With digital payments now the default method for most transactions, making and accepting payments online has become commonplace. However, with this convenience comes the risk of fraud and data theft. As a result, it’s more important than ever to use secure and reliable payment processing methods. This is where Tokenization comes in.
Tokenization is a method of securing sensitive data, allowing businesses to safely manage their customers’ payment information. It provides an easy way to generate, store, retrieve, and update tokens, as well as to associate them with customer data. By using Tokenization, merchants protect their customers’ payment data from theft and fraud.
Types of Tokens: Card Tokens and Wallet Tokens
There are two types of tokens used in payments: card tokens and wallet tokens. Card tokens are a tokenized version of a credit or debit card number, while wallet tokens are a tokenized version of a digital wallet, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. Both card tokens and wallet tokens are used to tokenize sensitive payment information, but there are some differences between them.
A card token is a tokenized version of a credit or debit card number that is generated by a payment gateway or processor. The token serves as a substitute for the actual card number and can be used to process transactions. Card tokens are typically used in card-not-present transactions, such as online or mobile payments.
On the other hand, a wallet token is a tokenized version of a digital wallet, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. This token is generated by the wallet provider and is used to securely store payment credentials, including card information and other payment methods, on a customer’s mobile device. The token can then be used to process transactions without the need to enter payment information each time. Wallet tokens are typically used in mobile payments, either in-store or online.
Benefits of Using Tokenization
Using Tokenization has several benefits for both merchants and customers.
Some of the benefits include:
- Enhanced Security: By using Tokenization, sensitive payment information is stored securely, reducing the risk of data theft and fraud.
- Improved Customer Experience: Tokenization makes it easier for customers to make payments by securely storing payment information and reducing the need to enter payment information each time.
- Increased Flexibility: Tokenization supports a variety of payment methods, making it easy for merchants to accept different types of payments.
- Customizable Display: Merchants can display card and wallet templates however they want in their own cashier. This can help improve the checkout experience for customers.
- Automated Management: Merchants can automate payment token management, reducing the risk of human error and streamlining the payment process.
How Tokenization Works
Tokenization works by using a process to convert sensitive payment information into tokens. The tokenization process replaces the actual sensitive data with a randomly generated string of characters, called a token. The token can be used in place of the sensitive data in transactions, and can be safely stored without compromising the security of the underlying information.
The tokenization process typically involves several steps:
- Data Collection: Payment information is collected from the customer, such as a credit card number or digital wallet information.
- Tokenization: The payment information is tokenized, generating a unique token for each piece of payment information.
- Storage: The tokenized payment information is stored securely, either locally or in a cloud-based environment.
- Payment Processing: When a payment is made, the token is used to process the payment, and the payment information is never transmitted in plaintext.
Implementing Tokenization for your Business
Simply get in contact to get more information about how Tokenization can assist your business by clicking here.
Once integrated, you can start to tokenize and manage your customers’ payment information. Depending on your needs, you can use card tokens, wallet tokens, or both to support a variety of payment methods right within your own cashier.
Key Takeaways
Tokenization offers a secure and efficient way for merchants to manage their customers’ payment information. By using tokenization to replace sensitive payment information with tokens, merchants can reduce the risk of data theft and fraud. Additionally, customers benefit from a more secure payment experience and the convenience of not having to re-enter their payment information each time they make a purchase.
Overall, Tokenization is a powerful tool for managing payment information, and the benefits have a positive impact on both merchants and customers. By implementing Tokenization, businesses can provide a more secure and streamlined payment experience to support them in automating payment management.
