23 January 2024
Marketplaces have transformed the way people buy and sell. At the heart of this experience, payments represent a significant challenge for these platforms. Unlike e-commerce sites, transactions on marketplaces involve three parties: the buyer, the seller, and the platform. This tripartite configuration brings challenges relating to the fluidity of payments, transaction management, security, and compliance.
To improve the payment experience for all stakeholders, Lemonway and PayPal have formed a partnership.
Managing transactions on a marketplace is a regulated activity that involves collecting funds on behalf of third parties.
Collection on behalf of third parties may look simple on paper, but it is far more complex. This system generates technical and organisational constraints to secure flows, meet regulatory obligations (Know Your Customer) and improve the payment experience.
From a regulatory point of view, the collection of funds on behalf of third parties is considered to be a payment service. It therefore requires authorisation as a payment service provider (PSP), and strict compliance with the legal frameworks established by PSD2 (Payment Services Directive), LCB-FT (Fight against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) and the RGPD (General Data Protection Regulation).
To be authorised to collect payments on behalf of third parties, or to avoid collecting payments directly, the marketplace can use an approved PSP such as Lemonway. In this case, the PSP takes charge of all payment-related services and is responsible for all the required controls (KYC and origin and destination of funds, for example).
Aside from the regulatory aspects, collecting funds for third parties generates new technical and organisational processes. Whether it’s to save time or ensure the security of all transactions, it’s essential to surround yourself with the right partners to have the best tools at your disposal (Pay-In and Pay-Out modules, for example).
Against this backdrop, Lemonway and PayPal have joined forces to simplify payment and provide a better experience for all those involved in B2C marketplaces.
One of the most popular payment methods for purchasing in Europe is a PayPal account. As a B2C marketplace, integrating this solution means we can accept a new, reliable, and popular payment method.
Offering PayPal as a payment method can improve conversion rates. According to a Nielsen study, this means:
Offering PayPal as a payment option enables B2C marketplaces to extend their reach while offering users a popular method that inspires confidence. This is an essential lever for improving customer relations and encouraging purchases.
Speed, fluidity, ergonomics… Users’ expectations are constantly evolving. B2C marketplaces need to adapt to meet them effectively. Consumers are looking for simplicity and autonomy and are demanding an ergonomic, intuitive interface.
Just as smooth browsing is vital, so too is the payment process, which raises issues of flexibility and security. According to a study conducted by Storyblok, 37% of consumers cite limited payment options as one of the main reasons for abandoning a purchase on an online sales site. For marketplaces, the stakes are even higher: 52% say they would like to add more payment options to improve their site’s conversion performance. This criterion comes ahead of reducing loading time (47%) and improving the visual appearance (46%).
On both sides, the variety of payment methods is essential. The reputation of the PayPal brand is a reassuring factor for customers, enabling them to make their purchases with complete confidence. They are twice as likely to complete a purchase when PayPal is offered as a payment solution. By using their existing account, PayPal allows shoppers to place an order securely in just a few clicks without entering their credit card details. All they must do is enter their telephone number or e-mail address, and that’s it!
What’s more, PayPal guarantees solid protection for buyers. If a customer purchases via PayPal and delivery does not materialise or the item differs from its description, the buyer can request a refund. It is important to note that this option only applies to eligible purchases with certain limitations indicated in the GTC. However, where all the required criteria are met, the buyer is entitled to a full purchase price refund.
In a sector experiencing strong growth and new needs, the integration of PayPal represents an opportunity for marketplaces to stand out by providing one of Europe’s most popular payment methods. This helps to provide users with a smooth, easy, and hassle-free payment experience.
Streamlining the checkout process via PayPal reduces cart abandonment, increases conversion, and keeps customers returning. This method ensures fast and transparent payments thanks to secure billing information storage.
Initially, PayPal had to make the transfer to the marketplace’s account. From now on, it will be paid directly to Lemonway, which will collect the funds and distribute them to the merchants’ accounts. In practice, this operation involves the following steps:
The partnership between PayPal and Lemonway makes integration easy and unique. Previously, the marketplace had to handle PayPal and PSP integration, which entailed additional constraints and costs. Today, with the Lemonway environment, all that’s required is to add a single line of code or make a few adjustments to the dashboard. As a result, merchants can easily extend their reach and convert new users.
What’s more, by integrating PayPal with Lemonway, businesses can kill two birds with one stone: offer a reliable payment method without having to carry out separate integrations.
Combining these two online payment players makes it possible to optimise financial transactions for merchants and buyers in a secure and compliant environment. As a PSP, Lemonway is fulfilling its mission to simplify payment for B2C marketplaces, offering them the best and simplest features.
Would you like to integrate PayPal as a payment solution on your B2C marketplace? The Lemonway team can help!
