Online Payments Demystified

Online Payments are an integral part of our daily lives, seamlessly embedded into our routines. From shopping online and paying bills to transferring money to friends and family, the convenience and efficiency of digital payments are undeniable.

At Vangwe, we specialize in helping clients integrate payment methods like Digital Wallets, online Checkout systems, and Payment Gateways. Implementing these technologies requires a thorough understanding of the online payment ecosystem, the key players, and their interactions.

Whether you're a fintech enthusiast, a developer, or simply curious about how online payments work, this post will guide you through the world of digital payments. We'll explore the essential technologies, key players, payment types, and the processes that ensure every click results in a secure and successful transaction.

Types of Digital Payments

There are different types of digital payments, each with its unique features:

Credit and Debit Cards: Credit and debit cards remain the most common method of online payment. Networks like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express process millions of transactions daily.

Digital Wallets: Digital wallets such as ApplePay, GooglePay, and PayPal store user’s payment information securely, allowing for quick and easy transactions without the need to enter card details each time.

Bank Transfers: Direct bank transfers are another popular method, especially for larger transactions. Systems like Automated Clearing House (ACH) in the US and SEPA in Europe facilitate these transfers.

Cryptocurrencies: Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum offer decentralized payment methods, providing an alternative to traditional banking systems. Despite their volatility, they are increasingly accepted by merchants.

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): BNPL services like Afterpay and Klarna allow customers to make purchases and pay for them over time, often interest-free, providing flexibility and convenience.

Card Payments

In this article, we'll focus on card payments, which are among the most common and widely used methods. Knowing the key players involved in an online payment transaction is crucial for understanding the payment flow.

1) Cardholder:
Also known as the "Customer" or "Consumer"
The individual making the purchase. To obtain a card, this individual needs to apply to a bank, which is the entity that issues the card (Issuer or Issuing Bank).

2) Issuing Bank:
Also known as the "issuer" or "consumer's bank"
A financial institution that provides credit and debit cards to customers on behalf of card networks like Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Is responsible for authorizing or declining the transaction, based on the customer’s balance or credit limit.

3) Merchant:
Also known as the "Seller", "Vendor" or "Card Acceptor"
The business selling products or services.

4) Acquiring Bank:
Also known as the "acquirer" or "merchant bank" Financial institution that facilitates the merchant's acceptance of card payments. It holds the Merchant's account and receives the payments.

5) Card Networks:
Also known as "Card Brands or Schemes" Brands such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc., act as the global link between acquirers and issuers, authorizing transactions worldwide.

6) Payment Gateways:
Software that enables merchants to accept payments and send payment data for processing. It collects payment card data and sends it to the Merchants Acquirer.

7) Payment Processor:
Handles the technical aspects of the transaction, such as verifying payment details, securing authorization, and managing communication between the acquiring and issuing banks.

Online Payment Processing:

Understanding the journey of an online payment can demystify what happens when you click 'pay' on a website. The process generally involves:

1) Initiation:
A customer selects products or services and proceeds to initiate the payment by providing the payment information.

2) Authorization:
After the customer submits their payment information, it's securely sent to the payment gateway which is responsible of encrypting the data and sends it to the payment processor or the acquiring bank. The payment processor receives the transaction data, validates the information, and forwards the data to the acquiring bank, which sends the information to the card network for validation and authorization.

3) Issuer Verification:
The card network sends the transaction data to the issuer, who verifies the consumer's available balance or credit limit and either approves or declines the transaction.

4) Authorization Response:
The Issuer forwards the authorization response through the card network to the Acquiring Bank, which forwards the response to the processor. The payment processor then sends the response to the payment gateway, which sends the result to the store.

5) Completion:
If the transaction is approved then the Merchant completes the transaction and delivers the product to the customer.

6) Settlement:
When a credit card payment is made, the banks communicate instantly via the merchant's payment gateway. However, the actual funds are not transferred at the same time. This is where the settlement process comes in. At the end of each day, the Merchant sends a batch of approved transactions to the payment processor or acquiring bank for settlement. The acquiring bank then initiates a request for funds from the issuing bank through the card network. The issuing bank transfers the requested funds to the acquiring bank, which subsequently deposits the money into the Merchant's account. This process usually takes a few business days to complete.

Conclusion

The world of online payments is a network of numerous stakeholders, each playing a critical role in the seamless execution of transactions. From my firsthand experience, understanding these dynamics is not just about technical integration but also about appreciating the sophistication and security that go into each payment. This knowledge not only enhances our expertise at Vangwe but also informs better solutions for our clients in the fintech and payments space.

This overview barely scratches the surface of the complexities within digital payments but serves as a foundational guide to the uninitiated.

In future posts, we'll delve deeper into specific technologies, trends, and challenges within Online Payments.

Stay tuned! 👋