Smart Checkout FAQs

#When should I use a pre-authorization rather than a direct charge?

If the transfer of funds is to be initiated later, but you now want to ensure the customer has the required funds and in fact reserve these funds, you should use a pre-authorization rather than a direct charge.

For example: make a reservation (e.g. hotel), place a pre-order, and so on.

For example(merchant): place a hold on the funds until the order is shipped, and so on.

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#What is Decline Recovery and how does it work?

Decline Recovery is a feature that uses a customer's past payment behavior to prompt them to re-try a declined transaction, increasing the chances of a successful payment.

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#Can I set up recurring payments for my customers?

Yes, recurring payments are supported. Merchants can automatically charge customers for fixed or variable amounts on both regular and irregular schedules.

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#Is the checkout experience mobile-friendly?

Absolutely. Our checkout is fully optimized for all devices including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, ensuring a smooth user experience.

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#Can I offer payments with card installments to my customers?

You can offer your customers the option of paying with card installments (automatically splitting the total purchase amount into smaller equal payments) as long as the following criteria are met:

• You registered your Viva.com account in Greece

• The customer’s card supports installments

Please note: If offering installments, the value provided by the merchant is not the number of installments the customer will select, and it is not mandatory for the customer to select installments at all. The process is as follows:

1. You indicate the maximum number of installments you wish to offer to the customer

2. It is then up to the customer whether they pay with or without installments

3. If the customer decides to pay with installments, they are able to select the number of installments (up to the maximum specified by you)

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#What should I do if I sell to international shoppers?

Make sure you present Smart Checkout in the language of the customer. For each payment, just pass through to Smart Checkout the language that you want it to presented in; use the requestLang parameter.

Make sure you offer local payment methods that are familiar to your customers (please see the following question below).

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#What local payment methods can I offer to my customers?

The local payment methods that you can offer to your customers depend on the country in which you registered your Viva.com account and on your MCC (Merchant Category Code). Some of these payment methods will have been automatically activated for you by us (e.g. Apple Pay), other payment methods can be activated by yourself (e.g. PayPal), for others you need to get in touch with us to activate them for you.

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#Can I indicate my preferred payment method?

You have the option to specify the payment method that will be already selected for the customer to pay with; the customer will still have the option to pay with any other payment method.

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#Can I allow customers to enter their desired amount to pay?

You can allow buyers to enter a custom amount on the checkout form. You should set the disableExactAmount parameter value to true for enabling this feature.

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#How much effort does it take to do the integration?

The integration is very simple and minimal effort is required from your side.

Keep in mind to perform a proper redirect and not use an iframe. Using an iframe will disable certain features, it will also result in a poor user experience, and thus overall reduce significantly your conversion rates. Customers are accustomed to being redirected to a payment page to conclude their purchase online.

Also, no effort is required for Smart Checkout updates, as Viva handles any enhancements to offer new features and additional payment methods on an ongoing basis.

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#Is the payment solution compliant with security regulations?

Yes. Our platform is fully compliant with PCI standards and supports Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) and 3D Secure (3DS). It also includes SCA exemptions and advanced fraud protection using machine learning.

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#Will I need to make manual updates for new features or compliance changes?

No manual updates are required. The platform self-updates regularly to provide new payment methods, conversion-enhancing features, and to ensure full compliance with the latest regulations and security standards.

If you need more information or encounter any issues, don't hesitate to contact one of our representatives.