Payment Processing: Integrated Payments vs. Non-Integrated

From the consumer’s perspective, paying for something is pretty straightforward. But the truth is, the whole process of having customers pay with a card can be quite confusing for new business owners. In this article, we’ll help you on your search for a payment processor by breaking down the difference between integrated and non-integrated payment processing. 

As far as your checkout workflow goes, you can either choose to have your payment processing integrated or non-integrated to your POS (or eCommerce platform). In simpler terms, it’s like saying your payment terminal either speaks to your point of sale, or it doesn’t.

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into integrated payment processing, how it compares to non-integrated payments, and provide examples to properly illustrate the difference. 

We’ll answer the following questions:

• What are integrated vs. non-integrated payments?
• How do integrated payment systems work?
• What are the benefits of integrated payments?
• What should I know about payment processing?

Defining integrated payments vs. non-integrated payments

Integrated payment processing

An integrated payment processor is one that communicates with your POS system to process payments and complete transactions. Your transactions are recorded automatically in your POS system, removing the need for manual entry. This makes for a speedier checkout experience for both you and your customers.

Because it’s linked directly with your POS system, an integrated payment processor provides data related to reporting, inventory, analytics, and other software your POS uses. 

For eCommerce applications, having an integrated payment processor means your customers won’t be taken to a third-party website or app to complete payments. 

Integrated payment processing is ideal for omnichannel businesses—those that operate both online and in-store. 

Non-integrated payment processing

As you’ve likely gathered, non-integrated payment processing is when your payment processor doesn’t communicate with your POS. Transaction data isn’t automatically recorded when you ring up a sale, meaning you have to manually input information. 

When your processor isn’t connected to your POS system, you won’t have automatic access to data related to reporting, inventory, and more. 

For online transactions, customers are taken to third-party websites or apps to complete payments.

How do integrated and non-integrated payments work? 

Integrated payments

We’ve created scenarios to illustrate how integrated payment processing works, both in-store and online. 

In-store

A woman (let’s call her Sophia) is out shopping for a new pair of running shoes. She walks past your window display, spots the exact pair she wants and enters your shop. You pull out a box in her size and you enter the order on your iPad to process the sale. The bill comes out to an even $100, and Sophia chooses to pay with a credit card.

If your POS has integrated payments, this is what the checkout process looks like in this scenario:

1. Create a new sale and scan the item.
2. Select the payment method your customer would like to use (cash, debit, credit, gift card, etc.).
3. Your POS will automatically sync this information to your terminal, prompting Sophia to complete payment, then automatically communicate this back to your POS and complete the sale.

Online

Here’s what Sophia’s checkout experience would look like online: 

1. Sophia finds the shoes she wants and adds them to her cart.
2. Sophia proceeds to checkout, enters her personal and payment information all on one page—without any redirects—and concludes her order.

Non-integrated payments

Here’s what the same transaction would look like with non-integrated payments, both in-store and online. 

In-store

1. Create a new sale and scan the item.
2. Select the payment method Sophia would like to use (cash, debit, credit, gift card, etc.).
3. Grab your terminal and manually input the amount.
4. Once payment is complete, retrieve the terminal and printed receipts.
5. Manually mark the purchase as paid and conclude the sale in your POS.

Online

1. Sophia finds the shoes she wants and adds them to her cart.
2. Sophia proceeds to checkout and enters her personal information.
3. Sophia gets redirected to a third party landing page to enter her payment information. A popular example of this is PayPal.
4. Once payment information is entered and the payment has been authorized, she gets redirected back to the merchant’s website where she will be prompted to confirm her purchase, thus concluding her order.

To illustrate the difference, here’s an illustration depicting what integrated payments vs. non-integrated payments look like online:

And in-store:

What are the benefits of integrated payment processing?

As the examples above show, integrated payment processing streamlines the checkout process to create a more efficient and enjoyable experience for both you and your customers. 

If you were to use a non-integrated payment processor, not only are you adding more steps to your checkout process, you’re also missing out on all that valuable data that comes with every transaction. The only information you would be collecting is the fact that there was a sale, and that a card was used to pay for it. That’s not at all conducive to business growth. 

Let’s dig deeper into some of the benefits integrated payments can offer your business.

1. Faster checkout process

Uninterrupted communication between your POS and payment processor ensures a more efficient checkout process. You don’t have to manually enter information or record transactions yourself—it’s all done for you, making checkout a breeze. Plus, this allows you to process more transactions and potentially make more sales as a result.
 

2. Increased customer satisfaction

A streamlined checkout experience makes for happy customers. Non-integrated payments lead to longer checkout workflows, which could cause frustration among your customers. Plus, an online checkout experience that’s slow and involves third-party sites increases chances of customers abandoning their carts. 

An integrated payment processor eliminates these issues—your customers will be pleased with an efficient checkout experience, making them more likely to shop at your business in the future. 

3. Reduced risk of errors and fraud

When transaction data is recorded automatically, the risk of losses caused by human error is greatly reduced. You’re busy running a business—you shouldn’t have to worry about issues caused by manually entering the wrong information. 

Integrated payments allow for secure transactions, and because that data is recorded into your POS, it’s much easier to keep track of your sales history. Plus, using an integrated payment processor that’s PCI compliant will keep your business and consumer information protected.

4. Simplified accounting and bookkeeping

Because your in-store and online sales are entered automatically into the correct ledgers of your accounting software, bookkeeping becomes much easier. You’ll no longer have to manually enter and mark down every POS transaction, making it much easier to keep track of your records for accounting purposes.

A few things to know about payment processing 

If you’re looking to start a business, don’t underestimate the importance of payment processing. A good payment processor can help streamline your business operations, help you maintain cash flow, and keep customers happy—which can lead to more sales.

Here’s some useful information about payment processing to consider before you start your search.

1. You can accept a variety of payment methods

An integrated payment processor gives you the flexibility of accepting a wide variety of payment methods. That includes credit cards, debit, digital wallets like Google Pay, ACH payments, bank transfers and more. Since people don’t carry cash anymore, it’s important to evolve with your consumers and meet their expectations. An integrated payment processor is one way to do that. 

2. You should carefully assess pricing models

Pricing structures may seem confusing, but they don’t have to be. Do your due diligence and research each provider’s pricing model thoroughly before signing a contract. Read the fine print carefully to determine rates and to find out if there are any hidden fees. Pricing models generally fall into one of the following categories: interchange plus, flat rate, and tiered pricing. You can read more about them in our article on pricing. Compare quotes from various payment providers so you can figure out exactly how payment processing costs will factor into your monthly expenses.

3. Your payment processor should be secure and PCI compliant

Accepting payments comes with meeting a strict set of security measures, otherwise known as PCI compliance standards. These measures protect customer and merchant data. A payment provider that handles PCI compliance for you will save you time and energy—you won’t have to worry about being up to date with security requirements because your payment processor does so on your behalf. It’s worth finding a payment processor that monitors for fraud and other security risks. 

4. Customer service is key

What kind of support do you expect from your payment processor? It’s an important question to consider. You’ll likely want to be able to get in contact with your payment provider at any time, especially if an urgent issue arises. Read reviews and look into the customer service a payment provider offers before you sign on to make sure it’ll meet your needs.

Start using an integrated payment solution today

The market has been shifting toward integrated payments for some time now, and with good reason. Think about the kind of shopping experience you want to offer your customers in store and online. Think of your own experiences when shopping at your favorite stores and what you enjoyed about their checkout process. Chances are, integrated payments are part of that winning equation.

Ask yourself: What kind of effect does a lengthier checkout process have? Or the illusion that their information is being recorded twice online with two different parties? The transaction might be perceived as a scam.

Although a service like PayPal as a payment option accommodates many online shoppers, strictly offering a non-integrated payment service adds more steps to your checkout process and takes up more of your customers’ precious time. This ultimately pushes customers like Sophia to abandon their cart and lower your conversion rate. If you simplify your customers’ purchasing process, you’ll reap the rewards.

Evidently, uninterrupted communication between your payment terminal and your POS (or eCommerce platform) is essential if you’re looking to boost the efficiency of your checkout process, increase customer satisfaction, and eliminate the risk of payment errors and fraud. Plus, think of all the time you’ll save at the end of the day to close up your brick-and-mortar store.

Non-integrated payments may cost less to implement, but there’s a catch: the communication disconnect between your payment terminal and POS exposes your business to some expensive mistakes. Plus, if you ever run into an issue and need support, you’ll be stuck with having to coordinate with a third party to resolve it. 

If you want more information on using an integrated payment processor like Lightspeed Payments, talk to one of our experts today.