Modern Electronic and Online Payment Processing Systems

Nearly every successful merchant today uses some form of electronic payment processing. And anyone who’s ever placed an order on the internet has used online payment processing. Therefore, if you plan on adding payment processing to your website, it’s important to know what these terms mean and how they work.

The two terms are often used interchangeably, though it’d be more technically accurate to say that online payments are a subset of electronic payments. Both involve making non-cash payments that don’t use a paper check. Methods of payment include credit cards, debit cards and the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network, which processes direct deposits and debits as well as eChecks. Transactions can be processed as one-time or recurring customer-to-merchant payments, or as automatic bank-to-merchant payments if your bank offers online bill pay.

To make an electronic or online payment, a customer enters their credit card, debit card or bank account information during the check-out process. Once they submit the information, the site processes it for approval or denial. If and when approval is granted, the funds are automatically transferred from the customer’s account to the merchant’s account. For a recurring payment, the customer’s information and payment schedule are securely stored in the merchant’s database. If you’re tired of waiting for checks to arrive in the mail, setting up electronic and online payment processing for your ecommerce store will help you compete and thrive in the modern business world.