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sales@encoded.co.uk | 01293 229 700
  • About
  • Products
    • IVR Payments
      • IVR Payments – The Ultimate Guide for 2024
    • PayByLink
    • Agent Assisted Payments
      • Agent Assisted Payments – The Ultimate Guide for 2024
      • Fraud Prevention Platform
    • eCommerce Payments
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      • Fraud Prevention Platform
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      • Apple Pay
    • Payment Orchestration
      • Payment Orchestration – The Ultimate Guide for 2024
    • SMS Chat
  • PCI DSS
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our guides

The Ultimate Guide to Payment Orchestration for 2024

In our guide you will learn what Payment Orchestration is, the key features and benefits.

  • Learn what is Payment Orchestration
  • Learn about the key features
  • Learn about the benefits
Download our Payment Orchestration PDF
contents

Table of Contents

Click on any chapter title below to scroll directly to the chapter.

Chapter 1. Introduction

  • What is payment orchestration?
  • Five reasons why you should consider payment orchestration

Chapter 2. Payment orchestration – Features and Benefits

  • Easier integration
  • Converged commerce
  • Secure systems
  • Recurring payments – secure token vault
  • Continuity
  • Simplified payment management
  • Enables global reach and support
  • Improved payment rates and reduced costs
  • Enhances security and compliance

Chapter 3. Questions to ask about payment orchestration

  • How does payment orchestration work?
  • How is payment orchestration implemented?
  • What is the difference between payment orchestration and a payment gateway?
  • What payment methods does payment orchestration support?
  • How does payment orchestration integrate with existing business systems?
  • How does it help protect against fraud and ensure security?
  • How does payment orchestration reduce transaction costs?
  • Will payment orchestration improve my customer experience?

Chapter 4. Choosing the right technology partner

  • Make compliance easier
  • Reduce costs
  • Improve customer experience
  • Simplify the payment process
  • Developer friendly

Chapter 5. Payment orchestration in action

  • Increases acceptance and reduces costs
  • Domestic acquiring and reduces false flags
  • Uses multiple payment methods

Chapter 6. Summary

Chapter 7. Glossary of terms

Chapter 8. About Encoded

Why Encoded?

Encoded is a Level 1 PCI DSS accredited supplier – which means that contact centres and their customers can rely on Encoded’s technology with absolute confidence.

Download our PCI DSS Certificate

Why Encoded?

Encoded is an independent UK Payment Service Provider (PSP) with a feature-rich payment solutions, a white-labelled Payment Gateway and Orchestration Platform. Encoded understands that customers like to pay in different ways; whether online, in app, via self-service options or by speaking to a real person.

Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1 What is payment orchestration?
Payment orchestration is a single software layer that enables secure, frictionless, online payment processing from payer to payee. Payment orchestration helps organisations to manage the entire payment process, from payment authorisation to transaction routing and settlement.

A payment orchestration layer works independently of a merchant’s or contact centre’s chosen gateway payment provider and is not affiliated with an acquirer. In this way it can manage multiple card issuers, card schemes, payment methods and open banking which can be interchanged and used dynamically, in real-time to ensure secure, frictionless payments at least cost.

1.2 Five reasons why you should consider payment orchestration
  1. Delivers least cost acquiring through optimised transaction routing to reduce payment costs.
  2. Enhances security and compliance ensuring fraud prevention for increased customer satisfaction.
  3. Simplifies payment management with a single provider for all payments and reporting to streamline visibility and save time.
  4. Enables global reach and support with simple, low-cost expansion of payment infrastructure.
  5. Provides increased flexibility and scalability with one-to-many integration.
Download our guide to Payment orchestration
The product PDF offers the reader an insight into how Encoded’s Payment orchestration service works and its ease of implementation.
Download guide

Chapter 2. Payment orchestration – features and benefits

Features
  • Easier integration
    A payment orchestration layer with a feature rich, single and simple to use Application Programming Interface (API) enables easier integration with dozens of Acquirers and Payment Gateways to ensure greater settlement success.
  • Converged commerce
    It offers multiple payment methods APM’s, ApplePay, Google Pay, open banking or a mix via one system for enhanced customer experience.
  • Secure systems
    A layer with EMV 3-D Secure (3DS2) functionality out-of-the-box increases security. An independent platform can include PCI DSS compliance for increased customer security.
  • Recurring payments handled
    A secure token vault enables the safe storing of card data for repeat use.
  • Central Management
    A single, centralised portal enables management and reporting that streamlines visibility and reduce time.

Key features of IVR Payments

  • Easier integration
  • Converged commerce
  • Secure systems
  • Recurring payments handled
  • Central Management
Benefits
  • Continuity for improved customer experience
    Continuity from payment solutions and a payment orchestration layer from a single partner can help to provide frictionless experience and reduce cost.
  • Simplifies payment management
    All payment processing can be consolidated into a single platform, making it easier for businesses to manage and track transactions across different card issuers, card schemes, gateways, open banking and acquirers.
  • Enables global reach and support
    Easy integration with new systems mean that businesses can quickly expand to new markets and support multiple currencies, payment methods, and languages. It helps increase global reach without significant infrastructure changes.
  • Improves payment rates and reduces costs
    A payment orchestration platform intelligently routes transactions to the most appropriate card scheme, based on cost, success rates and processing times. It optimises overall payment performance for reduced transaction costs and improved approval rates.
  • Enhances security and compliance
    A single platform provides built-in security features, such as fraud detection and data encryption, to protect sensitive customer information. By consolidating all payment processing through the same platform, businesses can ensure consistent security measures and adhere to regulatory requirements.

Key benefits of IVR Payments

  • Continuity for improved customer experience
  • Simplifies payment management
  • Enables global reach and support
  • Improves payment rates and reduces costs
  • Enhances security and compliance

Chapter 3. Questions to ask about payment orchestration

3.1 How does payment orchestration work?
A payment orchestration platform offers a comprehensive payment solution. In addition to transaction processing, it acts as a central layer or hub that connects merchants to multiple payment service providers (PSPs), acquirers, alternative payment methods, and other financial services.
3.2 How is payment orchestration implemented?
A payment orchestration layer is placed in front of your current gateway. It offers flexibility, advanced routing capabilities, and the ability for businesses to optimise their payment ecosystem.
3.3 What is the difference between payment orchestration and a payment gateway?
Payment gateways typically support a limited set of payment methods, including major credit cards and possibly a few alternative payment methods. The main function of a payment gateway is to securely transmit transaction data between the merchant, the customer, and the payment processor or acquiring bank. It focuses on transaction processing, authorisation, and settlement only.
3.4 What payment methods does payment orchestration support?
A payment orchestration platform can offer a broader choice of payment methods by allowing merchants to connect and manage multiple payment methods through a single integration. This enables converged commerce to provide online, in-app, MOTO and Open Banking options via one system giving more choice and an enhanced customer experience.
3.5 How does it integrate with existing business systems?
An independent orchestration platform that uses a feature rich, single and simple to use Application Programming Interface (API) enables easier integration with various payment providers. It reduces the technical complexity and effort with no significant infrastructure changes. Businesses can quickly expand to new markets and support multiple currencies, payment methods, and languages, helping increase global reach.
3.6 How does payment orchestration help protect against fraud and ensure security?
An orchestration platform provides built-in security features, such as fraud detection and data encryption, to protect sensitive customer information. All payment processing is consolidated through the single platform, helping to provide consistent security measures and adherence to regulatory requirements.
3.7 How does payment orchestration reduce transaction costs?
With a payment orchestration layer that supports intelligent, dynamic routing, transactions are sent to the most appropriate payment channel and the least cost acquirer at the time. This reduces costs, increases conversion rates and improves cashflow.
3.8 Will it improve my customer experience?
Payment orchestration intelligently routes transactions to the most appropriate card scheme, based on cost, success rates and processing times. By dynamically selecting the best payment option at the point of transacting it protects against failed transactions. This optimises overall payment performance to increase approval rates and provides a smoother, more reliable customer experience.

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Chapter 4. Choosing the right technology partner

Choosing the right technology partner and independent provider will help ensure your payment orchestration platform can easily integrate with your existing systems, reduce the cost of transactions and meet with the necessary security compliance requirements. It will increase the number of successful transactions and the payment choices available to improve cashflow and smooth the customer experience.
Makes compliance easier

An independent payment orchestration layer consolidates all payments through a single platform via its payment gateway that checks and validates data. Built-in security features,
such as fraud detection and data encryption, protect sensitive customer information helping businesses to comply with regulatory requirements.

Reduces costs
A payment orchestration layer can integrate with a variety of card issuers, card schemes, acquirers, gateways and open banking enabling merchants to work out the best possible terms and rates, while increasing conversion rates.

It supports intelligent, dynamic routing that sends transactions to the most appropriate payment channel and least cost acquirer at the time. This increases conversion rates and improves cashflow.

Improves customer experience
A standalone orchestration platform ensures a resilient payment ecosystem that benefits merchants and customers. By dynamically selecting the best payment option at the point of transacting it reduces the number of failed transactions to deliver a smoother and more reliable customer experience.
Simplifies the payment process
An independent, vendor-agnostic payment orchestration platform harmonises and simplifies payment, making it easier for businesses to manage and track transactions across different card issuers, card schemes, open banking and acquirers. It enables merchants to offer the latest payment options to customers, such as ApplePay, GooglePay, Samsung Pay and Open Banking.
Developer friendly
A payment orchestration platform uses a readily available dev friendly API, is easy to implement, enables user acceptance testing (UAT) and test environments – including test card data.

As an independent platform with one-to many API integration, it is easy to integrate with new payment service providers or add payment methods as needed, local or international, rather than connecting with third-party payment providers via different platforms or accounts. It allows businesses to grow without the need for significant infrastructure changes.

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Chapter 5. Payment orchestration in action

APM’s

  • Apples / G Pay
  • Open Banking
  • Or a mix

“One of the key reasons for choosing Encoded was to improve the team’s experience of managing large scale migrations from legacy payment systems. With Encoded’s in-depth knowledge of data security, PCI DSS compliance and the latest payment regulations, JT had confidence that the integration would be carried out within the project timescales and to budget.”

Tim Peach,
Finance Operations Manager, JT

Chapter 6. Summary

Payment orchestration enhances workflows and improves processes for merchants to remain competitive and keep up with customer demand for a seamless payment experience.
It is the process of integrating and managing the end-to-end payment process, including authorising payments, routing transactions, and handling settlements. It can help companies to be more agile and scale more rapidly.

An independent payment orchestration platform makes it easier for online businesses/merchants to connect their websites with different payment service providers, simplifying the back-end and front-end processes while also giving customers a choice of payment options.

Businesses/Merchants can also more easily enter new markets, integrate payment providers from different regions, and accommodate different currencies and payment methods while still complying with regulations.

Chapter 7. Glossary of Terms

Payment Orchestration Layer

A payment orchestration platform is a single software layer that enables the processing of secure, frictionless online payments from payer to payee. Payment orchestration helps organisations to manage the entire payment process, from payment authorisation to transaction routing and settlement.

Least-cost Acquiring
Different acquirers or as they are known – acquiring banks or merchant banks, charge different rates to merchants depending on various factors. Using the Encoded Payment Orchestration Platform with Encoded Payment Gateway you can enter the different rates you have been offered. Then when payment traffic is sent it will select the acquirer with the best rate.
Hosted Payment Fields
Hosted Payment Fields replace Hosted Payment iFrames which display a web page within a web page hosted by a payment service provider (PSP). They allow merchants to build their own checkouts in terms of brand and styling, while remaining PCI DSS compliant via the least burdensome Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ A). Developers are happy because it means they don’t have to refer to the supplier each time they want to make a change – the merchant remains in control.
Open Banking
Open banking is a method of enabling secure interoperability in the banking industry by allowing third-party payment service and other financial service providers to access banking transactions and other data from banks and financial institutions. It allows financial organisations to share customer details, such as balance and transactions with customer permission.
Developer Friendly API
A widely available application programming interface (API) makes implementation easy and for happy developers. It allows extensive and easy user acceptance testing (UAT) and testing environments with test card data. Combined with Hosted Payment Fields the developer friendly API (used by Encoded) provides merchants and their developers with control of the look and feel of their ecommerce payment pages.
Secure Token Vault
A token vault is a secure centralised server where issued digital tokens, and the Personal Account Numbers (PAN) they represent, are stored securely. Security is important as the token vault is the only area in which the token can be mapped back to the consumer’s original card details. It is used often for recurring payments such as direct debits.
PCI DSS Scope

To implement the PCI standard you must start with scoping your organisation. This process involves identifying all system components that are located within or connected to the cardholder data environment (comprised of people, processes, and technology that handle cardholder data or sensitive authentication data).

Scoping is an annual process and must occur prior to the annual assessment. Merchants and other entities must identify all locations and flows of cardholder data to ensure all applicable system components are included in scope for the PCI Data Security Standard.

about

About Encoded

Encoded is an independent UK Payment Service Provider (PSP) with a feature-rich payment solutions, a white-labelled Payment Gateway and Orchestration Platform.

Encoded understands that customers like to pay in different ways; whether online, in app, via self-service options or speaking to a real person.

Encoded’s pioneering payment solutions help organisations to remain PCI DSS* compliant and protect customer data, whilst offering an unrivalled user experience. With nearly 25 years of payments experience, Encoded has built its network, infrastructure and payment applications entirely in-house; a single trusted partner for all of your payment requirements.

Customers include: Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Mini, Toyota, The Wine Society, LUSH and a host of utility companies, including Jersey Telecom, Shell Energy and Severn Trent Water.

*Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.
Simplified Secure Payments
Encoded payment solutions are easy to integrate with other systems and processes. They are designed to work cooperatively by sharing stored card details between solutions to enable card holders to use the service of their choice without having to re-enter card details.

A payment orchestration layer with a feature rich, single and simple to use API enables easier streamlined integration with dozens of Acquirers and Payment Gateways to ensure greater settlement success and frictionless payments.

Our solutions include:
  • Payment Orchestration
  • Payment Gateway Services
  • E-Commerce Payments
  • IVR Payments
  • Interactive Voice Payments
  • Agent Assisted Payments
  • Fraud Prevention Platform
  • PayByLink
  • Contact Centre Payment Solutions
  • Omnichannel Payment Solutions
  • PCI DSS card payments
  • PCI Payments
  • Fraud Prevention Platform
RESOURCES

Download our guides

Secure Contact Centre Payments brochure

Download brochure
Ultimate guide to Payment Orchestration
Download guide
Making Outsourcing Pay white paper
Download white paper
WHAT THEY SAY

What our customers say about us

“We needed to offer our members both fast and secure Payment Card Industry Data, Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant payment methods and advanced e-commerce capabilities using automated technology. Encoded had done their homework and cared about our members and our business, even suggesting additional creative ways to use Encoded technology. From the outset, it was clear they were exploring new ideas to help us work even smarter.”

Karen Coates, Chief Operations Officer, The Wine Society

“We handle hundreds of thousands of calls every year that demand a broad knowledge of financial and legal matters as well as general property maintenance issues. Encoded presented a sound proposal that promised to deliver round-the-clock efficiencies in a cost effective package. The final overall approach and sophisticated IVR technology proved to be the perfect answer to our business problems.”

Tracey McCabe, Head of Customer Service, First Port Property Management

“We decided to refresh the online experience in response to customer demand and changes in the industry. It was a moment of clarity – Encoded was already handling our secure payments with data being fed into our billing system. We needed to create a front-end link so that customers could access this information themselves, rather than relying on speaking to an agent every time they wanted to make a payment or a change to their account details.”

Business Optimisation Manager,
Severn Trent Water

“One of the key reasons for choosing Encoded was to improve the team’s experience of managing large scale migrations from legacy payment systems. With Encoded’s in-depth knowledge of data security, PCI DSS compliance and the latest payment regulations, JT had confidence that the integration would be carried out within the project timescales and to budget.”

Tim Peach, Finance Operations Manager, Jersey Telecom

“From the outset, it was evident that Encoded grasped our requirements for an easy to deploy, fully transparent solution that could integrate seamlessly with our own IT systems. What is more, Encoded offered us a solid and highly scalable platform that promised to drive efficiencies whilst delivering the personal touch to those callers who needed it most.”

Collections and Recovery Department, One Savings Bank

“Along with the simplicity and highly configurable nature of Encoded’s solution, we were impressed by everyone’s professional, can-do attitude backed up by excellent support. Encoded offered a truly scalable solution that could grow with our business. In particular we trusted Encoded to support new ventures such as flexecash® which has already been adopted by a number of high street retailers.”

June Potts, Head of Customer Contact, Park Group

“Tens of thousands of calls relating to payment and meter reads are handled by sophisticated technology provided by Encoded. Encoded’s solutions have supported our business from day one, having been selected from a shortlist of four vendors for its ease of use, speedy implementation and cost-efficiency.”

Shell Energy

“Today, around 10% of all our sales are made using credit or debit card transactions. Our job is to make it easy for customers to pay for services swiftly and securely. Encoded listened carefully to our requirements, made sensible recommendations along the way and even adapted the technology to suit us. The whole experience ran smoothly and we were impressed by their level of knowledge and understanding of our business.”

Peter Doyle, Risk Manager,
Health-on-line

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