Accept Online Payments with Hosted Payment Pages
What is a hosted payment page?
A hosted payment page (also known as an external checkout, third-party checkout, external payment page or checkout page) is often used by eMerchants to assist them in accepting online payments. Essentially, it is a third-party checkout web form that handles online payments. A hosted checkout page, when done properly, should take care of the entire transaction process, from the collection of payment information to the protection of sensitive payment data.
How does a hosted payment page work?
As soon as the customer clicks the ‘Buy Now’ button on your website, they are redirected from your store to the third party website that will process the payment or alternatively an iFrame (which is used to insert content from another source) can be built into the website allowing the customers to stay on site, this option increases conversion rates. Customers will then input their sensitive payment data directly into the secure hosted payment page/iFrame. The sensitive data does not pass through your website directly - the transaction process is completed by the external payment provider.
What are the benefits of using hosted payment pages?
Secure hosted payment pages come with many benefits. Here are the top three reasons to consider one for your business. If this isn’t enough, you can contact our sales team who can discuss in more depth the ins and outs of hosted payment pages.
Easy to set up:
The process of setting up your hosted payment page is much easier than building an integrated solution. A basic setup can be as simple as copying and pasting a few lines of code into your website. Branded versions or those using an iFrame setup require more work but are easy to maintain and allow for the easy set-up in multiple languages and payment methods. They are also one of the fastest ways to start accepting online payments.
Secure:
Managing customer data securely and the risk of fraud can attack your bottom line. When using a hosted payment page, you have access to enhanced security at a reduced cost or liability that comes with setting it all up yourself. Merchants who only use hosted payment pages to process their payments have no PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) requirements.
Simple and convenient for customers:
By using a hosted payment page, you don’t have to sacrifice convenience for security. With shop cart abandonment rates high, it is essential to have a streamlined checkout process to keep your customers engaged. By using hosted payment pages, you can rely on the provider’s experience for a protected user friendly checkout with multiple payment methods.
What makes a good hosted payment page provider?
As with everything, not all hosted payment pages providers are equal. In order to create the perfect payments experience for your website, you need to find the right partner. Knowing what to look out for will help you make the right decision. Below is a list highlighting some of the most important features to look out for when making your final pick.
Is it easy to integrate into your website?
The best option of a hosted checkout page solution will have a relatively fuss-free setup process. It should not take you–the merchant–much time or effort to integrate it into your website. If you feel like the process is too complex, ask for help from the provider, or better yet, try a different one.
Does it allow for customization?
In order to maintain a consistent user experience, the hosted checkout page solutions should be customized to fit your corporate branding. The more your checkout page looks and feels like your actual website, the more confident the customer will feel and, therefore, less likely to abandon the payment process. It is also essential to create different payment experiences across different devices. Trying to make a purchase on a phone from a website with only a desktop payment setup, is a very frustrating experience!
Does the hosted checkout page offer a variety of payment methods?
Cards (debit and credit) are still the most popular when it comes to online payments. However, their number one status is diminishing. Many shoppers, especially the younger generations, prefer digital wallets such as Google Pay and Apple Pay as well as other alternative payment methods, such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), or open banking. If your website fails to provide the preferred method for your customers, they will probably take their purchasing power elsewhere. So make sure that your hosted checkout page supports a variety of payment methods. With IXOPAY you can combine a hosted payment page with multiple payment providers/acquirers allowing you to accept international, local, and alternative payment methods in order to provide the most appropriate payment mix to your customers. See all available connections here.
Does it offer global options?
With cross-border e-commerce and borderless payments growing rapidly, more and more merchants are starting to look into international payment solutions. If you plan to expand into new markets, make sure you can easily provide your international customers with their local payment methods and the ability to pay in their own currency using dynamic method selection.
What is the alternative to a hosted payment page?
Another option is to build an integrated payment system; when the payment experience is built directly into your website. This payment setup provides the opportunity for complete customization, a seamless user experience, and allows your customers to create customer profiles—which can be used across multiple subsidiaries, something that not all hosted payment page suppliers offer but is possible with a leading payment orchestration platform such as IXOPAY. Integrated payment experiences (server to server) are great, however, they cost money to build and maintain, and require the merchant to have stronger PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) capabilities. If you are operating a large enterprise business, then integrated payments could be the logical solution (but don’t underestimate the technical effort!).
Specific hosted fields are also an option. By using iFrames you can embed, directly into your website, content from a third party solution. However, instead of the entire payment process being inputted into these boxes, you can use them for just the sensitive information, for example, the debit/credit card number and CVV code. This keeps the customers on your site and does not redirect them, something which can increase shop cart abandonment and cause suspicion. By using hosted payment fields, you reduce your compliance needs as the sensitive data handled by the third-party provider. Find out more about different checkout options here.
Why are hosted payment pages important?
Hosted payment pages are a great solution for taking payments online, whether you are selling products, offering services, or taking donations. Quick implementation, secure information protection, decreased PCI scope and costs, streamlined checkout experience - the benefits of hosted payment pages are numerous. By using a third-party hosted checkout page you free up time and resources to focus on what you do best, growing your business. If you’re interested in finding out more about hosted payment pages and upgrading your payment setup, then get in touch with our Sales Team. Discover how hosted payment pages, IXOPAY and its payment orchestration platform can help you reach your payment goals.
About IXOPAY
IXOPAY is a payments orchestration platform enabling independent, flexible and global payment processing. As a highly scalable and PCI-DSS certified “fintech enabler”, IXOPAY fulfills the needs of large merchants as well as those of “white label” clients: payment service providers (PSPs), acquirers and independent sales organizations (ISOs). The modern, easily extendable architecture offers smart transaction routing & cascading, state-of-the-art risk & fraud management, fully automated reconciliation and settlements processing, comprehensive reporting as well as plugin-based integration of acquirers, payment service providers and alternative payment methods (APMs).
IXOPAY is part of the IXOLIT Group, founded in Vienna, Austria in 2001. With local entities in Austria and the USA, IXOLIT supports national and international customers across various industry verticals. The owner-led and -financed company has grown from 2 to more than 80 employees and is focused on building innovative solutions for eCommerce.
Please find more information about IXOPAY here: https://www.ixopay.com