How to Choose a Global Payment Gateway

Global payment services allow international eCommerce merchants to process foreign transactions. Thus, a critical component of any successful international website is a payment service that offers the resources you need to successfully process payments. Here are the main features to look for when searching for the right payment provider.

Secure Payment Processing – Meticulously evaluate the security features the company utilizes. Secure payment processing should be the top priority of online merchant since stringent security features ensure customers can safely shop on their website without worry of credit card fraud or identity theft.

Shopping Cart Integration – Any payment processor you are considering must be able to support your website’s shopping cart. While most well-established payment processors (especially international ones) can support most shopping carts, it’s important you ensure they are seamlessly work together before signing a long-term contract.

Itemized Cost Breakdown – Before you sign with a payment processor, it’s important you find out exactly how much you will have to pay in upfront or startup costs, monthly fees, and any additional hidden charges. While cost is likely to play a significant role in your decision, it should not be your sole deciding factor; the cheapest payment processor may not provide the level of service you need to fully operate.

Comprehensive Customer Service – Don’t underestimate the importance of having a payment processor with good customer service. Look for companies that offer a wide range of customer service options (including support via telephone, not just email) and handle customer inquiries in a courteous and timely manner. 

Dispute Resolution – Some payment processors offer dispute resolution to help solve payment issues between merchants and customers.

PCI-Compliance – While PCI-compliance is not required for a payment processor to operate, it does indicate that a company adheres to the strict security guidelines set forth by the Payment Card Industry Compliance Guide. A payment processor that is PCI-complaint offers a secure environment to process your customers’ credit card information.

Real-Time Reporting – Look for providers that offer real-time reporting (as opposed to batch reporting). This means you can pull reports for transactions as they are performed. Find out what reporting capabilities a provider has before you sign with them.

International Payment Processing – Selling internationally can be significantly different than selling domestically so make sure you opt for global payment services that are familiar with the currencies of the countries you want to sell in.