There is no doubt that the pandemic has brought about a major transformation in consumer behaviour and the e-commerce sector. Although e-commerce businesses have long found their footing in the modern world, lockdowns and strict regulations acted as catalysts for it to soar in unprecedented ways.
From 2016 to 2020, the online market in Southeast Asia alone saw a 600% expansion, according to a research done by The Load Star. Alongside emerging technologies and the rise of digital natives, the e-commerce boom isn’t one to be slowing down anytime soon. As more consumers shy away from buying goods from brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce retailers continue to see explosive sales growth, new standards are being formed.
Given the abundance of options made available at a click of a button, a consumer’s desire for immediate satisfaction and convenience calls for innovative business solutions to prevent hurdles in online growth. One such service that helps e-commerce businesses adapt to the shifting market dynamics is a payment gateway.
What is a payment gateway solution?
A payment gateway is a software application that is integrated with an e-commerce platform and processes payments for online purchases. An interface between a merchant’s website and a payment processing bank, it encrypts sensitive data like credit card details. Supporting smooth online transactions and getting them approved by the issuer bank in mere seconds, businesses have much to gain from this e-commerce service.
Importance of payment gateways in e-commerce
Having top-notch products that fill market gaps and e-commerce solutions like mature shipping are definite ways to attract new consumers and retain loyal ones. But between the levels of awareness and conversion, there can be instances of customers abandoning ship and never completing a transaction with a brand. In the e-commerce sector, such situations are known as shopping cart abandonment. According to a survey conducted by Baymard, 7% of online shoppers abandoned their carts because there weren’t enough choices for payment methods. 18% and 17% also stated that checkout processes were too long, and they did not trust the site with their credit card information respectively.
Best e-commerce platforms & its payment gateway providers
In Malaysia, there is a long list of payment gateway options to leverage when you want to start accepting payments from customers. When you run your online business, e-commerce platforms partner with these payment gateways so that you can take payments with the provider that is right for you. Here are four of the leading e-commerce platforms that natively integrate some of the most popular and reliable payment gateways in Malaysia.
1. Shopify
An e-commerce platform that hosts your online store, Shopify lays the foundations of running an e-commerce business. Not only does Shopify make it easy for businesses to set up an entire website, but it also makes handling payments convenient due to its compatibility with nearly every payment gateway you can find. The online payment service providers that it has partnered with allow your customers to choose their preferred payment method and pay in their local currency. From credit card payments to Apple Pay, a smooth checkout experience is guaranteed. Besides partnering with international payment gateways like Stripe, which is an excellent option for Malaysian businesses selling locally and globally online, it boasts local payment gateways like Billplz.
Billplz
A fair payment platform, Billplz is trusted by businesses nationwide. Billplz’s membership plans start as low as RM0 per month, making it extremely suitable for new organisations. Featuring low transaction fees, multiple payment methods, and quick settlement for online banking, it’s clear to see why it’s rapidly growing to become one of the best payment gateways in Malaysia. As a matter of fact, according to Bank of Negara’s statistics, Billplz is the preferred online payment method in Malaysia.
2. WooCommerce
An open-source plugin built for WordPress, WooCommerce is a super flexible platform that puts the power in your hands. When it comes to payment gateways, WooCommerce does not fall short either, as it supports a full stream of payment services that can be installed as add-ons. In addition to the popular gateways in Malaysia such as Billplz and Eway, it also features “WooCommerce Extensions”. Boasting free and paid extensions like SecurePay, Malaysian business owners can opt for extensions that offer the best value for money, namely:
iPay88
The leading payment gateway in the Southeast Asian region, iPay88 has one of the lowest transaction fees. Accepting all major credit cards, direct debit payments, and alternative payment methods like Maybank2u, its annual subscription fee is a steal. With a proven fraud prevention system and monitoring, high international security standards and efficient payment system, issues of shopping cart abandonment will be a thing of the past.
3. EasyStore
With over 30,000 brands now utilising EasyStore for their e-commerce needs, this platform is also worth considering. Home-grown right here in Malaysia, this famous local e-commerce platform offers a range of payment services and plans that start as low as RM0 per month. Every plan, including its free ones, have integrated payment solutions by PayPal, GrabPay, PayHalal, and SenangPay. One of its best payment gateways is:
eGHL
A secure payment solution for online businesses in Southeast Asia, eGHL promises to grow business income streams by offering customers the flexibility to pay for purchases in instalments. Accepting payment from over 100 channels – credit cards, online banking, and e-wallets – and in over 48 currencies, going international has never been simpler. Beyond EasyStore, it also integrated with other prominent e-commerce sites like SiteGiant and Shopify.
4. Wix
A cloud-based development platform, Wix lets you create a website that you can be proud of. A drag-and-drop site builder, Wix sites are also optimised for mobile devices. Despite its cutting-edge site templates and flexibility, there are limited Wix payment gateways in Malaysia. Though Wix has no integration of popular payment gateways in Malaysia like iPay88, it does integrate with Stripe, PayPal and Atome.
Stripe
Developer-friendly, the Stripe payment gateway is one of the most popular and quickly developing payment systems. Compatible with commonly used websites and applications, Stripe comes with a wide range of powerful tools. Not requiring a merchant account, you can easily add the gateway to your e-commerce site. Accepting over 135 currencies, 3D Secure authentication, 24/7 support, two different pricing plans to cater to your business needs regardless of its size, and more, business owners and customers have loads to gain.
Leverage digital integrations
Choosing the right e-commerce platform and accompanying payment gateway requires much consideration. From payable fees to currencies, there are many factors to take note of to make things easy for customers and your business. But handling your e-commerce orders and maintaining customer satisfaction does not end there. It is pivotal to consider the top e-commerce trends and leverage leading technologies to ensure that your business stays ahead of the competition. Be it through the re-evaluation of business strategies to manage order fulfilment during the holiday seasons or improving logistics operations, scaling your online business strategically is the best way to avoid a growth plateau and keep customers happy.
