Payment Gateway Integration in iOS and Android Apps – What you need to know

Society has gone cashless which has removed the hassles from cash transactions. Thanks to mobile payment that has enabled cashless alternatives with faster purchases followed by the best shopping experience. That’s exactly what online shoppers are looking for. This is why eCommerce businesses are increasingly opting for mobile payment gateway integration.

The global payment gateway market is estimated to reach over $162.68 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 21.12%.

The growing prominence of mobile payment for a variety of tasks has made it a lucrative opportunity for eCommerce businesses to reap benefits galore. That’s why businesses look to partner with the company providing the best ecommerce development solutions to enable seamless payment gateway integration within mobile applications. Also, it relieves businesses from the effort of handling and managing transactions. Let’s understand payment gateway integration with iOS and Android apps extensively.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a technology that enables the secure processing of online financial transactions, allowing businesses to accept payments from customers through various channels, such as websites or mobile apps. It acts as the intermediary between the business and the financial institution or payment processor.

Popular payment gateway providers include PayPal, Stripe, Braintree, Authorize.Net, and many others. These providers offer a range of features, pricing models, and integration options to cater to different business needs.

How does payment gateway integration make transactions hassle-free?

When a customer makes a purchase or initiates a payment, the payment gateway securely collects the payment details, such as credit card information or digital wallet credentials, encrypts the data, and transmits it to the payment processor. The payment processor then verifies the transaction details with the customer’s financial institution or card issuer to ensure there are sufficient funds and that the transaction is legitimate.

Once the payment processor receives the authorization or approval, it communicates the response back to the payment gateway, which then relays the information to the merchant. The merchant can then complete the transaction and fulfill the customer’s order.

Why should businesses opt for payment gateway integration with iOS and Android apps?

Businesses opt for pp development solutions that facilitate faster checkout, which, in turn, increase conversion and reduce cart abandonment rates. However, integrating payment gateway to build mobile app payment solutions helps enables quick checkout and allows businesses to enjoy a range of benefits that are-

Say goodbye to the complex transaction process

When users online transfer money to businesses, the interbank transaction process is complex to handle. Banks take care of transactions and data safety, but what about if the data eavesdrop during transit? How businesses can be sure of the balance that a user account has before it gets cleared by the bank? In the same vein, passing through the complicated process of PCI DSS takes months. On the flip side, integrating a payment gateway makes it done at the flick of the switch with no uncertainties or confusion.

Encryption and Security

Eliminating theft, money loss, or fake currency issues, the secure payment integration assures safe transfer. Payment gateways use encryption and security protocols to protect sensitive payment data during transmission, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the information making mobile payment solutions safe and secure for all users.

Payment Method Support

Payment gateways platforms support various payment methods, such as credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, and alternative payment methods, allowing customers to choose their preferred way of paying. Thereby integration of a payment gateway eases transactions, removes the hassles of carrying cash, and provides extra benefits in the form of discounts.

Faster Transaction Processing

The payment gateway providers handle the processing of transactions, including authorization, capturing funds, and settling payments to the merchant’s account with ease. However, the process of payment processing in apps gets finished within a few seconds, which comparatively takes less time than standing in a long queue at a physical store and waiting for their turn to make a payment.

Integrate Payment APIs to enable automation

Payment gateway APIs and SDKs allow businesses to integrate the payment gateway functionality into their websites or mobile apps seamlessly. Thereby businesses can facilitate online transactions or One-click payments with a safer mobile payment ecosystem.

Fraud Detection and Prevention

Many payment gateway integrations offer built-in fraud detection mechanisms and tools to help merchants identify and prevent fraudulent transactions, reducing the risk of financial losses.

Reporting and Analytics

Payment gateways often provide reporting and analytics features, giving merchants insights into transaction data, sales trends, and customer behavior. The range of benefits associated with payment gateway integration appeals businesses to hire Android developers to seamlessly integrate payment gateway with Android app or hire iOS developers for integrating payment gateway with iOS app. Now, how to get integration work done behind the scene is explained in the next section.

How does a Payment Gateway work?

This is a simplified overview of how payment is done through the payment gateway, and the actual process may involve additional steps or variations based on the specific payment gateway, bank, and payment processor being used.

• • Customer initiates payment: The customer selects products/services and proceeds to the checkout page to make a payment. Once the button for payment is clicked the payment request is generated.
  • Encryption and secure transmission: The payment gateway encrypts the customer’s payment details, such as credit card information, to ensure secure transmission over the internet.
  • Routing to the payment processor: The encrypted payment data is forwarded from the payment gateway to the payment processor or acquiring bank.
  • Payment processor authorization request: The payment processor sends an authorization request to the customer’s issuing bank or card association (e.g., Visa, Mastercard).
  • Bank response: The issuing bank or card association checks the customer’s payment details, account balance, and available credit limit. A response is sent back to the payment processor.
  • Transaction approval or decline: Based on the bank’s response, the payment processor sends an authorization or decline status to the payment gateway.
  • Response to merchant: The payment gateway relays the response (approved or declined) to the merchant, who informs the customer about the status of their payment.
  • Funds Transfer and Confirmation: If the payment is approved, the acquiring bank or payment processor transfers the funds from the customer’s bank account to the merchant’s account. The payment gateway provides a transaction confirmation to the merchant and customer, indicating the successful completion of the payment.

How to implement payment gateway integration in Android and iOS apps?

The steps to build an app help you know how to build a mobile app. But payment gateway integration is a crucial aspect of mobile app development, which is to be done by only the experts so as to minimize errors. On that note for native app development, using swift for iOS app development and using Kotlin for Android app development is beneficial.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of integrating a payment gateway into iOS and Android apps.

Choose a Payment Gateway Provider

Select a payment gateway provider that suits your requirements. Consider factors such as transaction fees, supported payment methods, security features, Payment notifications, and developer-friendly documentation. Research and compare different providers to find the one that best aligns with your Mobile app payment integration needs.

Obtain API Credentials

To integrate the payment gateway, you’ll need API credentials, including a client ID, secret key, and other required tokens. These credentials are unique to your account and allow your app to communicate securely with the payment gateway’s servers. Refer to the provider’s API documentation for instructions on obtaining the required API credentials.

Configure Your App

Next, you need to configure your app to support the payment gateway integration. This involves adding the necessary dependencies, libraries, and frameworks to your project. Most payment gateway providers offer SDKs or libraries specifically designed for iOS and Android development. Follow the Payment gateway provider’s instructions to integrate their SDK into your project. Mobile payment SDKs available make it easy for mobile wallet integration and subscription billing along with multi-currency support and custom payment flows.

Implement Payment Functionality

To enable payment functionality in your app, you’ll need to write code that interacts with the payment gateway’s APIs. This typically involves creating a checkout page or a form where users can enter their payment details. Even with Third-party payment integrations the code should handle the user input, securely transmit the payment data to the payment gateway, and process the payment transaction. Consult the provider’s API documentation for detailed instructions on implementing the payment functionality using their APIs for user-friendly payment experiences.

Test the Integration

Before deploying your app, thoroughly test the payment gateway integrated to ensure it functions as expected on iOS and Android applications. Test various scenarios, such as successful transactions, declined payments, and error handling. It’s crucial to identify and address any issues or bugs during this testing phase.

Security Considerations

Security is of paramount importance when dealing with payment transactions. Follow security best practices, such as encrypting sensitive data, using tokenization for storing payment information, and implementing two-factor authentication. Also, make sure your payment gateway complies with relevant regulations like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Handle Error Cases

Implement proper error handling and provide clear error messages to users in case of payment failures or issues. This helps improve the user experience and allows users to understand why their payment may have been declined or unsuccessful. You should verify if the selected payment gateway helps best with error management or not.

Stay Updated and Maintain Compatibility

Payment gateways often release updates, bug fixes, and security patches. Stay informed about any changes and updates from your chosen payment gateway provider. Regularly update your app’s integration code to ensure compatibility and security.

Ready to get payment gateway integration with iOS or Android apps?

Does your Ecommerce store handle online transactions? Are you facing challenges in increasing conversion due to slow transactions? Are you looking to integrate a payment gateway with mobile apps to resolve all the problems? If so, the ultimate guide for payment gateway integration with iOS and Android apps would help you.

In the event, you have confusion about payment gateway integration with iOS and Android apps, get connected with a renowned mobile app development company that help you with seamless payment gateway integration and performance optimization.

Ketan Chavda

With in-depth knowledge in International Business Management and Information Technology, he can effectively craft business enhancement strategies and can skillfully untangle technical complexities. This has laid the path for him as the Co-Founder and MD of Prismetric . Writing about the new age technology and sharing his thoughts on the continuously evolving business trends keep him content.