your customers’ preferences, and, consequently, increase your sales. Offer options such as Pix, credit cards, debit cards, boleto bancário, and digital wallets, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Technical Support: Efficient technical support available in Portuguese is essential to assist you in case of questions or problems. Look for a gateway that offers humanized and efficient technical support, ready to answer your questions and particularities, acting quickly in times of need and attentive to your operation.
Scalability: As your business grows, so do your payment processing needs. Make sure that the chosen gateway offers scalability to keep up with the growth of your business, with the capacity to process an increasing volume of transactions and adapt to your future needs.
Cost-Benefit Ratio
When choosing a payment gateway, the cost-benefit ratio must be evaluated strategically. It is crucial to go beyond the rates and consider the impact of the solution on transaction security, customer experience, and, consequently, your sales.
A robust and reliable gateway, such as the one offered by PagBrasil, guarantees the stability of your operation, the protection of your customers, and the optimization of your conversions, directly impacting the profitability of your business.
PagBrasil invests in technology and anti-fraud resources to guarantee the security of your transactions, offers a transparent and optimized checkout to increase your conversions, and provides specialized support to assist in all stages.
By choosing PagBrasil, you invest in a complete solution that goes beyond rates, prioritizing security, customer experience, and innovation. This combination of factors directly impacts the profitability of your e-commerce.
Why is PagBrasil the Ideal Solution for Your E-commerce?
PagBrasil is a Brazilian technology company that processes digital payments in Brazil and Latin America. We offer complete and customized solutions for e-commerce, with a focus on innovation, security, and performance. Our goal is to drive the growth of your business, simplifying the payment receiving process and providing the best experience for your customers.
Security: PagBrasil is PCI DSS Level 1 certified and constantly invests in advanced anti-fraud resources, ensuring the security of your transactions and your customers’ data. Our systems monitor transactions in real time, identifying and blocking suspicious activity, so you can sell online with peace of mind.
Cutting-edge technology: We offer a transparent and responsive checkout that adapts to any device, providing an optimized and fluid shopping experience for your customers. Our solutions are developed with cutting-edge technology, ensuring performance, stability, and scalability to meet the needs of your business.
Wider variety of payment methods: We offer the main payment methods, including Pix, credit cards, debit cards, boleto, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Specialized support: Our team of experts is available to assist you in all stages, from integration to managing your transactions. Our team has extensive knowledge of the online payments market and is ready to offer technical and strategic support for your business.
Conclusion
Choosing the ideal payment gateway is a crucial step for the success of your e-commerce. By carefully analyzing the factors we have covered in this guide, such as security, integrations, checkout types, payment methods, and technical support, you will be better prepared to make the most strategic decision for your business.
Remember: the payment gateway is the gateway for your customers to complete their online purchases. Prioritize solutions that offer maximum security, cutting-edge technology, flexibility, and specialized support, such as those offered by PagBrasil.
Want to learn more about how PagBrasil can boost your e-commerce? Schedule a conversation with our experts and learn more about our solutions for your e-commerce.
