PortaBilling automates customer payment processing by integrating with external payment processors (for example, Stripe or PayPal).
In PortaBilling, payment processing is based on the following concepts:
- Payment processor – an external service that transmits payment data, requests authorization, and returns transaction results between PortaBilling and financial institutions. PortaBilling provides built-in integrations with payment processors and processors available through Add-on Mart.
- Payment system – a PortaBilling configuration entity that defines how PortaBilling connects to and works with a specific payment processor to process customer payments.
- Payment method – defines the type of payment instrument a customer uses to make a payment, such as a credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or direct debit.
To accept payments, a service provider signs up with a payment processor, configures a payment system in PortaBilling based on that payment processor, and defines the accepted payment methods.
Payments in PortaBilling can be:
- Customer-initiated – payments performed in the self-care portal, either by entering payment details directly in the interface or by being redirected to the payment processor’s website to complete the payment.
- System-initiated – payments that PortaBilling processes automatically, without customer interaction, using a customer’s saved payment method (e.g., a credit card) according to configured rules, such as automatic payment upon invoice generation or a low balance.
- Admin- or API-initiated – registered by an admin or triggered by an external system (for example, a point-of-sale application) via API.
All successful payments automatically update customer balances. All payment attempts are automatically recorded in the payment history.
Comprehensive guide to E-payments
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