A payment system that truly accelerates sales, rather than merely processing transactions.

A customer proceeding to checkout does not yet mean that the purchase will be completed. The lack of a preferred payment method, an overly long process, a transaction error, or an inconvenient experience on a smartphone can stop a purchase literally seconds before completion. A payment system should therefore be assessed not only in terms of commission rates, but above all in terms of how it affects order completion, service automation, and the actual cost of sales.

Key information:

• A payment system has a real impact on order completion, not just on the technical processing of transactions.

• The lack of a preferred payment method can lead to lost sales, especially if the problem occurs at the final stage of checkout.

• The lowest commission does not always mean the lowest cost, because payouts, refunds, integration, and staff time also matter.

• A good system should support popular payment methods, provide a convenient checkout, and reduce manual order processing.

• Before choosing a provider, it is worth checking its integration, security, pricing, and growth options.

• It is best to change systems in stages, first configuring and testing the new solution and only then switching live payments over to it.

What is an online store payment system?

A payment system is a solution that allows a store to accept and process online transactions within a single environment. It includes not only the payment gateway itself, but also the available payment methods, store integration, transaction status updates, refund processing, and fund payouts. As a result, the merchant does not have to create a separate mechanism for BLIK, instant bank transfers, cards, or digital wallets, while payment data can be automatically linked to specific orders.

How does a payment system affect sales?

A payment system operates at one of the final stages of the customer journey, so its quality can directly affect order completion. Problems arise when customers cannot find their preferred method, the process is too long, or the payment does not work correctly. The following are particularly important:

• Availability of popular payment methods – the lack of BLIK, cards, instant bank transfers, or digital wallets may discourage some customers from completing their purchase.

• Short payment process – the fewer additional screens and manually entered details there are, the easier it is to move from the shopping cart to transaction confirmation.

• Convenience on mobile devices – the system should also work smoothly on smartphones and support methods that are well suited to mobile devices.

• Technical stability – errors, interrupted redirects, or an unavailable method can stop a purchase at the last moment.

• Store-side automation – a successfully completed transaction should send its status to the system and trigger subsequent processing stages without manual intervention.

A good payment system therefore supports both customer convenience and the efficiency of the store's entire sales process.

How much can a poorly chosen payment system cost?

The cost of a poorly chosen payment system is not limited to commission. It should also include the value of orders that are not completed because of a missing method, a technical error, or an overly cumbersome payment process.

For example, assume that 2,000 customers reach checkout each month, the average order value is PLN 180, and 3% of potential orders are lost at the payment stage. This amounts to 60 incomplete transactions. At this order value, that means PLN 10,800 in potential sales per month, or PLN 129,600 per year.

This is, of course, a model calculation rather than a market-wide average. However, it shows why, when assessing a payment system, it is worth looking not only at the provider's commission, but also at how the checkout works and where customers abandon their purchases.

How can you tell whether your current payment system is limiting sales?

A single problem does not always mean that you need to change providers immediately. However, if several of the following warning signs occur regularly, it is worth analyzing the current system more closely:

• Customers ask about missing payment methods – if questions about BLIK, Apple Pay, installment payments, or deferred payments arise regularly, the current offering may not meet their expectations.

• A large number of users abandon their purchases at the payment stage – it is worth checking whether the problem concerns a specific method, device, or an overly complex checkout process.

• Mobile payments are inconvenient – a long form, additional redirects, or a lack of popular mobile methods can make it difficult to complete a purchase on a smartphone.

• The team performs too many tasks manually – frequently checking statuses, matching payments, or processing refunds can increase operating costs.

• The system hinders the store's growth – the problem may be a lack of an API, ready-made integrations, or the ability to add new payment methods easily.

• Costs are difficult to predict – the commission itself may look attractive, but additional fees for payouts, refunds, or features can increase the total processing cost.

If such problems begin to affect checkout, the team's work, or opportunities for further growth, comparing alternative payment systems may be justified.

What should a good online payment system include?

A good payment system should meet both customers' needs and the store's operational requirements. In particular, it is worth checking:

• Popular payment methods – the system should support BLIK, instant bank transfers, cards, and digital wallets, among other methods, as well as installment and deferred payments for higher-value orders.

• Convenient checkout – the customer should be able to move from selecting a method to confirming the transaction as quickly as possible and without unnecessary steps.

• Automatic statuses and refunds – the system should provide information about the payment result and facilitate subsequent transaction processing.

• Integration tailored to the store – ready-made modules for popular platforms and an API for more customized implementations are important.

• Security – it is worth checking the data protection standards used, authorization mechanisms, and the provider's credibility.

• Transparent pricing – in addition to commission, it is helpful to know the costs of payouts, refunds, activation, and additional features.

The best system therefore does not need to offer the largest number of features. Above all, it should suit the store's sales model and provide room for growth as the e-commerce business expands.

How much does a payment system really cost?

The cost of a payment system should be calculated more broadly than just the transaction commission. Fixed fees, activation, fund payouts, refunds, additional features, and the cost of implementation and subsequent operation may also be significant.

In simplified terms, you can assume:

monthly cost = transaction commissions + fixed fees + payouts + additional processing costs

When comparing two systems, it is therefore best to calculate the actual cost based on your own number of transactions and average order value. Only such a comparison shows which offer is actually more advantageous for a particular store, rather than merely appearing cheaper in the price list.

Check the current commissions and fees

Why does the lowest commission not always mean the cheapest system?

A low commission may look attractive, but it does not show the full cost of payment processing. Additional fees, the range of available methods, ease of integration, and the number of tasks the store must perform manually also matter.

A system with a lower rate may therefore prove less cost-effective if it does not support the methods customers expect, makes refunds difficult, or requires more work from the team. That is why, when comparing offers, it is worth looking at the total cost and the system's impact on sales, rather than only at the commission percentage.

How can you evaluate a payment system before signing a contract?

Before choosing a provider, it is a good idea to go through a short checklist and examine not only the price, but also how the system will work in day-to-day sales. It is worth checking:

• Available payment methods – does the system support the payment methods most frequently selected by the store's customers?

• Full price list – what are the commissions and fees for payouts, refunds, activation, and additional features?

• Integration method – is there a ready-made module for the platform being used or an API for a more customized implementation?

• Support for mobile devices – does the checkout work conveniently on smartphones without requiring unnecessary steps?

• Statuses, refunds, and automation – does the system reduce manual work on the store's side?

• Security and stability – what standards does the provider use, and how does the solution handle interrupted or unsuccessful transactions?

• Growth potential – will it be easy to add installment payments, deferred payments, OneClick, or other methods in the future?

It is worth going through this checklist before signing the contract. It makes it easier to assess whether the system actually suits the store's sales model rather than merely looking good in the basic price list.

See all Przelewy24 payment solutions

How can you change your payment system without causing chaos in the store?

Changing providers should not begin by disabling the existing solution. The safest approach is to carry it out in stages:

0. Analyze the current system – check the costs, missing methods, technical problems, and points where customers abandon payments.

1. Choose a new solution – compare the full price list, range of methods, integration, and automation capabilities.

2. Prepare the integration – configure the module or API and connect the system to the checkout.

3. Test different scenarios – check successful and declined payments, interrupted processes, transaction retries, and refunds.

4. Only then switch live payments – this reduces the risk of errors affecting real orders after the change.

A well-planned migration helps minimize disruption and allows the new solution to be tested before it becomes the store's only payment system.

Does changing the payment system have to mean an interruption in sales?

Not if the migration is properly prepared. It is worth configuring and testing the new integration before disabling the existing system and planning the actual switchover only once all key payment scenarios are working correctly.

Whether an interruption occurs depends on factors such as the e-commerce platform, the integration method, and the extent of the checkout changes. Therefore, before migration, it is a good idea to determine the sequence of technical steps and minimize the period during which the store has no active payment processing.

When is it particularly worth considering a change of payment system?

Changing providers makes the most sense when the current solution begins to limit sales, store growth, or day-to-day operations. It is particularly worth considering when:

• Popular payment methods are missing – customers ask about BLIK, digital wallets, installment payments, or deferred payments that the current system does not support.

• Costs no longer match the scale of sales – as the number of transactions grows, commissions and additional fees become increasingly significant.

• Technical problems recur – errors, interrupted transactions, or incorrectly transmitted statuses begin to affect order processing.

• The mobile checkout needs improvement – the current system does not provide a convenient payment process on smartphones.

• The store needs new features – such as deferred payments, installment payments, OneClick, subscriptions, or more advanced integration.

• The company is expanding into new channels or markets – the existing system may no longer suit the new sales model.

If several of these problems occur at the same time, comparing new solutions may be more cost-effective than continuing to adapt a system that no longer meets the store's needs.

Check the supported payment methods

What does Przelewy24 offer as an e-commerce payment system?

Przelewy24 enables multiple payment methods to be processed within a single solution. Stores can offer customers BLIK, instant bank transfers, cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Click to Pay, Visa Mobile, online installment payments, and deferred payments, among other options.

From a technical perspective, both ready-made plugins for popular platforms such as Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, and WooCommerce and a REST API for more customized implementations are available.

This allows the solution to be tailored both to a standard online store and to a more complex e-commerce business with its own purchasing process. The merchant can also expand the range of available methods as sales grow instead of building a separate integration for each one.

Summary

A payment system operates at one of the most sensitive points in the customer journey: between the decision to purchase and the actual payment for the order. Therefore, when choosing one, it is worth looking not only at commission, but also at checkout convenience, available methods, automation, security, and the potential for further growth.

A well-chosen solution should make it easier for customers to complete their purchases while reducing the number of manual tasks on the store's side. If the current system does not provide this, it is worth comparing other options and discussing a change of payment system.

FAQ

How can you tell whether your current payment system is limiting sales?

Warning signs may include frequent abandonment at the payment stage, customers asking about missing methods, technical problems, an inconvenient mobile checkout, or a large number of manual tasks performed by the team. If several such problems recur regularly, it is worth analyzing alternative solutions.

What should a good payment system for an online store include?

It should support popular payment methods, provide a convenient checkout, automatic transaction statuses and refunds, appropriate security, and integration tailored to the store's platform. Transparent pricing and the ability to add new features as the e-commerce business grows are also important.

How long does it take to change payment system providers?

There is no single timeframe that applies to every store. The time required depends on the platform, integration method, account activation process, and scope of testing. A ready-made plugin can simplify the change, while an API integration usually requires more technical work.

Does changing the payment system involve an interruption in sales?

Not necessarily. The new solution can be configured and tested in advance, with live payments switched over only later. This helps reduce the risk of checkout disruptions.

Is it worth changing payment systems solely for a lower commission?

Not always. A lower commission may be offset by additional fees, the lack of necessary payment methods, or a greater number of tasks performed manually. It is better to compare the total processing cost and the system's impact on sales.

How can you calculate the cost of a poorly chosen payment system?

It is worth taking into account not only the provider's commissions and fees, but also the value of potentially incomplete orders and the staff time required to process payments and refunds manually. Such a comparison provides a fuller picture of the system's actual cost.