Security should be at the top of your list. With sensitive customer data flying around, you want encryption and fraud detection as standard. Make sure the gateway complies with PCI DSS, so you know your transactions are protected.
What’s a payment gateway?
A payment gateway is a digital cashier for online or in-app payments. After a customer hits ‘pay’, the gateway sends their payment information to their bank for approval. It keeps sensitive data, like card numbers, safe by encrypting it. If it all checks out, the gateway sends confirmation and the payment goes through.
Behind the scenes, the payment gateway does a lot of heavy lifting. But for the customer, it's all seamless and immediate. This means less friction, less cart abandonment and more sales conversions as checkout is fast, secure and user-friendly. You can also use a gateway to take payments over the phone – no need for a card reader.
Ways to pay with Elavon gateways
How do I pick the right payment gateway?
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Good payment gateway providers make sure you get your money fast and without fuss. Some take a sales percentage, others charge annually or have periodical processing fees, while others take fees per transaction on top. You need to assess exactly what you’re getting for your money. It could be worth paying a little more for a system with excellent customer service or a wider card network, so you get bang for your buck.
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If you have an online shop or ecommerce platform, make sure your gateway is easy to integrate and install, and ideally has nifty features that make it extra compatible with what you already use. A combined gateway and acquirer is good for small businesses that don’t want to run multiple accounts, and helps streamline accounting systems.
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Make sure your payment gateway provider offers online currency conversion to display prices in the local currency where a browser is located, based on its IP address. MCC offers more than 100 currencies, opening up markets you might not have had access to before. It’s also good to offer flexibility in the payment methods customers can use, so you never miss a sale.
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Bamboozled when it comes to the best payment gateway? Ask the experts at Elavon. For over 30 years, we’ve been helping businesses find the the right payment systems to meet their industry needs – as well as customer expectations, wherever they are and however they want to pay.
Our gateways integrate with leading website partners
Why go online with Elavon?
All-in-one merchant services
We’re a one-stop-shop for your business: from flexible finance options to all the services and technology you need to take fast, safe payments, online and in-store.
Technology and security
We can help you work smarter and safely, with expert advice and point of sale (POS) software to suit your business – all backed with the latest security technology.
Fast funding into your account
Cashflow is critical to cover everyday operations but also those unexpected expenses. We help drive cashflow into businesses with next-day funding into your account.
Benefits of a combined gateway and acquirer
Reporting and security
You have one contract and one contact. It streamlines reporting systems for better data insights. It also simplifies security – all Elavon platforms are PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant.
Streamlined support
There’s no need to manage multiple contracts, platforms or customer service teams. It can even mean lower costs, since you’re not paying for services you don’t use and you don’t have to manage fees across multiple providers.
Reliable technology
When your gateway and acquiring services work hand in hand, there’s less chance of technical issues, downtime or communication errors. This helps with smoother transactions and fewer abandoned carts.
“Everything with Elavon is under one roof. For us, having one person to contact for both our acquirer and our gateway provider is a must. It streamlines the whole process.”
Anthony Perkins, head of operations, Washstation
Pay By Link and Virtual Terminal
Take online payments without the need for your own website, so customers can pay how they like. With Pay By Link, you generate secure URL links to our payment pages and send them to your customers by email, text or social media. For mail or telephone order (MOTO) customers, Virtual Terminal works on any device with an internet browser – take secure payments even if you're away from your physical or online payment system.
Recurring payments and Stored Shopper
Make online payments easier for your regular customers with customisable payment options. Store card details in a secure online wallet, so your returning customers can enjoy fast-tracked purchases.
For customers who subscribe to communications from your business, offer promotional rates and even ongoing payment plans, with options to customise how often they’re billed.
Hosted payment pages and API
Easily add a hosted online payment page that works with your website’s style and functionality, or build a tailored, end-to-end online payments process with our flexible application programming interface (API).
Let international customers pay in their own currency, using Multi-Currency Conversion. We’ll also help you offer a range of alternative payment methods to let your customers pay how they want.
“We can take payments even when clients aren’t in our offices. With the virtual terminal, they can pay quickly and securely over the phone, at a time that suits them. Since we started working with Elavon, we’re realising huge benefits in efficiency and in the time taken to manage, collect and track our client fees."
Emma Glen, director of Clayhall Financial Services
Multi-Currency Conversion
Add Multi-Currency Conversion to display online prices in shoppers’ local currencies and reduce shopping-cart abandonment. With MCC, you can display your prices in over 100 currencies – there’s no interruption to payment flow and you’ve complete control of product pricing.
Secured by Elavon – for safer sales
Secured by Elavon is range of three products, designed to protect customer card details, your reputation and your bottom line: the flexible, scalable security solution for a safer payments system. All three include PCI DSS certification, risk assessment and access to ongoing data-security consultancy.
Transaction Risk Analysis
Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) helps protect cardholders from online fraud, but inevitably brings friction into the checkout process. If you take lots of low risk, small-amount* payments, TRA helps you get SCA exemptions to find the sweet spot between reducing fraud risk and improving sales.
*Value is up-to-date converted amount equivalent to €500 at time of transaction
More from online businesses like yours
Skin Diligent: an online retail customer
When launching online into multiple markets, Skin Diligent chose Elavon for its payment gateway, integrating with all major website partners.
Monkton Elm: an omnichannel customer
The destination garden centre has met changes in buyer behaviour and customer expectations by selling online as well as in-store.
Washstation: a digital services customer
When providing laundry services to students, Washstation needs to take 3-D Secure payments using Gen Z’s preferred ways to pay.
FAQs
Get in touch
Click below to contact an Elavon payments expert.
Helping thousands of customers around the world grow their business through payments
Customer service and support
We’re here to help!
Customer service: 0818 20 21 20
8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
Elavon technical support: 0818 30 31 30
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Opayo product support: 01 240 8731
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Copyright© 2024 | U.S. Bank Europe DAC. Registered in Ireland – Number 418442. Registered Office: Block F1, Cherrywood Business Park, Dublin 18, D18 W2X7, Ireland.
U.S. Bank Europe DAC, trading as Elavon Merchant Services, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Helping thousands of customers around the world grow their business through payments
Customer service and support
We’re here to help!
Customer service: 0818 20 21 20
8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
Elavon technical support: 0818 30 31 30
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Opayo product support: 01 240 8731
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Copyright© 2024 | U.S. Bank Europe DAC. Registered in Ireland – Number 418442. Registered Office: Block F1, Cherrywood Business Park, Dublin 18, D18 W2X7, Ireland.
U.S. Bank Europe DAC, trading as Elavon Merchant Services, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
