To adapt to modern time requirements, businesses of all kinds, including e-commerce businesses, must stay up to date with the demands and needs of their clients. This includes providing them with the services and products they are looking for.
But it’s not only about the quality of products and services you sell; it’s also about how easy and convenient the whole purchase process is, starting from the shopping journey and payment to the delivery and after-sales services.
Customers who shop online look for convenient payment options that appeal to their preferences. Considering that, businesses must offer several payment options to cater to and target as many customers as they can.
For now, cash is here to stay. Some may still go for cash to make payments. There are many reasons for that; old people find it easier to handle cash and think it is safer than other options. Other people use cash to control their expenditures since they tend to turn into spendthrifts when using credit cards and other digital payment methods.
Still, those don’t represent the majority; most people don’t like to carry cash anymore. For that reason, businesses must be prepared to serve people no matter what their preferences are.
In this article, we will list the most popular payment methods every business must encompass not only to be at the top of clients’ list but also to facilitate the relationship between them and their different suppliers.
Credit and Debit Cards
Credit and debit cards are some of the most popular payment methods around the world. They can be used for both in-store and online purchases.
Many prefer paying using their card to benefit from their banks’ reward programs. With every payment they make they’ll earn points that can be redeemed for things like traveling miles, VIP lounge access, and other tempting stuff.
They are popular for their convenience. It is rare to find a business that doesn’t allow paying with a debit or credit card and the few that don’t lose a lot of profit. It takes few clicks, and everything is done.
Direct Deposits
With direct deposits, individuals can transfer money directly to the business’ account. Through direct debit mandates, the customer would be able to send a request to the bank to authorize the payment.
Direct deposits are actually one of the safest paying methods, eliminating the risk of theft. This method is more commonly used with recurring expenses, e.g., monthly service subscriptions fees.
It may be a traditional way compared to the newly invented methods, but it wouldn’t lose its value any time soon. In fact, it is very essential for B2B kind of payments.
Cryptocurrencies
It may seem a bit insane for some at the moment, but cryptocurrencies are growing in popularity and are expected to be one of the mainstream payment options in the future. Governments around the world are heading towards establishing laws that will regulate the use of cryptocurrencies.
Though they are surrounded with uncertainty due to the constant change in value and government unstable views towards them, cryptocurrencies are a worthy online payment option to consider.
Electronic Wallets
Electronic wallets or e-wallets are the new go-to payment option for businesses and customers. The concept is simple, the customer would download an app, where he will store all the financial information he needs to make a payment. It can be used to pay online or in-store.
Not only customers can benefit from e-wallets these days. This convenient option can function as a payment method in B2B transactions. It would help business owners to enhance their relationships with suppliers, track expenses, and settle payments easily.
