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Contactless is now default in many markets; customers expect tap‑to‑pay and wallets. Tokenization and network‑level encryption are more widely adopted, which reduces the impact of data breaches. Strong Customer Authentication and risk‑based checks are balancing fraud prevention with frictionless checkout.

Processors and gateways are expanding support for recurring and subscription models. Reporting is becoming more real time, with better reconciliation exports and payout forecasting. For cross‑border merchants, multi‑currency pricing and localized payment methods are crucial to conversion.

Two broad models dominate: flat pricing (a single blended rate) and Interchange++ (true pass‑through of network costs plus a fixed markup). Flat pricing is predictable for small merchants; Interchange++ can be cheaper for larger, card‑present volumes where downgrades are minimized.

When reviewing proposals, calculate an effective rate: total fees divided by total volume. Ask about cross‑border surcharges, minimums, PCI program fees, and any early‑termination clauses. Consider settlement speed and dispute handling quality alongside headline rates.

Hosted payment fields/iframes let the gateway collect card data directly, keeping it off your server and generally qualifying you for SAQ A or A‑EP. Combine hosted fields with tokenization for returning customers and subscriptions, and ensure TLS configuration is current.

Maintain a simple policy set: access control, secure software updates, incident response, and vendor management. Train staff to avoid handling raw card data via email or chat. Quarterly vulnerability scans may be required for externally facing systems.