In today's rapidly evolving digital economy, the ability to accept diverse payment methods across global markets has become a critical differentiator for businesses of all sizes. During a recent webinar hosted by IXOPAY, industry experts Andrew Sjogren (Director of Product Marketing), Yasser Abu Nasser (SVP of Product), and Kyle Cook (Principal Product Manager) explored how payments have evolved from a cost center into a powerful growth engine for modern merchants.
The discussion revealed a fundamental shift in how businesses approach payment infrastructure, moving beyond traditional card processing to embrace a world of alternative payment methods, global expansion opportunities, and sophisticated orchestration capabilities. Keep reading for highlights of the webinar.
Defining Payment Connectivity Today
The definition of payment connectivity has transformed. Five or so years ago, European markets, with their complex regulatory requirements, had long understood the need for multiple payment service provider (PSP) connections. At the same time, U.S. merchants could often succeed with a single robust PSP relationship.
Today, the definition of payment connectivity extends to a merchant's ability to accept and securely process the preferred payment method of their customer. The keyword here is "preferred"—a concept that has fundamentally changed how merchants approach their payment strategy.
The proliferation of alternative payment methods (APMs) – from digital wallets to buy-now-pay-later options – has created a new reality where even domestic U.S. merchants must think globally. As Cook noted, "Now you have to look at the limitations of your payment processor. Can I do everything I need to do with this one payment processor?"
The shift from a card-first world to one filled with alternative payment methods (APMs), digital wallets, buy now/pay later solutions, and hyperlocal methods means speed-to-market is essential. Connections to multiple providers and payment methods mean you can go to market faster than you could with a single PSP.
The Build vs. Buy Decision
Many enterprises have built and maintained direct payment integrations in-house for years, only to face mounting challenges:
Limited access to new payment methods or markets.
Difficulty managing mandates and compliance updates.
Disconnected data ownership and reconciliation issues.
Direct payment integrations are also very costly and time-intensive. Industry research has estimated ~1,300 developer hours for a single basic card-processing API build. Even with prebuilt adapters, testing and maintenance demand significant resources.
Using an orchestration layer with prebuilt, tested connections allows merchants to:
Quickly add or swap PSPs.
Test hypotheses (e.g., moving traffic to boost authorizations).
Enter new markets with minimal technical lift.
Keep developers focused on core business priorities.
Post-Processing: The Hidden Muscle
Post-processing functions—like reconciliation, dispute management, and data normalization—are critical to scaling efficiently and go hand-in-hand with payment connectivity. Without them, expanding payment methods or PSPs can overwhelm operational teams.
A robust orchestration layer:
Normalizes transaction data from multiple providers.
Reduces manual reconciliation work.
Supports role-based access, reporting, and integration with ERP/CRM systems.
In an era where customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and payment technologies are evolving faster than ever, businesses can’t afford to treat payments as an afterthought. Payment connectivity—powered by orchestration—offers the flexibility, speed, and control needed to keep pace with market demands while unlocking new growth opportunities.
Whether you’re aiming to expand into new geographies, adopt the latest payment methods, or streamline post-processing, a unified, future-proof payment stack can be the difference between keeping up and leading the way.
Watch the full webinar replay to hear the complete discussion, real-world examples, and tactical advice for building a future-proof enterprise payment strategy.