QR-bill as a payment method in the Swiss online shop: This is how it works

The Swiss QR Invoice (Swiss QR Invoice) can be used as a full-fledged payment method in online checkout — not only for sending invoices by post. After ordering, buyers receive a QR code that they scan and pay directly via their e-banking app. For merchants, the QR invoice is the most favourable form of buying on account with transaction fees starting at 0.50 %, but without credit checks and without risk assumption.

This guide shows you step-by-step how the QR Invoice works in online checkout, how you automate payment reconciliation and for which shops this model is particularly suitable.

1. What the QR Invoice is in an e-commerce context — and what it is not

The QR-Rechnung was introduced in 2020 by the Swiss Bankers Association (SwissBanking) and the SIX Group to replace the old payment slips (red and orange) with a uniform, digitally readable format. At its core, it is a standardised payment part with a Swiss QR Code containing all payment information: recipient IBAN, amount, reference number and structured payment information.

In an e-commerce context, this means: the QR invoice is not sent on paper, but provided as a digital payment part in the checkout or by email after ordering. Buyers scan the QR code with their mobile banking app and trigger the payment. The QR invoice is not a BNPL solution — there is no credit check, and the risk of default lies entirely with you as a merchant.

Important: The QR invoice as a payment method in checkout is not the same as classic invoicing. With classic invoicing, you create an invoice manually and send it — the process is decoupled from the shop. With the QR invoice as a checkout payment method, the process is integrated into the ordering process, and the payment reconciliation can be automated.

2. How the QR Invoice works in online checkout: Process for buyers and merchants

The process is divided into five steps:

Step 1: Buyer selects «Purchase on account» or «QR Invoice» as payment method in checkout. The PSP or the shop system generates a QR invoice with a unique QR reference (QRR) or SCOR reference.

Step 2: The order is confirmed. Buyer receives the QR invoice as a PDF by email or directly on the order confirmation screen — with the Swiss QR Code and the payment deadline.

Step 3: Buyer opens the e-banking or mobile banking app, scans the QR code. All payment information is filled in automatically. The payment is triggered with one click.

Step 4: The buyer's bank transfers the amount to the recipient IBAN. Depending on the bank, this takes 1–2 business days within Switzerland.

Step 5: You as a merchant receive a CAMT.054 credit advice from your bank. This contains the QR reference with which the payment can be automatically assigned to the order.

3. Payment reconciliation: CAMT.054, reference number and automatic assignment

Automatic payment reconciliation is the biggest efficiency gain of the QR invoice compared to classic invoices by post. It works via three components:

The QR reference (QRR) is a 27-digit reference number based on the QR-IBAN. It is generated uniquely for each order. Alternatively, the Structured Creditor Reference (SCOR) according to ISO 11649 can be used, which also works Outside Switzerland.

The CAMT.054 message is an XML file in the ISO 20022 standard that your bank automatically provides to you. It contains all credits with the respective reference number. Your ERP system, your accounting tool or your PSP can import this message and automatically assign the payment to the correct order.

In practice, this means: If a customer transfers CHF 89.00 to your account and the QR reference contains 21 00000 00003 13947 14300 09017, your system automatically assigns the payment to order #13947. Without manual matching, without searching through bank statements.

Prerequisite: You need a QR-IBAN (not just a standard IBAN), which you apply for at your bank. Furthermore, your software must be able to process CAMT.054 messages. Most modern ERP and accounting solutions (Bexio, Abacus, Run my Accounts, Klara) support this natively.

4. Payment terms and dunning: When is the invoice due, what happens in case of default?

Unlike BNPL providers, who specify a fixed payment term of 14 or 30 days, you determine the payment term yourself with the QR invoice. Standard is 10, 14 or 30 days from the invoice date.

If the payment term has expired and no payment has been received, your dunning process begins. In Switzerland, there is no legally prescribed dunning obligation — in principle, you can initiate debt collection immediately after the deadline has expired. In practice, however, a stepped process is recommended:

Payment reminder 5–7 days overdue, formulated in a friendly manner. First dunning letter after 14 days overdue, with a new payment term of 10 days. Second dunning letter after a further 10 days, with announcement of debt collection. Request for debt collection at the competent debt collection office (Art. 67 SchKG) if payment is still not made.

The costs for a debt collection petition range between CHF 7 and CHF 400 depending on the amount of the claim in accordance with the Fee Ordinance to the SchKG (GebV SchKG). You as the creditor must advance these costs.

5. QR Invoice vs. classic invoice by post: What changes for online shops

The changeover to the QR invoice as a checkout payment method brings several advantages compared to classic invoicing by post:

6. For which shops and industries the QR Invoice is particularly suitable

The QR invoice as a checkout payment method is particularly suitable for:

B2B shops and ordering platforms where corporate clients are used to paying by bank transfer. The QR invoice makes this process digital and automatable.

Shops with a high customer retention rate where the risk of default is known and low. If you know that 95 % of your customers pay reliably, you do not need expensive BNPL risk assumption.

Shops with large shopping carts (over CHF 200) where the percentage fee of the QR invoice (0.50 %) is significantly cheaper than the BNPL fee (2–3 %).

Associations, federations and non-profit organisations where membership fees and donations are collected via QR invoice.

The QR invoice is less suitable for shops with a high share of new customers and small shopping carts in the fashion or lifestyle segment — here the risk of default is high, and BNPL with risk assumption is the better choice.

Checklist: Set up QR Invoice as a payment method in your online shop

• Apply for a QR-IBAN at your Swiss bank if you do not have one yet.

• Check whether your PSP or shop system supports the QR invoice as a checkout payment method.

• Make sure that your accounting software can process CAMT.054 messages.

• Define the payment term (10, 14 or 30 days) and communicate it clearly on the QR invoice.

• Set up an automatic dunning process: payment reminder, 1st warning, 2nd warning.

• Decide whether you offer the QR invoice in parallel to BNPL methods — both at the same time is possible.

• Test the process: Place an order in your own shop, scan the QR code and check whether the assignment works.