Competitive SMB merchants are turning to ISVs to help build these payment methods and other value-added services into their operations.

Ecommerce and online ordering skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic. eMarketer reports that worldwide retail ecommerce sales grew by 27.6% in 2020, shattering predictions in mid-2020 that growth would reach 16.5%. And, even with the gains in 2020, ecommerce growth continued throughout 2021 and beyond.

ISVs and the developers who create software solutions for them need to ensure that they integrate with a payments platform that enables them to meet this demand, accepting payments on all channels easily and efficiently. One ISV partnering with North, iPos Point of Sale, is using the the MagTek iOS SDK with the Custom Pay API to handle both in-person and online payments from within their custom POS application. To learn more about this integration, read the iPos case study.

In addition to expecting seamless online ordering, payment, and pickup or delivery, consumers also want retailers to make returns and refunds easier. A Doddle survey found that 84% of consumers say a positive return experience can encourage them to do business with a merchant again. However, the survey also found that 74% of consumers believe U.S. retailers need to do a better job at returns.

Omnichannel solutions can be the key to better return and refund experiences since they give in-store employees the flexibility to handle returns for orders placed in store or online. For customers who prefer a 100% online experience, returns and refunds can be handled completely online, making the process quick and convenient.

Many SMB merchants have also found value in accepting payments on mobile devices instead of only countertop terminals or online. Accepting payments on a tablet, smartphone, or other mobile device gives merchants the advantage when it comes to in-aisle assistance, line-busting, or curbside payments, such as pop-up shops or sidewalk sales.

Mobile payments' flexibility has helped SMBs to adapt during the pandemic, meet customers where they are, upsell, and complete transactions rather than staying tethered to a counter.

SMBs creating new digital environments can also benefit from solutions for the back of the house as well as customer-facing products. ISVs are creating custom portals that allow SMBs to create invoices, access dispute or chargeback data, and more.

North’s Business Reporting API gives partners the ability to provide this functionality to their clients quickly and easily. This API allows you to programmatically consume financial and business data directly from the processor. This data can then be displayed on your custom dashboard, allowing you to provide merchants with the information they need while completely controlling the experience. In addition to passing through data, the Business Reporting API includes endpoints that can allow merchants to close batches, submit transactions, and more, directly from your environment.

While contactless payments were slowly gaining ground in the U.S. before the pandemic, a Dynata study indicates that 59% of consumers now prefer contactless, tap-and-pay transactions. Customers view these options as safer than those that require handling cash or touching a PIN pad that others have used. Implementing a card reader equipped with near-field communication (NFC) technology enables customers to tap or wave contactless payment cards or mobile wallets from a distance.

NFC contactless payments aren’t the only way to create touchless payment experiences in-store. ISVs that develop software allowing brick-and-mortar businesses to accept QR code payments also have a competitive edge. PYMNTS estimates that 11 million U.S. households used QR codes to make payments in 2021, driven, in part, by the consumers' preference for touchless experiences.