RETROSPECTIVE

Most prevalently, we see issues arise in self-service payment integrations where a software provider’s development team typically works autonomously to complete a payments integration through a development portal using a payment API. The software provider is on their own to define requirements without counsel from a payments expert. As a result, feature functionality necessary to be market competitive or that would allow for differentiation can (and does) get missed. A second way features get missed is when product and development teams fail to align. As an example, in larger software shops, product owners define integration requirements and development departments are tasked to execute the work.

A dependency exists between teams to communicate effectively and be on the same page. When alignment fails, the result is a payments integration that can’t compete. In contrast with a self-service integration experience, with full-service providers, extra emphasis is usually placed on solutions engineering to ensure payment solutions are optimally architected. This includes access to domain experts who deeply understand the solutions required for specialty verticals, including features that today’s modern users expect. What does solutions engineering look like in action? Here are some of the steps you can expect, the best practices your payments partner may follow, and considerations for each phase of the process.