Insights and news from the ATOM Mobility team

As you're getting close to launching your vehicle-sharing business, one of the important decisions is what payment gateway to use. Without one, you won't be able to collect payments from users via app. But choosing the right solution might feel daunting since so many options are available.

The good news is – we've got you covered.

In this article, you'll find an overview of what payment gateways are, what payment processing solutions integrate with ATOM Mobility, and the key factors to consider when choosing a payment gateway for your shared mobility venture.

What is a payment gateway?

Simply put, a payment gateway is the “bridge” between the customers' payment method and your bank account. It's the tool that validates your customer's card details or credentials for online payment methods (e.g., digital wallets such as ApplePay) to ensure that funds can be transferred to you, the operator.

For ATOM Mobility users, there's an option to choose between two types of payment gateways:

Hosted, when the client is taken to an external payment page hosted by the payment gateway provider to enter their payment details, such as credit card information or login credentials (e.g., PayPal or local bank integrations). In our case, the payment page opens in-app, meaning that the end customer won't know the payment takes place outside of the app.

Self-hosted/native SDK integration is when the payment gateway system is integrated into the app, allowing the client to complete the payment without leaving the site.

Most businesses nowadays use such hosted and integrated payment solutions – those are quick and easy to set up, and the solution provider takes responsibility for transaction validation and security.

How do hosted and integrated payment gateways work?

Your business most likely has a bank account used to manage the company's cash flow. It's, for example, where you make and receive payments for invoices issued.

Now, to start accepting payments at scale, you need to set up a payment gateway that will allow you to automate the process of collecting payments. It's impossible to manually prepare and send an invoice to every customer for every ride – those could be thousands of invoices a day for relatively small amounts.

Payment gateways link your bank account with the customer's chosen payment method that they'll be asked to add when downloading your app. From then on, whenever clients use your shared mobility solution, your payment gateway will collect the money, then transfer it to your bank account within few days.

For their service, payment gateway service providers charge a processing fee, which can be either a specific amount or a percentage of the transaction value. The fees vary depending on the service provider, the type of card the client has added, and more.

For example, Stripe’s regualar fee is 1.5% + €0.25 for European cards. For a €4 transaction, they'd charge 1.5% of €4 + €0.25. That's a €0.265 commission in total.

As you estimate your business' expenses and potential profits, such processing fees must be carefully considered. In the shared mobility industry, such microcharges can quickly add up and “eat” as much as 6.6% of your revenue (see the Stripe example above).

Payment gateway providers that integrate with ATOM Mobility

The ATOM Mobility platform integrates with a number of payment gateway solutions, which will allow you to collect payments wherever your business is based. Once you've chosen the one that's right for your business and set up the account, you can connect it to your ATOM Mobility account.

But first things first – here are the many options available to you:

Stripe

Stripe is one of the most popular payment processing solutions worldwide, allowing businesses to accept and manage online payments. It enables businesses to accept credit and debit card payments, digital payments, and more. Stripe also supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bancontact, iDEAL and more.

Pros

• Supports 135+ currencies
• Easy to set up, with an intuitive user interface
• Supports a wide range of payment methods
• Transparent pricing – flat rate per transaction, no monthly fees
• With the help of ATOM Mobility, you can get a significant discount on transaction fees

Cons

• Doesn't operate everywhere in the world
• Fees for international transactions can be higher than competitors'

Payment processing fee (without discounts provided to ATOM Mobility clients):

• 1.5% + €0.25 for European cards
• 2.5% + €0.25 for UK cards
• 3.25% + €0.25 for international cards

Adyen

Adyen is among the largest companies in the payment processing market. This payment processor supports over 250 payment methods, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Klarna.

Pros:

• Supports 187 currencies
• A wide range of payment methods and currencies supported
• No monthly or setup fees

Cons:

• Transaction fees may be a bit unpredictable, as they vary a lot depending on the payment method
• Adyen requires new merchants to have at least 1 000 000 EUR in annual turnover, so it may be complicated to open an account. ATOM Mobility can assist with special conditions, as our customers have no minimum threshold.

Payment processing fee:

• €0.11 + payment method fee (see here)

Checkout.com

Checkout.com allows merchants to accept payments from a variety of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, various alternative payment methods (PayPal, digital wallets), as well as various local payment methods. Checkout.com has great coverage where Adyen or Stripe do not operate.

Pros

• Supports transactions in 150+ currencies
• Easy to set up, clean and intuitive interface
• Quick payouts

Cons

• The pricing structure is a bit complex & fees may vary depending on transaction volume
• Supports 18 payment methods – less than their competitors

Payment processing fees:

• 0.95% + $0.20 for European cards
• 2.90% + $0.20 for non-European cards

HyperPay

HyperPay provides payment processing solutions for businesses of all sizes and enables operators to accept both card and digital payments. HyperPay covers the MENA area – Middle East North Africa – and integrates with the ATOM Mobility system.

Pros

• Easy to set up and integrated with the operator's website or mobile app
• Supports a wide range of payment options – payment cards, digital wallets, MADA, bank transfers

Cons

• The pricing structure is a bit complex & fees may vary depending on the payment method and the volume of transactions
• You can't just create an account – you must get in touch with HyperPay to do it

Payment processing fees:

Depends on the currency and payment method; not stated on the website.

Bambora

A payment processing solution that's available in multiple countries around the world. It offers a range of payment options, including credit and debit cards, e-wallets such as PayPal and Alipay, and more.

Pros

• Supports payments in multiple currencies
• Supports a variety of payment options – including AliPay, which is widely popular in China

Cons:

• Not available in all countries
• Setting up Bambora can be a bit complex for those with limited technical expertise
• $49 set-up fee

Payment processing fees:

Fixed fee ($0.10-$0.30) + percentage fee (1.7%-3.9%)

Regional payment solutions

ATOM Mobility integrates with several regional payment gateways, which is helpful for businesses focusing on specific markets. Providing users with an option to pay for your services in their local currency and with a payment method they're familiar with, helps ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Kushki

A payment gateway for businesses in Latin America. Processing fees depend on the country and payment method but typically are between 2.5% and 5% per transaction.

Flutterwave

A payment gateway for businesses in Africa. Transaction fees depend on the payment method and the volume of transactions – usually between 2.9% and 3.8% per transaction.

LiqPay

A payment system is primarily available in Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe. Payment processing fee – 1.5% per transaction.

ConcordPay

A payment processing platform that's primarily available to businesses based in Ukraine. Fees for card transactions range from 1.5% to 3%.

Klix

A payment solution for businesses in the Baltic region of Europe. It allows users to make a payment by simply entering their phone numbers. Payment transaction fees start at 1.3% or min. €0.10.

Exezine

A payment gateway that provides online payment solutions for businesses in Azerbaijan. The fee for card transactions is 5%.

Local bank integrations

Another option is to offer your clients to pay through their local bank integration. Since people tend to prefer payment solutions they are familiar with, offering your clients the option to pay through their local bank integration may help you convince new users to give your ride-sharing service a try.

Expressbank

A bank integration primarily for businesses operating in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Albania. Fees for card transactions typically range from 0.7% to 1.5%.

PUMB 

A bank integration primarily for businesses operating in Ukraine. Fees for card transactions typically range from 1.5% to 2.5%

First Atlantic Bank

A bank integration for businesses primarily operating across the Caribbean and Central America. Fees for card transactions vary – contact the bank for more information.

New integrations

Currently, the ATOM team is working on 3 new payment integrations so our clients have more options and can find the most suitable solution for them. If you have a preference regarding the payment gateway, you can talk to our team, and we will plan the integration process together.

Key factors to consider when choosing a payment gateway

As you see, there are dozens of payment gateway solutions available. But which one is the one and only for your business? 

Before you make your decision, here are six crucial things to consider:

1. Stability and SLA - how secure and stable the solution is. This should be the first criterion, as cooperating with an unstable solution will lead to losses. Do other similar businesses use them? Do they have case studies? Does their support answer within a reasonable time?
2. Costs and fees – what will it cost you to set the solution up? How big are the transaction fees? Are there any additional monthly fees? Try to estimate the volume and value of your monthly transactions – for many payment gateway solution providers, the fees depend on these factors.
3. Payment methods supported – people are different, and so are their preferences regarding online payments. Some prefer to pay with digital wallets, while others only trust banks and their integrations. The more payment methods you'll be able to offer, the larger audience you'll be able to attract.
4. Regions operating in – does the chosen payment gateway even work in your region? Also, if you're aiming to build a global ride-sharing business, you may want to select a payment gateway with a worldwide presence. 
5. Holding time – how long can the funds be cleared and transferred to your bank account take? For most payment gateways, it's usually 3-7 days. Generally, the sooner you receive your money, the easier it will be for you to manage your business.
6. Currencies supported – check whether your payment gateway supports payments in different currencies. People want to pay in their local currency, so you want to ensure they have such an option.
7. Security – as a rule of thumb, you want your payment gateway to be level-1 PCI DSS compliant and have fraud detection features.

To sum up

Choosing the most appropriate and cost-efficient payment gateway may feel daunting at first, but the secret to making this process easier is just knowing exactly what you want and need. 

Where is your business going to operate? 
How big is your target market?
How much can you make in your first year in business? Be realistic.
Where do you see your venture in 3-5 years?

By answering these questions, you'll have a clearer picture of what you need from your payment gateway solution provider. 

Good luck!

Whether you're an experienced mobility veteran or a first-time entrepreneur, there are several things you need to keep in mind when choosing or upgrading your fleet for the 2023 season – be it cars, ebikes, or scooters.

In 2023, we'll see cities and countries implement stricter mobility management regulations and new safety requirements. Customer expectations will continue to grow in tandem with rising competition. And technological advancements will push the electric mobility industry to new heights.

To stay competitive and meet customer demand in terms of both quality and quantity, it's crucial to not only choose the right fleet for your business, but also carefully manage the related decisions that come with such an order. This will help you avoid running into unwelcome surprises both in the short- and long-term.

Here are the aspects to keep in mind when choosing your fleet this year:

1. Shipping prices are lower than last year

Following a hectic 2022 for logistics, 2023 brings good news for businesses – shipping prices have come down significantly and supply chains are finally starting to show some stability.

Recent research indicates that there has been a significant decline in freight rates, reducing shipping costs by up to 50% compared to last year's peaks. The falling cost of shipping provides mobility businesses with the opportunity to make better use of their resources and can even make a significant difference in business viability.

That said, it's difficult to accurately predict the trajectory of shipping prices going forward. Previous years have been characterized by perpetual instability and there is a possibility that costs may rise again due to global events. Hence, shipping expenses should be top-of-mind when considering ordering new vehicles, particularly from overseas.

2. Choosing vehicles: you get what you pay for

It may be a smart idea to reinvest the savings from falling shipping costs into the vehicles themselves. While cheaper brands might look appealing, bear in mind that they typically require more maintenance than their more expensive counterparts.

Accordingly, a larger upfront investment into more durable and reputable vehicles may pay off in the long run, as you benefit from reduced need for maintenance and the labor that comes with it. Better durability also means a longer vehicle lifespan.

For example, some of the largest shared e-mobility operators purchase their fleet from OKAI, which vehicles are known for their durability and can be ordered from the company's warehousing facilities in Europe. Segway and Feishen are two other Chinese manufacturers that also provide stock from their European warehouses. If you prefer EU-manufactured vehicles, you may want to consider the Estonian scooter manufacturer Äike.

Cheaper models may still be a fantastic option for first-time mobility entrepreneurs aiming to validate their business idea. However, anyone in it for the long haul should carefully weigh the risks and benefits of large investments in lower-end models.

That said, if buying a brand-new fleet is too costly for your business, consider used vehicles that were previously owned by other operators in the EU. It can be a more cost-efficient alternative for operators just starting out. Check out our vehicle marketplace, reach out to us, and we'll help you put your fleet together.

3. Regulations will change and your fleet must adapt

The micromobility industry has long been loosely regulated, but now this is quickly changing. This year, we can expect new and stricter requirements, especially when it comes to kick scooters. And you must be ready to adapt your fleet to meet these emerging requirements.

In other words, along with swappable batteries and a durable design, things like scooter modularity and adaptability will become more important than ever before. These features are crucial not only for integrating new technologies as they emerge, but also in their ability to comply with newly introduced regulations.

For instance, the growing movement to make helmets a requirement with kick scooters should lead you to consider models that either have these locks, or can be retrofitted to add them. Otherwise, you may find yourself with an unusable fleet.

4. Invest in spare parts ahead of time

Researching and purchasing extra batteries and recommended spare parts beforehand can help reduce downtime and ensure that your fleet is always ready to perform at maximum efficiency. “Getting at least a 50% share of spare batteries along with the initial order is a good idea,” suggests Dominik Graaf, advisor at FEISHEN New Mobility.

Dominik also highlights that, when it comes to spare parts, it's better to stock up on extra ones, than to find yourself with an incapacitated fleet for months as you wait for critical parts to be shipped. The best way to determine which and how many parts you need is to ask your manufacturer of choice.

Manufacturers typically have comprehensive metrics about the performance of their own products – they know the weak points, they know the lifespan, and they know the most common issues. Accordingly, they're uniquely positioned to make good recommendations about spare parts and often offer pre-made packages along with the initial order. You can expect the cost for spares to be around 2-5% of the value of the scooter.

5. Understand the associated costs of importing vehicles

If you've been researching manufacturers and their prices, you'll probably have reached the conclusion that it's cheaper to order from overseas than buy locally. There are significant price differences between, for example, buying scooters in the EU vs Asia, even when purchasing from the same manufacturer.

But the price of the vehicle is only half the story.

According to Dominik Graaf, the reason for the price difference is import-associated costs – when ordering from Asia, you will have to bear all the costs for shipping, customs, and delivery. Not to mention the hassle of managing the entire process. Whereas when you buy from a European warehouse, the bulk of these costs have already been paid by the manufacturer and are accordingly priced into the scooter or other vehicle.

Once this is accounted for, the price difference falls sharply.

Moreover, buying in Europe confers various other advantages, the most important being dramatically shorter lead times, reducing the time until you see the first scooters from months to weeks. Additionally, it gives you a local contact point, as well as simplifies accounting and other managerial processes.

Do note that, at the end of the day, it may still prove cheaper to buy from overseas. However, unless you've got the experience and tenacity to deal with international shipping and its related headaches, we recommend starting as locally as possible.

Bring it on, 2023

To summarize – we're at a unique time when falling costs offer more businesses the option to consider longer-term investments. Be it more durable scooters or well-stocked backup parts, now is a good time to be forward-thinking.

With the right fleet and the right mobility platform and software, your business will be well-positioned to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the 2023 season.

If you're looking to purchase vehicles for your mobility-sharing business, start with exploring ATOM Mobility's vehicle marketplace.

Need help or advise on business, software, or vehicles? Let's talk!

“Upon our initial interaction with ATOM Mobility, we were immediately drawn to their interface and impressed by the quality of their customer service. Throughout the process, they exhibited great flexibility in their approach and were able to assist us with any difficulties we encountered.” 

– Deroy De Bordes, founder of Wheelz

Launch date: October 2021
Country: Ghana
Web page: https://wheelzgh.com
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/lt/app/id1590136064
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wheelzgh.app

Wheelz was founded by Deroy De Bordes – an entrepreneur with a diverse background in business, including experience in HR and property development. Originally from Ghana, West Africa, he realized the potential of expanding into emerging markets while residing in the UK. During a trip back to Ghana, he recognized a potential market opportunity for a car-sharing service company.

During that time, traditional taxi services and a laborious car rental process that required your physical presence were the main options for customers in the country. The founder saw the opportunity to fulfill an unmet demand through the creation of a car-sharing service – which led to the launch of Wheelz.

In preparation for the launch, they evaluated multiple software providers and eventually went with ATOM Mobility. According to Deroy, they chose ATOM Mobility because of its superior customer service and user-friendly interface. Its integration with Geotab's fleet management platform was also a significant factor.

Overcoming implementation hurdles

In the process of starting their business, Wheelz faced numerous challenges that required careful consideration and planning. 

The company's journey began in the early 2020s when they traveled to Ghana to investigate the local market, identify any potential risks, and gain a thorough understanding of the relevant local laws and regulations.

As a company that heavily relies on connectivity, Wheelz had to address the associated risks of providing convenient and accessible services to its customers.

One significant challenge Wheelz faced was the unique characteristics of road infrastructure in Ghana compared to Europe. This situation necessitated the establishment of safe roadside parking zones, especially as many houses in the target market have gated compounds. To prevent any potential disagreements with other customers and ensure safety, Wheelz had to remind people not to park within these compounds. 

Additionally, people may park on backstreets or narrow roads, potentially causing damage or injury to the vehicle. Therefore, Wheelz took extra caution in selecting parking zones and worked closely with their team to identify suitable locations within 10 to 15 minutes of each other. This effort aimed to ensure customers' easy access to their services.

Disrupting traditional services

Introducing a new product to the market posed a significant challenge for Wheelz, as it was unlike the traditional car hire services that customers were accustomed to.

“Our concept was new in a way that it depended solely on smartphones as the main way of accessing our service. The first thing we had to do was test the technology thoroughly to ensure its stability and security before it could be deployed in the field. Then, we needed to familiarize potential customers with the app's functionality.” – Deroy De Bordes

For marketing purposes, the company used a multi-phase approach. The first phase focused on creating brand awareness through billboards, radio, and television ads. The second phase involved marketing campaigns on various platforms, including YouTube, Google, Instagram, Facebook, and banner ads. This generated a significant amount of interest in the product.

Wheelz's pricing strategy was significantly more competitive than traditional taxi services. For instance, a one-hour journey in their most affordable vehicle costs 60 Ghanaian cedi, while a half-hour ride in a traditional taxi would cost around 50 to 60 Ghanaian cedi. This pricing strategy proved to be an attractive offer, as customers sought value for their money.

"Essentially, customers who choose Wheelz can get twice the travel time for their money," Deroy explains. 

By introducing this new product and pricing strategy, Wheelz established itself as a disruptor in the market. Now, as the company continues to grow and expand its services, they remain committed to providing excellent customer service and safe, reliable transportation to its clients.

“Though we faced early obstacles, we persevered. Today, our innovative approach to car hire services has earned us a favorable standing in the market.” – Deroy De Bordes

Moving forward: plans for ongoing improvements and expansion

The success of Wheelz thus far has not led to complacency, and the company has no intention of resting on its laurels. In May 2023, they have plans to participate in a trade show in Ghana – this will allow the company to promote its brand and explore the possibility of expanding into new markets across Africa. They are also considering a franchise model to facilitate their expansion efforts.

Wheelz also plans to expand to other cities in Ghana, including Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi, and Cape Coast. Each of these cities will have a minimum of 10 cars assigned to them. But in the nearest future, the plan is to explore opportunities to increase the number of parking zones across the capital city, Accra.

Corporate car-sharing schemes are becoming an increasingly popular way for companies to provide transportation for their employees while also reducing costs and improving sustainability. In this blog post, we'll look at the benefits of corporate car-sharing schemes and how ATOM Mobility software can help companies deploy their own car-sharing scheme for their employees.

What is corporate car sharing and how does it work?

Corporate car sharing is a transportation solution that allows companies to provide access to a fleet of shared vehicles for their employees. Employees can reserve a car for a specific time period and use it for business-related travel. The cost of the rental is typically paid for by the company.

There are 2 main ways that corporate car sharing can be implemented:

• Company-owned fleet: The company can use its existing fleet, or purchase and maintain a fleet of vehicles specifically for sharing. Employees can reserve and use the vehicles as needed.

• Car rental partnership: The company can partner with a rental car company to provide access to a fleet of vehicles for car sharing. Employees can reserve and use the vehicles as needed.

In both cases, the company will need to set up the software for managing the car-sharing scheme, including reserving and booking vehicles, tracking usage, and handling payment processing. This can be done through an ATOM Mobility software platform.

What challenges corporate car sharing solves

Corporate car sharing can help to solve a number of challenges that companies may face:

• Maximize fleet utilisation and minimise fleet size: The high cost of owning and maintaining company vehicles can be significantly reduced. Companies can save money on car expenses such as purchase, maintenance, and insurance by using a car-sharing scheme to consolidate their current fleet size and maximise fleet utilisation.

• Limited parking availability: Car-sharing schemes can help to reduce the number of company-owned vehicles, which can be beneficial in situations where parking is limited or expensive.

• Environmental concerns: Car-sharing schemes can help to reduce carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of transportation.

• Employee mobility: Car-sharing schemes can provide employees with access to a vehicle when needed, even if they do not have their own. This employee benefits package is valued highly when new job offers are considered.

Here’s what to look for when it comes to corporate car-sharing software:

1) Vehicle reservation and booking: Employees should be able to view available vehicles and make reservations for the times they need to use a car. This can be done through a mobile app.

2) Keyless go via the app: The software should allow employees to locate available vehicles, unlock and use them without needing to go and collect the keys from god knows where.

3) Payment processing: The software should handle payment processing if the corporate compensates their trips partly, including the calculation of charges based on distance or time.

4) Vehicle maintenance and repair log: The software should allow the company to input any info about the cars and track the maintenance and repair needs of the shared vehicles. This info should be easily accessible by the car service provider as well.

5) Usage tracking and reporting: The software should provide detailed monitoring and reporting on the usage of the shared vehicles, including metrics such as the number of trips, distance travelled, and fleet utilisation by hours. This information can be used to optimise the car-sharing scheme and reduce costs.

6) User management: The software should allow the company to manage the users of the car-sharing scheme, including adding new users and different user roles and revoking access as needed.

7) Administrative controls: The software should provide the company with administrative controls to manage the car-sharing scheme, including the ability to set rules and guidelines, set rental rates, and so on.

Overall, the functionalities included in car-sharing software will depend on the specific needs and goals of the company and the car-sharing scheme.

If you would like to learn more about how to set up a corporate car-sharing scheme for your company, get in touch with our team here: book a call.

ATOM Mobility is a software provider with a corporate car sharing software that helps companies to deploy their own car-sharing scheme for their employees. Our software includes a range of features to support corporate car sharing, including online booking, vehicle tracking, payment processing, usage reporting, and user management.