With inflation discussions dominating the conversation today, it is more important than ever to decrease your days sales outstanding (DSO). This not only increases your cash flow but reduces the risk across your business. One way to help ensure more customers pay on time (or sooner) is to increase the payment methods available to your customers. And choosing the right payment service can be complicated, especially when the options come with so many different terms. But where should you start?
The acronyms of the different types of payment systems and how they function can confuse the most seasoned professional. And setting up the different payment types (or methods) for your business can be a chore, especially if you have manual, disconnected payment processes.
What’s the difference between a check and an echeck? An EFT versus an ACH? And how do you know which one(s) are the right ones for your business? Learn the types of electronic and physical payment systems below.
What is a check?
A check is a document that orders a bank to pay a specific amount of money from the customer’s checking or savings account to the payee. A check serves as the most common payment type in today’s business landscape. However, that doesn’t make them the most efficient. Paper checks require significant manual processing, which can lead to payment errors, increased DSO, and late payments.
What is an echeck?
An echeck is an electronic version of a check that uses the customer’s bank account and routing number to debit the funds from their account, just like a paper check. The main difference between an echeck and a check is that an echeck clears faster because it’s processed electronically.
What is an EFT?
An electronic funds transfer (EFT) is the electronic movement of money from one account to another, either within a single financial institution or across multiple institutions, directly or through interbank clearinghouses and payment systems.
EFTs are a time-saving and budget-friendly alternative to paper checks. They’re also safe, easy on the environment (no paper checks or snail mail), and cost-effective – not to mention error-free.
What is an ACH?
The Automated Clearing House (ACH) network is a batch-oriented electronic funds transfer system that provides interbank clearing of electronic payments for participating depository financial institutions.
The added security validation for ACH transactions means you can rest easy knowing your money won’t disappear into thin air; plus if there are any errors in an order placed through this method (which doesn’t happen often), both parties will know about them before completing their agreement so no time or energy goes wasted trying to figure out what went wrong later on down the line.
What are Credit Cards?
A credit card is a plastic card that gives the cardholder a line of credit to purchase items or withdraw cash. Credit cards are one of the most popular payment methods today. They offer convenience and flexibility that other payment methods don’t.
While accepting credit cards may carry separate processing fees, many payment providers allow you to include surcharging fees to cover these transaction costs directly.
What are Wire Transfers?
A wire transfer is an electronic transfer of money from one person or institution to another. Wire transfers are made from one bank account to another bank account, or through a transfer of cash at a cash office.
Wire transfers are a quick and easy way to send money, but they are expensive. The fees depend on the bank or transfer service you use, as well as the amount of money you’re sending.
What are Virtual Cards?
A virtual card is a type of card that exists only in cyberspace. Virtual cards are used to make online payments, just like a physical credit card.
Virtual cards are becoming more popular because they offer a higher level of security than traditional credit cards. When you use a virtual card, the merchant never has your actual credit card number. This reduces the risk of fraud.
Virtual cards can also be used to set spending limits. This is helpful if you have employees who need to make purchases on your behalf. You can load the card with enough money to cover the purchase, and cancel it when no longer needed.
Automation and Payment Connectors
Payments made via check, echeck, EFT, and ACH can all be automated with the use of a payment connector and AR automation. This means that your organization can take advantage of the many benefits these payment types have to offer without having to worry about the manual processes often associated with them.
A payment connector will automate the process of sending and receiving payments, as well as reconcile them with Lockstep Receivables and your accounting software. This means that you can save time and money by having a single solution to manage all of your payments, improving the customer experience by providing a streamlined way for them to make payments.
In addition, Lockstep Receivables provides you with real-time visibility into your cash flow, so you can make informed decisions about how to best use your funds. This is particularly helpful when you’re trying to manage a large volume of invoices and payments.
By automating your payments with Lockstep Receivables, you can improve your cash flow, save time and money, and provide a better experience for your customers.
