Breaking the Payment Barrier

Problems and challenges

Integrating multiple payment providers into an online booking system is often required, especially for larger airlines which sells tickets in multiple countries or regions. The integration could be challenging as each provider has its own API, and its own process. Also, for such booking systems the payment page should be configurable. For instance some payment options should be shown based on the culture of the user or the type of the booking.

Implementation

At DGITAL Labs we developed a generalized payment page solution for our partner. The providers are integrated separately at our backend solution, but they are hidden behind an unified user interface, where new providers could be added with a minimal effort. The page itself is highly configurable, some design elements can be from the configuration, and the preconditions can be also set for each payment method to specify when they can appear.

We also also integrated our anti-fraud provider adapter to the payment process, which is described in the following article.

With this approach new integrations can be added easily, which is crucial, because the development time of new integrations could slow down an expansion into a new market.

An alternative approach

With the previously described approach new payment providers can be added to airline booking systems easily, but the backend API integrations still costs valuable developer time. Additionally, for card payments the airline must maintain a PCI DSS compliant hosting environment, if they are made through the website.

Fortunately, there are payment orchestrators, that already have integrations with the most common payment providers in the given region, and hosted on an already secured environment. One of them is Yuno, which has a global focus, but they have a strong presence in and have been actively expanding into specific regions, particularly Latin America. They seamlessly integrate with over 1000 payment providers, and have their own anti-fraud solution.

Yuno has multiple levels of integrations, from a simple embedded frame, to a fully customized flow an user interface. Based on our previous experience with payment integrations, we could came up with a solution for our partner which is customizable, but it relies on the pre-built parts created by Yuno.

Conclusion

As online booking systems become more complex, especially for businesses with a global reach like airlines, the challenge of integrating various payment providers grows. Our solution at DGITAL Labs addresses this head-on by creating a unified, configurable payment page. This approach not only streamlines the integration process for new payment providers but also allows for a highly customized user experience, ensuring the right payment options are shown to the right customers at the right time.

While our in-house solution significantly reduces development time, we also recognize the value of alternative approaches. Payment orchestrators like Yuno offer a powerful shortcut, providing pre-integrated access to a vast network of providers and handling security compliance like PCI DSS. By leveraging these platforms, businesses can further accelerate their expansion into new markets and focus on core operations.

Ultimately, whether through a custom-built system or an orchestrator, the key to success is a flexible and scalable payment infrastructure. This forward-thinking approach ensures that as a company grows, its payment system can adapt seamlessly, paving the way for continued expansion and success.