Why we need Subscription Billing Platform rather than Payment Gateway

When it comes to a choice between Subscription management software and a Payment Gateway.  

Customer experience is of foremost importance for any business, and this only gets amplified for a SaaS or subscription business, where concerns like  #churn and #customerretention take the foreground. 

With capabilities that minimize friction across every stage of a subscriber’s life cycle, your subscription management and #recurringbilling system should help you provide a stellar subscription experience.  
 

Some payment gateways have also built out basic modules for handling subscription management to help small businesses out. While you may get started with the same product for both gateway and recurring billing, as a growing business, you will soon outgrow their modest billing capabilities.   

Since the payment gateway market is much larger than the subscriptions market, it’s genuinely hard for them to specialize in subscription billing. 

The Limitations of Payment Gateways 

Payment gateways might have been the go-to solution for processing transactions, and they do serve an important purpose in e-commerce. However, when it comes to managing subscriptions, payment gateways fall short in several critical aspects 

Complexity: Managing subscriptions through payment gateways often involves complex workarounds and custom coding, leading to operational inefficiencies and increased risk of errors. 

Lack of Flexibility: Payment gateways primarily focus on individual transactions, lacking the flexibility required for dynamic subscription models, tiered pricing, and other complex subscription structures. 

Inadequate Reporting: Subscription analytics and reporting are limited with payment gateways, hindering data-driven decision-making and preventing businesses from optimizing their offerings. 

Churn Prevention: Payment gateways don't offer dedicated features for churn prevention, which is a crucial aspect of maintaining a healthy subscription base. 
 

The subscription billing solution makes your payment gateway smarter. Here is how, 

The Advantages of Subscription Management Software 

Seamless Subscription Life Cycle Management: Subscription Billing Platforms offer end-to-end management of the subscription life cycle, from sign-up to cancellation and everything in between. This ensures a hassle-free experience for both businesses and customers. 

Flexible Pricing Models: With support for tiered pricing, usage-based billing, and promotional offers, Subscription Billing Platforms empower businesses to experiment with pricing strategies that suit their target audience and market conditions. 

Advanced Analytics and Reporting: Harnessing the power of data, Subscription Billing Platforms provide actionable insights into subscriber behavior, enabling businesses to optimize their offerings, reduce churn, and enhance customer satisfaction. 

Automated Churn Prevention: Intelligent algorithms and automated processes help identify potential churn risks, allowing businesses to proactively engage with customers and mitigate churn before it happens. 

Enhanced Customer Experience: Subscription Billing Platforms offer self-service portals where customers can manage their subscriptions, update payment information, and make changes with ease, fostering a positive customer experience. 

Conclusion, 

In a world where subscription-based models are reshaping industries, businesses must choose their subscription management tools wisely. While payment gateways have their merits, they fall short of addressing the complexities and nuances of subscription management.  

Hence, Subscription Billing Platforms emerge as the clear winners, offering a comprehensive suite of features that empower businesses to streamline operations, optimize revenue, and provide an unparalleled customer experience. 

Now I would like to hear from you, if you were a business professional who has a global customer base and wants to manage billing and payments, would you rather choose a Payment Gateway or a Subscription Management software? 

Let me know in the comment section!