In our previous post, we provided an introduction to key terms in the banking industry. This time, we will focus on basic types of payments that you may encounter in your business.

PAYMENT TERMS:

B2B

B2B, which stands for Business-to-Business, refers to commerce between two enterprises as opposed to transactions between a business and an individual customer. The size of most B2B transactions is larger than B2C (Business to Consumer) transactions because generally an enterprise will be seeking to buy a large inventory of items to sell to end users. B2B purchasing may also involve raw materials used to manufacture finished products or services. B2B deals may be subject to bidding processes and negotiations, so payments are rarely immediate. 

B2C 

The term Business-to-Consumer (B2C) refers to the process when a company sells products and services directly to consumers who are their end-users. Most enterprises that sell to consumers can be referred to as B2C companies. B2C payments can take various forms: many B2C transactions take place on websites, where consumers buy products directly from online retailers. Today, many B2C purchases are conducted on mobile apps. When dealing with cross-border payments, businesses should offer familiar payment methods at each location and generate personal relationships with customers.

C2B 

C2B, which stands for Consumer-to-Business, is a system in which an end user or consumer provides a product or service to an enterprise, which then uses it to complete a business process. Another C2B model is when a consumer allows a business to market a service or product on their website or blog in exchange for a fee. A different form of C2B is when an end user announces a need and businesses compete to meet it.

C2C 

The C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer) business model involves transactions between two consumers. This type of commerce is typical of intermediary auction websites such as eBay, Etsy and Craigslist, but the site does not take responsibility for the quality of the products. In C2C transactions, prices are negotiable and the purchasing process is simple. These websites usually provide convenient payment methods such as PayPal, credit cards, debit cards and mobile apps.

As a rule, it is worthwhile to keep your eye on developing payment trends and new models. The ability to facilitate payments for both enterprises and individual buyers is key to your commercial success.

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Singles Day (November 11), which was first started by Chinese college students in the 1990s, is the antithesis of Valentine’s Day. It is a day dedicated to the celebration of singledom.

Some singles have developed various rituals to mark the day including gifting friends with 1 figure-shaped items, from toothpicks to half of a deep fried double dough stick. Other singles, who aren’t into celebrating their status, will go on a blind date on the day so that they don’t have to be alone.

One of the most outstanding customs is self-gifting: This is a day for self indulgence and rewards for hard work all year round.

The world’s greatest shopping extravaganza

Singles Day is hands down the world’s biggest online shopping event. On Singles Day last year marketplace giant Alibaba recorded $30.3 billion in sales in a 24-hour period, more than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined.

China is the world’s largest e-commerce market, with annual sales approaching $1.53 trillion. So there’s room for everyone – Alibaba is not the only corporation that can profit from the holiday, global retailers can capitalize on this day as well.

The Chinese favor foreign labels so this shopping day represents a unique opportunity for global brands. According to Alibaba, over 40% of Singles Day shoppers purchased international brands, including Apple, Dyson, Gap, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, Kindle, Nestle, Nike, and Adidas.Over 240 international brands recorded at least $14.4 million in sales.

4 Tips for global online retailers

• Offer popular items

Last year buyers favored health supplements, followed by milk powder and diapers. Makeup products, including emulsions, facial masks, face wash and toner, were also high on the national shopping list. However, as a large number  of shoppers are savvy millennials, many sought out electronics, smartphones and gadgets. Due to the fact that a significant percentage of the shoppers are women, apparel and home goods also sold very well.

• Spread your wings

Singles Day has spread beyond China to Southeast Asia and other locations. In countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, local residents eagerly await the day’s special sales.Last year, prior to Singles Day, China’s largest retailer, JD.com, rolled out a two-week campaign called  “11.11 Crazy Hot Sale,” in which it targeted Thai shoppers. Even US retailers are starting to adopt Singles Day, as a time when Americans can express well-deserved self-love.

• Provide familiar mobile app payments

Chinese online consumers use WeChat for every aspect of their lives, from scheduling doctors’ appointments and shopping to messaging friends and payments. Shopping by smartphone in China is quick and easy, thanks to convenient payment methods, particularly Alipay, Union Pay and WeChat Pay. If you want to make a hit on Singles Day, integrate these familiar payment platforms on your Chinese website.

• Reach out through social media

The Chinese are very connected to social media. While WeChat is the most effective way to reach potential customers, Weibo (similar to Twitter) and Youku Tudou (similar to YouTube) are also widespread. Post videos, interactive content, and special coupons to attract followers.

Singles Day offers online retailers huge potential both in China and abroad, but it is very important to study your target audience’s culture, shopping preferences and spending habits before taking the plunge.  

As opposed to fiat currency, cryptocurrency is not connected to governments or central banks. Using a ledger system, cryptocurrency transactions are anonymous and decentralized. Bitcoin’s value, for example, is determined by demand and market supply at any given time, much like precious metals. Due to the fact that no government regulations apply to cryptocurrency and transactions are untraceable, there is a risk of abuse of the system for illegal activities including terror funding and drug trafficking.

Some advantages of using cryptocurrency for payments

Despite the risks, cryptocurrencies have several significant advantages as well:

• Lower fees

When utilizing credit and debit cards, and handling transfers, foreign transactions, false declines and many other types of financial activities, there are fees involved. These fees tend to mount up and become quite costly. Cryptocurrency payment gateways charge only 0.5 to 1% per transaction. Most cryptocurrency accounts that take the form of a digital wallet are free.

• No chargebacks

One of the major banes of credit card use for payments is chargebacks.The cancellation of credit card transactions by purchasers can be extremely costly for merchants. But when it comes to cryptocurrency transactions, the basic rule is that they cannot be reversed. 

• Securing personal data

Consumers are concerned about how retailers, service providers and financial institutions retain extensive amounts of sensitive personal data from an individual’s name, address and email to credit scores and net worth. When performing cryptocurrency transactions, data is converted into numbers, or cryptocurrency wallet addresses, so private information is not revealed. 

• Cross-border payments

Cryptocurrency payments are not classified according to countries. There are no cross-border fees, and no limitations on accessing funds. As banks and credit card companies are not involved, users can make payments, pay bills and shop independently.

More service providers and retailers are accepting cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency acceptance is becoming more widespread among large service providers and retailers. AT&T recently became the first mobile carrier to accept bill payments in cryptocurrency. The Shopify ecommerce platform allows its merchants to accept Bitcoin payments through BitPay.

Microsoft permits users to deposit Bitcoin in their Microsoft accounts for the purchase of movies, games and apps in the Windows and Xbox stores. The large retailer Overstock has been accepting Bitcoins and other major cryptocurrencies since 2014. Paypal also allows merchants to accept Bitcoin through Braintree. There are many small businesses that are accepting cryptocurrency payments today.  

What lies in the future for cryptocurrencies?

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin lack basic stability because they are not a pegged currency. By nature, they are more like a commodity asset for trading like precious metals. Some enterprises (like Facebook) are introducing stablecoins which are pegged to certain currencies, thereby securely anchoring cryptocurrency. But this would stand in contradiction to the decentralized (and uncontrolled) nature of cryptocurrency.

COTI recently developed the world’s first DAG (directed acryclic graph) protocol for creating decentralized payment networks and stable coins. Other technologies are expected to emerge and innovate cryptocurrency norms. Time will tell what form cryptocurrency payments will ultimately take.   

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Stablecoins are pegged to major international currencies, thereby preventing the extreme fluctuations associated with cryptocurrencies. This means that the value of the coin  would remain steady regardless of demand levels. According to recent reports, Facebook is planning to launch a full payments network across its messaging apps, and is currently talking to Visa and Mastercard to bring them on board. It is also in the process of raising $1 billion from major banks in order to fortify the coin against currency fluctuations.

In-app payments for a readymade audience

With a built-in audience of 2.5 billion, Facebook will be able to revert its revenue model from ad-based to payment-based and transaction-based. The company recently announced plans to launch its first stablecoin project in India, where WhatsApp has 200 million users.

India is the perfect location to initiate the project because a large part of the population already prefers to use mobile payments. In addition, many Indians are unbanked, making an in-app remittance payment method ideal.

Frictionless payments through a global mobile commerce system

While India is a good starting point, the concept of frictionless payments through a mobile commerce system anywhere in the world is hypothetically a winning formula. This type of system has already proved itself for P2P payments, but a built-in e-wallet could significantly facilitate payments for online merchants and their buyers, and adopt a model similar to China’s WeChat.

Will it work?

While in theory all this sounds feasible, there is no guarantee that the attempt will succeed. For one thing, cryptocurrency is based on decentralization and has no controlling owners. Facebook’s new stablecoin would be controlled, by Facebook, of course. There are also crypto-related regulations that cannot be ignored.

In addition, several global competitors like New Telegram are hot on the heels of Facebook. Not to mention that TikTak and Toutiao are currently eroding Facebook’s global app grip.

Is this a crypto revolution or just a blip? Time will tell.     

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The expected boom is mainly due to greater Internet connectivity, upgraded broadband infrastructure and the ubiquity of smartphone use. As it stands today, two out of three Latin Americans have Internet. Last year, 27.5% of all online purchases were done with a mobile phone.

Worldline’s research states that the average age in LATAM is a bit under 30. This means that e-commerce retailers should target a younger audience that uses social media, and particularly Facebook and Instagram, as a matter of course. Just for example, in Brazil these two social media channels together feature a penetration level of almost 70% among internet users.

The key issue of payments

The Latin American purchaser has very clear opinions regarding preferred payment methods and online security. Due to the fact that there is a large unbanked population in the region, many locals prefer cash payments or local debit cards. LATAM purchasers want to see prices displayed in their local currencies and feel secure that their personal data is not being breached when they pay online or via a mobile app.

Here is an overview of three key online markets in LATAM that are showing rapid expansion:

Brazil

Brazil is the largest e-commerce market in LATAM, and it accounts for nearly 32.8% of all regional retail sales. The Brazilian e-commerce segment is expected to reach BRL 79.9 billion this year, which constitutes a 16% growth year on year.

Brazilians use domestic payment methods for 90% of their online shopping. They pay with local credit cards, usually by installments. Another popular payment option is Boleto Bancario. This push payment method enables consumers to pay online, in cash at banks and ATMs, or electronically through online banking. This option appeals to local purchasers because there is no risk of chargebacks. Debit cards are gaining popularity due to the elimination of chargebacks and immediate payment confirmation.

Argentina

As of 2018, there were 17.46 million e-commerce users in Argentina and 30 million have access to Internet. An estimated 22.5 million individuals use a smartphone and 16.8 million shop online. Google, Facebook and YouTube are the most popular social media channels. The online market has been growing steadily and it is predicted to reach $10 billion by 2021. Argentine e-shoppers mostly purchase clothing, shoes and personal lifestyle items, as well as home and garden products.

Over 40% of Argentinian e-commerce transactions are via cards. Visa and Mastercard are the most common cards, followed by American Express, Diners Club, and the local schemes Tarjeta Naranja and Cabal. Cash-based methods like RapiPago and PagoFacil make up 44% of online payments. Most prepaid cards are bought in kiosks for cash. To complete a purchase, the buyer prints out a receipt and pays at locations that accept this type of payment.

Colombia

Colombia is LATAM’s fifth largest e-commerce market, with 65% of Colombians connected to the Internet as of last year. In 2018, there were 34.3 million smartphone users in Colombia. Some 87.8 million online transactions were carried out last year, moving $17.8 million in electronic transactions. Easier access to the Internet, particularly via smartphones, and an expansion in online services, such as banking and online payment services, are the key factors driving growth in Colombian e-commerce. Nevertheless, 94% of Internet users still prefer computers to make purchases, while 49% use smartphones. The most popular products bought online are electronics and computer products, fashion, entertainment and travel.

Cash on delivery and bank account debit are very popular payment methods due to low credit card penetration rates in Colombia. COD accounts for 40% of purchases. The younger generation uses social media like Instagram to make purchases online.

Avoiding the pitfalls

While these three markets are set to boom, it is very important to understand your customers’ purchasing mentalities and payment preferences at each location before jumping in.

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Online and mobile transactions are particularly vulnerable to breaches, and passwords and codes can no longer provide adequate security against cyber attacks. Innovative technologies are being developed to meet growing fraud challenges. According to Capgemini, fraud detection systems using machine learning and analytics minimize fraud investigation time by 70% and improve detection accuracy by 90%.   

Machine learning fraud detection

Machine learning enables the creation of algorithms that process large datasets with many variables. The system reveals hidden correlations between user behavior and the likelihood of fraud. Machine learning systems enable faster data processing and are less dependent on manual effort.

MasterCard has adopted machine learning to monitor variables such as transaction size, location, device, and purchase data. The system assesses account behavior and offers real-time assessment regarding the nature of the transaction. The system reduces the number of false declines in merchant payments. According to reports, merchants lose about $118 billion annually due to false positives, while customers’ losses amount to nearly $9 billion.

Blockchain for digital identity

One of the main problems related to fraud is that personal data is shared by a wide range of organizations, providing hackers with easy pickings. By definition, blockchain or Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) is decentralized. This factor enables a new approach to identity management. Data can be shared across different transactional channels while enabling robust protection of user identities. Users will have the ability to create encrypted digital identities, and the need for multiple usernames and passwords will be eradicated.

Behavioral biometrics for unreplicable authentication

Behavioral biometrics authentication is based on the principle that no two human beings share the exact same behavioral patterns. When it comes to the use of mobile phones, each user has their own typing pattern, swipe speed and finger pressure. Through machine learning and by analyzing behavioral patterns, smart algorithms can continuously authenticate user identity in the background of a session without interrupting the user experience.

User behavior analysis  

One of the classic methods to detect fraud is to track deviations from usual customer behavior. A smart fraud system will pick up anomalies such as high values and unusual locations, new IP addresses, time of day, changed shopping patterns, and more. After detecting these activities, an advanced algorithm will raise a flag and assign a higher likelihood of fraud. The system will then send a verification request to the card owner in real time.

All of these methods constitute highly effective tools to fight sophisticated fraud. Small and medium-sized companies may find it more affordable to engage external data science experts or acquire third-party software rather than building an in-house team.

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South Korean payment preferences

China

Chinese payment preferences

India

Indian payment preferences

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