Mobile point-of-sale provider SumUp has announced a major extension of its offer with the launch of a number of new payment functionalities that allow businesses to accept payments online. Merchants can now process payments through a payment form that is sent via SMS to customers as well as via SumUp’s Virtual Terminal in the SumUp Merchant Dashboard on their computer. In addition, merchants can also accept online payments through an integration of SumUp as a payment tool in their web shop.
While SumUp is mostly associated with card payments at the point-of-sale, the service now goes way beyond. With its contactless card reader, online payments and a set of APIs and SDKs for developers, SumUp’s Omnichannel Payment Suite now empowers businesses in 16 markets to accept payments in-store, in-app as well as online.
Through this product expansion, businesses may create new opportunities for customer growth outside their regular business area. Since technological innovations have changed the way consumers consider shopping, it is essential to equip merchants with cross-channel payment acceptance technology that provides them with better customer knowledge and, ultimately, improves the customer experience.
Marc-Alexander Christ, co-founder of SumUp comments: “The ultimate challenge for businesses is to find a convenient solution for cross-channel payment acceptance. Traditional offerings focus either on online or offline payments – limited to one or few markets. Through our Omnichannel Payment Suite, we offer simple and secure access to all payment types under one roof to businesses in all markets incl. the U.S., Brazil and the whole of Europe.” He adds: “Whether a business sells in-store and thinks about an online shop or vice versa, SumUp offers the tools they need to succeed and further grow their business.”
The SMS Payment process allows to accept payments through a simple online form without the need of a card terminal – ideal for mobile professionals in the beauty industry or craftsmen. After entering the amount in the SumUp App, a unique link is created and sent to the customer’s mobile phone via a text message. By clicking the link in the SMS, the customer can pay on his own mobile device within seconds.
With the Virtual Terminal, SumUp also released a feature that allows businesses to accept payments on their computer without the card holder being present, such as for example a bed and breakfast charging its customers prior to their arrival.
Through SumUp’s API and SDK, any business is enabled to accept payments on their website or even include card-on-file functionality for recurring billing in their apps. The integration allows a secure checkout process for merchants and a seamless payment experience for customers.
