As an online merchant, it is crucial which payment methods you offer your buyers. The numbers speak for themselves: According to the E-Commerce Sentiment Barometer 2024 by HWZ, invoice purchase with 70% remains one of the most popular payment methods.

That merchants have also recognised this is shown by the Online Merchant Survey 2024 by ZHAW: Around 72 per cent of Swiss online merchants offer this method. For 34 per cent of them, invoice purchase even accounts for more than 50 per cent of sales. So, those who do not offer this payment method are forgoing potential revenues.

Moreover, no other payment method satisfies the needs for control and security in online shopping as well as this one. First-time visitors to your webshop often want to check your goods and services before they actually pay for them. This gives them the confidence that the ordered product meets their expectations. That is exactly what invoice purchase enables.

Generate more revenue thanks to increased trust

The foundation of trust you create by offering invoice purchase works in both directions. On the one hand, you give your customers the assurance to inspect the goods first. On the other hand, you show that you rely on their fairness regarding payment. A study by the HWZ on the success factors in Swiss e-commerce confirms that this perceived security significantly lowers the purchase threshold, especially for new customers.

Many people are also sceptical about online shopping – particularly when they have to enter sensitive data, such as their credit card information. Consequently, the purchase process is often abandoned at this point. With invoice purchase, you overcome this hurdle: Your customers can conveniently obtain the goods or services while usually only needing to provide their address for delivery.

Ultimately, invoice purchase also positively impacts the revenue of your online shop. If you offer this payment method, your business appears more credible, you can significantly reduce purchase abandonment, and increase the completion rate, especially for new customers. Data from the Netcomm Suisse Association regularly shows that the lack of preferred payment methods is one of the main reasons for shopping cart abandonment. Satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend your shop.

Secure yourself against potential risks

Although the advantages of invoice purchase clearly outweigh the disadvantages, this payment method also presents some challenges. For instance, you might send the goods, but the payment from your customers may not follow. Such a situation can cause major difficulties, especially for smaller merchants with limited resources. Additionally, the manual effort involved in managing incoming payments, reminders, or debt collection processes should not be underestimated.

It makes even more sense to pass on the effort and responsibility. Studies by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences on receivables management in SMEs emphasize that outsourcing the processes to specialised providers not only minimises the risk of payment defaults but also preserves your own liquidity and significantly reduces administrative burden. 

The good news: There are various invoice purchase providers that take over the risk of payment defaults and the credit check of the buyers, also known as credit assessment, for you. In the following, we will look at all these options and explain how you can use them with your Payrexx account.

The following providers can be connected to Payrexx via external providers: 

POWERPAY

With POWERPAY, developed by MF Group AG, you can offer your customers invoice purchase with an instalment option. POWERPAY takes over the credit assessment and the risk of payment default. This provider is ideal for shops focusing on the Swiss market, where customer satisfaction and security are paramount.

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CembraPay

Offer your customers maximum flexibility by providing invoice purchase with or without an instalment option from CembraPay as a payment method. A unique solution in Switzerland – without interest or additional fees. For you as a merchant with guaranteed default risk and pre-financing. CembraPay helps you achieve a higher conversion rate and increase your revenue.

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Ideal Payment

Ideal Payment is a good solution for small and medium-sized enterprises that want to negotiate conditions individually and adapt processes to their business model. With Ideal Payment, you get a secure invoice purchase solution without high fixed costs or complicated integrations. This provider is particularly interesting for you as a merchant if you want to start with little effort and still present professionally.

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The following provider is available within the Payrexx-developed payment provider Payrexx Pay Plus:

Klarna

Klarna is perfect for merchants who sell their products internationally. Klarna is established across Europe and builds trust with customers, especially within medium-sized and larger shops. Alongside the classic invoice purchase, Klarna offers options like 'Pay Later', instalments, or financing.

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Invoice purchase is much more than just a payment method that you as a merchant offer. It is a strategic tool that directly addresses the need of new customers for security and trust. By offering this option, you can secure a clear competitive advantage. And with Payrexx, these benefits can be easily transferred to your online shop.