Volt launches Pay by Link for open banking

Pay by Link: Never miss a chance to convert

Our new Pay by Link open banking solution allows you to connect with purchase-ready customers on whatever channel they happen to be using.

It’s built on the premise of never missing an opportunity to convert. If a shopper sees a product they like, or a service they need, they can make their purchase then and there – without any additional steps.

What exactly is Pay by Link?

The clue really is in the name. Pay by Link is a solution that allows customers to pay via a simple, secure link. This link takes the shopper to their banking app or online banking via Volt’s checkout – where their transaction is ready to be approved and initiated.

Hasn’t it been around for a while?

Pay by Link, also known as ‘request to pay’, has been a mainstay of the hospitality industry for a while. Hotels, for example, often send customers payment links as part of the booking process.

Now, though, it’s finding popularity in other sectors – from e-commerce to local government. And while Pay by Link has historically been tied to card payments, we believe it’s a perfect facilitator of real-time, bank-direct payments – which are inherently faster, safer and more cost effective.

Pay by Link use cases

The beauty of Pay by Link is its versatility. Because it spans industries and channels, it essentially defines contextual commerce – in other words, enabling customers to buy where and when they want, with the least possible friction.

Here are three strong potential use cases…

1. Chatbots

Say you’re using an online travel agent’s chatbot or live chat. It shares a bespoke itinerary for next summer’s holiday, and you like what you see. A payment link can then be sent, allowing you to seamlessly make a deposit and secure your trip.

Pay by Link is ideally suited to live chat and chatbots

2. B2B platforms

Payment links can also come in the form of QR codes. These are ideally suited to B2B invoices because they eliminate the labour and risk associated with manually retyping data. Simply scan and go.

They help with chasing unpaid invoices, too. Payment links can be easily added to email or SMS reminders.

Pay by Link also works well with B2B invoices

3. E-commerce

The average cart abandonment rate is almost 70%. Failed card payments, meanwhile, cost the global economy $118.5bn in 2020. Fortunately, Pay by Link helps alleviate both problems.

How? Well, by giving shoppers a faster, easier way to pay. “Still want to purchase this item? Do so in seconds using this link.” “Your card payment failed, but don’t worry – you can securely check out from your bank account instead.”

Pay by Link helps e-tailers capture lost revenue from cart abandonments

How does Pay by Link work?

Because our Pay by Link solution is API driven, it can be easily integrated into any external system you have – allowing you to scale and automate your operations.

The payment links you generate will include the currency, the amount and a unique identifier. They’re then shared with your customer, either via a link or a QR code. That’s all there is to it.

The shopper, for their part, needs only to open the link or scan the QR code to complete their payment – direct from their banking app or online banking – in seconds.

Interested in learning more? Book a demo to see Pay by Link in action.