Passed on 21 May, 2025
3. Taking payments and managing orders
Whether you're a business owner or just starting out in marketing, understanding how to accept payments and manage orders is important. This lesson will guide you through these essential e-commerce tasks and show you how they can benefit you.
✅ Learning objectivesCheck the items off as you go.Consider a range of requirements for taking payments online.Consider a range of requirements for managing e-commerce orders.
Learning objectives
Consider a range of requirements for taking payments online.
Consider a range of requirements for managing e-commerce orders.
Accepting payments
One of the primary features of your e-commerce shop is being able to accept payments online. There are many options that can do this for you, and they range from relatively simple to fairly complex.
Exploring payment options
Imagine you’re a furniture craftsman who offers limited-edition artisan pieces, such as bookcases, tables, and chairs. Your website showcases a gallery of bespoke furniture. As it stands, customers have to ring or visit your shop to make an actual purchase.You want to make things easier for your customers to buy your pieces, so let’s explore your options.
You want to make things easier for your customers to buy your pieces, so let’s explore your options.
You want to make things easier for your customers to buy your pieces, so let’s explore your options.
Third-party payment processing
You can accept payments online using any number of online payment solutions, or what’s known as third-party payment processing.
Taking payment
Third-party payment processors offer a quick, secure way to accept payments without a complex setup. This takes customers to a separate payment website, which takes care of the transaction for you. Once the order is complete, the customer is sent back to your site.
Processing orders
As transactions occur, you will receive all the information you need to fulfil the actual customer orders. For some third-party tools, setup may be required to automate this.
Benefits
This solution lets you focus on running your business while the payment provider manages secure transactions on your behalf.
Integrated payments
You can choose to add integrated payment solutions - including third-party payment processing -to your website, allowing customers to make payments directly, without needing a full e-commerce platform.
A full E-commerce solution
As a business grows, simple payment options might not be enough. A full e-commerce solution provides advanced tools to manage larger inventories, customise the shopping experience further, and expand its reach.
A growing business
Imagine your furniture design business has grown. You want to offer furniture for every room, in every finish, to customers throughout the UK.When you have lots of products to sell online to a broad audience, it’s probably time to consider a full e-commerce solution. There are many on the market. Some are free, others you’ll need to pay for. They all offer a wide range of features to help create and manage a fully functional online store, including a backend system with order management.
When you have lots of products to sell online to a broad audience, it’s probably time to consider a full e-commerce solution. There are many on the market. Some are free, others you’ll need to pay for. They all offer a wide range of features to help create and manage a fully functional online store, including a backend system with order management.
When you have lots of products to sell online to a broad audience, it’s probably time to consider a full e-commerce solution. There are many on the market. Some are free, others you’ll need to pay for. They all offer a wide range of features to help create and manage a fully functional online store, including a backend system with order management.
What can a backend system offer?
A full e-commerce solution with a backend system can provide many features including ones which save time, offer flexibility, support growth, help with analytics, and provide data security. Each system is different, so it’s important to research what your chosen system offers. Let’s check out some common features.
Managing customers
Your customers can create accounts and manage their personal information, billing preferences, and shipping addresses. You could also add a feature to allow them to leave reviews about items they have purchased.
Taking payments
A full e-commerce backend can provide advanced control and help support payment and data security, ideal for businesses with high transaction volumes and complex requirements.
Managing inventory
Upload and manage product and inventory details, create and organise category, subcategory, and product pages, and offer advanced product search.
Fulfilling orders and beyond
Many solutions manage orders, track shipping and fulfilment details, and integrate with your financial and accounting systems.
Payments and orders in practice
Explore this activity to gain valuable insights into payment options and e-commerce systems on the market today.
✅ ActivityPeople who want to grow their business online need the right tools to accept payments and manage orders. Depending on their needs, a variety of options are available: From simple, third-party payment processing services to a fully developed e-commerce platform.Follow the steps below to start identifying the solution that is right for either your business, or a local business you are familiar with.Check the items off as you go.Think about the e-commerce aim and goals you created during theUsing e-commerce to selllesson.Decide if the business needs simple third-party payment processing, integrated payments on your site, or a comprehensive e-commerce system to achieve the outlined goals.Complete an online search for the type of solution you need.Choose three options and compare their key selling points to start considering which option—if any—is right for your business or the local business you’re familiar with.
Activity
People who want to grow their business online need the right tools to accept payments and manage orders. Depending on their needs, a variety of options are available: From simple, third-party payment processing services to a fully developed e-commerce platform.Follow the steps below to start identifying the solution that is right for either your business, or a local business you are familiar with.
Follow the steps below to start identifying the solution that is right for either your business, or a local business you are familiar with.
Follow the steps below to start identifying the solution that is right for either your business, or a local business you are familiar with.
Think about the e-commerce aim and goals you created during theUsing e-commerce to selllesson.
Decide if the business needs simple third-party payment processing, integrated payments on your site, or a comprehensive e-commerce system to achieve the outlined goals.
Complete an online search for the type of solution you need.
Choose three options and compare their key selling points to start considering which option—if any—is right for your business or the local business you’re familiar with.
Download PDF
Download PDF
Check your knowledge
It’s time to find out what you’ve learned so far.
Question 1 of 1
You want to create a fully functional online store. Which of the following features are available in most fully functional online stores?
Order management via a backend system
Customer reviews
Search feature
Over-the-phone payments via a web-based calling system
Submit
Submit
Yes.A fully functional online store doesn’t push customers towards over-the-phone payments, but it does make it easy to buy through the site itself. It gives you a backend system that allows you to easily manage orders and track shipping. You’ll then have control over the features of your online store, which will allow you to design it so that it feels more like a real shop for customers, and so that it can include features like Search and customer reviews.
A fully functional online store doesn’t push customers towards over-the-phone payments, but it does make it easy to buy through the site itself. It gives you a backend system that allows you to easily manage orders and track shipping. You’ll then have control over the features of your online store, which will allow you to design it so that it feels more like a real shop for customers, and so that it can include features like Search and customer reviews.
Lesson complete
You now know about different options for managing online payments and how e-commerce solutions can support your online business.Head to the next lesson to discover more about creating a smooth e-commerce experience.
Head to the next lesson to discover more about creating a smooth e-commerce experience.
Head to the next lesson to discover more about creating a smooth e-commerce experience.