What Are BigCommerce Payment Gateways?
BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform that integrates payment gateways to facilitate online transactions. These gateways connect customers' payment methods—such as credit cards or digital wallets—to the merchant's bank account. Supporting over 65 payment gateway integrations, BigCommerce offers a wide range of payment options for store owners.
Benefits of Using BigCommerce Payment Gateways
A reliable and efficient payment processing system makes running an online store possible. BigCommerce's suite of payment gateways offers numerous advantages and essential features for e-commerce merchants and customers.
- Streamlined Checkout Process: With automated processing and integration, customers can complete their purchases quickly and efficiently in the user-friendly interface.
- Enhanced Security Measures: BigCommerce's secure payment gateways comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), ensuring that merchant and customer information is safe.
- Variety of Payment Options: From major credit cards to popular digital wallets like PayPal and Square, merchants can provide customers multiple ways to pay, increasing customer satisfaction.
- Real-Time Transaction Processing: BigCommerce payment gateways facilitate instant transaction processing, reducing manual input and the potential for human error.
- Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics: Detailed reporting and analytics allow e-commerce business owners to track payment trends, monitor sales performance, and make informed decisions about their e-commerce strategy.
- Scalability for Growth: BigCommerce payment gateways are designed to scale with your business, accommodating increased transaction volumes and adding new payment options as needed.
BigCommerce Gateway Types
BigCommerce currently supports three gateways: on-site payment gateways, redirect payment gateways, and on-site gateways with off-site processing.
1. On-site Payment Gateways
On-site payment gateways integrate payment processing directly on their websites. Customers enter their payment details and complete transactions without leaving the merchant's store environment.
Best for: Larger businesses with significant resources that need full control over the user experience and can handle the security requirements.
Pros:
- Offers a cohesive and professional brand experience.
- Can lead to higher conversion rates as buyers remain on the merchant's site.
- Allows for more control over the checkout experience.
Cons:
- May require greater security measures and compliance with PCI DSS.
- Can be more complex and expensive to set up.
2. Redirect Payment Gateways
Redirect gateways take customers from the merchant's site to a third-party site (e.g., PayPal, Stripe) to complete the payment.
Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses, startups, or those without extensive resources to manage payment security. Also suitable for any business that wants a quick and easy setup.
Pros:
- Eases the security and PCI compliance burden on the merchant.
- Simplifies the setup process.
Cons:
- Redirects can disrupt the shopping experience, potentially leading to cart abandonment.
- Merchants have limited control over the transaction process.
3. On-site Gateway With Off-Site Processing
Combining elements from both on-site and redirect gateways, this solution captures payment details on the merchant's site, but the actual processing of the payment happens on a third-party server. This option maintains a customer-friendly shopping experience while outsourcing the actual payment handling.
Best for: Medium to large businesses that want a balance between user experience and security without the complexities of fully managing payment processing services on their own.
Pros:
- Keeps the customer on the merchant's website for a better user experience.
- Offloads the processing and security responsibilities to the gateway provider.
Cons:
- Can be more difficult to set up properly to ensure a seamless transition and high data security.
- May incur a balance between control and convenience.
BigCommerce Payment Integrations
One of the premier e-commerce platforms in the digital space, BigCommerce plays nicely with a great selection of popular payment gateways and processors and can easily satisfy many businesses with core integrations like PayPal and Stripe.
Given the unique challenges faced by high-risk businesses, however, relying solely on standard payment integrations may not be sufficient. Fortunately, BigCommerce allows for custom payment gateway integrations as well.
1. Core BigCommerce Payment Gateways
With over 65 payment gateway integrations, BigCommerce ensures that store owners can accept payments securely and efficiently while providing customers with versatile payment options to complete their transactions.
Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses needing a simple, secure, cost-effective payment solution with minimal setup and ongoing maintenance. It’s also great for companies operating in major markets where BigCommerce offers extensive support.
Benefits of BigCommerce's Supported Gateways:
- Easy Setup: You can quickly activate and use any pre-integrated payment gateways without needing technical expertise, making it ideal for businesses that want a fast and hassle-free solution.
- Advanced Transaction Management: Features like Capture and Refunds allow you to efficiently manage transactions directly from your control panel, streamlining your operations.
- Enhanced Security with 3D Secure: This extra layer of fraud protection helps prevent unauthorized transactions, increasing customer trust and security.
- Global Reach: Multi-currency support enables you to easily conduct transactions with international customers, expanding your market reach.
2. Customized BigCommerce Payment Gateways
A standout feature of BigCommerce is its flexibility and customization options when integrating payment gateways. Customizing compatible payment gateways allows e-commerce store owners to tailor their checkout process according to their business needs and preferences, ultimately enhancing customer experiences and increasing conversion rates.
Best For: Larger enterprises or businesses with complex needs that require a highly customized and branded payment experience. This option is especially useful for companies that have, or can access, the technical expertise necessary to implement and maintain these customizations.
Benefits of Gateway Customization:
- Flexibility in Integration: By configuring APIs between BigCommerce and your payment providers, you can tailor the integration to meet your specific needs.
- Advanced Capabilities: Customization lets you securely store customer payment information, run payment analytics, and set up regional-specific policies.
- Enhanced Security and Compliance: If you require additional security features like 3D Secure, customization allows you to incorporate these into your payment process, ensuring compliance with industry standards and providing robust fraud prevention.
- Multi-Channel Reconciliation: For businesses operating across multiple channels, customization allows you to reconcile payments from various sources, streamlining your financial management and providing a clearer picture of your cash flow.
3. Custom Integration of E-Commerce Payment Gateways
BigCommerce allows merchants to integrate custom payment processors and gateways into their e-commerce stores.
Best For: Global businesses that need a customized payment solution and are willing to invest in a partnership with a BigCommerce-certified technology provider to ensure the integration is secure and compliant. This option is also well-suited for high-risk businesses that require a merchant service provider experienced in managing higher-risk transactions.
Benefits of Custom Payment Gateway Integration:
- Fully Customizable Checkout Process: Custom integration enables you to build a payment experience from the ground up, incorporating any payment methods or features that are essential to your business, providing a unique and tailored checkout process.
- Adaptability for Global Markets: If your business operates internationally, custom integration allows you to cater to specific regional needs, ensuring that you provide the most relevant payment options to each market.
- Support for High-Risk Businesses: For businesses classified as high-risk, custom integration allows you to work with specialized payment processors like Zen Payments, which are experienced in handling the unique challenges and higher risks associated with such industries.
Steps to Integrate a Custom Payment Gateway in BigCommerce
Integrating a third-party payment gateway provider into your BigCommerce storefront can streamline your payment process, especially when dealing with high-risk credit card transactions. To integrate your preferred gateway:
- Access Your BigCommerce Account: Log in to your BigCommerce dashboard with your credentials.
- Navigate to Settings: Once logged in, go to the 'Store Setup' section and click 'Payments.'
- Choose a Payment Gateway: Select 'Online Payment Methods,' scroll to the bottom of the list of available gateways, and select 'Other Online Payment Methods.'
- Set Up Custom Payment Gateway: Look for an option that allows you to add a custom or third-party gateway. You should click on 'Setup.'
- Enter Gateway Details: In the provided fields, enter the necessary details for Zen Payments, such as the API key and other required credentials.
- Configure Gateway Settings: Adjust settings to match your business needs, including transaction fees, security features, and preferred payment methods.
- Save and Test: Save the entered information. It's critical to perform test transactions to ensure everything operates smoothly.
Consult your merchant service provider for support for any specific configuration requirements or assistance to ensure a secure and efficient payment environment for your customers.
Let Zen Payments Help With Your High-Risk Business
BigCommerce payment gateways help businesses streamline payment processes while ensuring security and efficiency. When it comes to operating a high-risk business, however, you may face your own unique challenges. At Zen Payments, we can help you navigate the complexities of high-risk transactions, reducing the strain and complications associated with traditional payment processors.
Are you ready to take your high-risk business to the next level? Contact Zen Payments today to learn how we can help you streamline your payment processing and enhance your customer experience!
FAQ
Can I use multiple gateways with BigCommerce?
Yes, BigCommerce allows you to set up and manage multiple payment options for your customers, giving them more flexibility and convenience when making credit card purchases on your online store. By integrating multiple gateways, you can cater to a wider range of customers and provide backup options in case one gateway experiences downtime or technical issues, ensuring a smooth and seamless checkout process for your customers.
What are the Best Payment Gateways for BigCommerce Stores?
- Stripe is available in 42 countries and supports over 135 currencies, making it a versatile choice for businesses with international reach. Its one-click checkout improves conversion rates by making the payment process quicker for customers. Additionally, Stripe provides robust fraud protection tools and extensive online customization options, appealing to tech-savvy users who want to tailor their payment experiences.
- Square is known for its user-friendly interface, offers a contactless card reader and mobile payment solutions that simplify in-person transactions. It also includes online store-building functionality and straightforward invoicing features, making it an all-in-one solution for small merchants.
- Amazon Pay leverages the trust and familiarity of the Amazon brand, allowing customers to use their Amazon account for quick and secure transactions. This payment gateway is particularly appealing for customers with delivery and payment information saved on Amazon, streamlining the checkout process.
- PayPal is one of the most widely used payment gateways for e-commerce stores, including those on BigCommerce. Given its popularity, many customers already have PayPal accounts, which can lead to higher conversion rates.
- Authorize.Net provides a comprehensive suite of features, including fraud detection tools, recurring billing, and customer invoicing. Additionally, Authorize.Net supports a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, e-checks, and digital wallets.