Why are payments important for unified commerce?

Payments link the channels. Shared tokens recognize customers everywhere, split authorization and capture support click and collect, referenced refunds allow returns in any channel, and one reconciliation gives finance a single view.

Recognizing the customer

When the same card is tokenized in a consistent way online and in store, the retailer can link purchases to one customer, apply loyalty benefits and offer saved payment methods across channels.

Supporting cross-channel journeys

• Click and collect: authorize at order, capture at pickup.
• Endless aisle: take payment in store for an item shipped from a warehouse.
• Returns anywhere: refund an online payment at a store counter, linked to the original transaction.

One financial view

Separate providers for stores and online produce separate reports, fees and settlement files. With one payment platform, finance teams reconcile all channels together and see margins by channel and by store.

Fewer integrations

A single payment layer reduces the number of systems to maintain and makes it easier to add new channels such as social commerce or live shopping.

What it means for payment operators

For you, this is the case for offering merchants one platform for in-store and online payments, with consistent tokens, flexible capture and consolidated reconciliation. Omnichannel coverage is often what retail merchants ask for first.