Payment methods

When a customer pays in your store,

there is more behind it than just a device and a card. There are debit cards that debit directly from your account, credit cards that are billed monthly, mobile wallets that digitally replace a card – and in Switzerland there are also local payment methods that hardly anyone else knows about.

Which of these you should accept depends on your clientele, your industry and your setup.

What is meant by “payment methods”

A payment method describes how a payment is triggered. Not which device is used or which provider is involved, but the way in which money flows between the customer and the business.

Payment methods do not only differ technically. Above all, they differ in how familiar they are, how quickly they are perceived and in which situations they are considered appropriate. It is precisely these differences that make them in need of explanation.

Why there are different payment methods

Payment methods do not arise by chance. They develop from needs: for security, for speed, for simplicity or for control. Some forms have become established over decades, others have emerged from new habits.

No payment method is fundamentally better than another. They each fulfill a specific purpose – and are therefore better suited to certain situations than others. If you want to understand payment methods, you should not compare them, but classify them.

Payment methods at a glance

Card-based payment methods

Card payments are standard today. They are based on an established system of cards, networks and banks and are used in both stationary and digital environments. Their strength lies in their broad acceptance and familiarity of use.

Mobile and digital payment methods

Mobile payments trigger payment via a digital device. They are not so much changing the payment system itself as the way in which payments are made. The focus here is on speed and convenience – especially in high-frequency situations.

Classic payment methods

Cash, bank transfers or agreed payment methods are still part of everyday life. They function independently of technical infrastructure or supplement digital forms where personal or legal conditions play a role.

Local and specific forms of payment

Individual markets or sectors have established their own payment methods. They arise from regional habits or specific requirements and are often relevant where customers expect familiarity.

Not every payment method is relevant for every business

New terms and forms are constantly appearing in payment – from BNPL to SoftPOS. Not all of them make sense for your business. The key is not to offer as many payment methods as possible, but to know the right ones.

A restaurateur in Zurich needs different solutions than a webshop operator in Basel – even if both want “card payment”.

Classification at the end

Payment methods are not a competition for the latest thing. They are an expression of how people want to pay – and how businesses react to this.

Those who understand why there are different payment methods do not make decisions based on a sense of trend, but on understanding. And it is precisely this understanding that creates peace of mind in payment.

Payment solutions overview

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