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- Merchant preselection<\/strong>: the card issuer or merchant can define a default scheme for processing the transaction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The payer’s freedom of choice:<\/strong> the cardholder retains the fundamental right to reject the preselected option and manually select the second network available on their payment card.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
<\/div>\n\nThe interface presented to the customer\u2014whether physical or virtual\u2014must therefore clearly display all available options so that the user’s intent can be carried out before the funds transfer is finally confirmed.<\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n\nWhy is choosing the right network for a co-branded card so important?<\/h2>\n\n
The choice of payment network goes far beyond a mere cosmetic preference. It has direct consequences for the entire chain. To understand this issue, we must analyze how traffic routing directly impacts the merchant\u2019s profitability and the robustness of its infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n\nImpact on acquisition costs<\/h3>\n\n
For an e-commerce merchant, every cent counts when it comes to the overall cost of processing payments. Transactions made with co-branded cards (such as CB\/Visa or CB\/Mastercard) are subject to different fee schedules depending on the network used.<\/p>\n\n
In practical terms, when a customer confirms their shopping cart, the selected payment scheme determines the amount of interchange fees and network fees charged to the merchant. The domestic CB network generally offers more favorable terms for domestic transactions than international networks. By optimizing the network selection for a co-branded card so that the most advantageous network is applied by default, the merchant directly reduces their acquisition costs.<\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n\nPerformance and approval rates<\/h3>\n\n
The payment acceptance rate is a vital metric for e-commerce conversion. A payment that is wrongly declined results in a lost shopping cart and a potentially disappointed customer.<\/p>\n\n
The choice of payment scheme has a direct impact on this performance. The national CB network benefits from direct connectivity to the authorization systems of French issuing banks, which maximizes the chances of success for a domestic transaction. Conversely, for a purchase involving cross-border elements or foreign currencies, using an international payment scheme is often more effective. Offering a choice helps maximize the authorization rate depending on the type of order.<\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n\nInfrastructure resilience<\/h3>\n\n
No network is immune to temporary technical issues, major maintenance, or congestion during seasonal traffic peaks (sales, the end-of-year holidays).<\/p>\n\n
Having a co-branded card and a payment architecture capable of switching between payment schemes provides an essential safety net. If the international network initially used experiences latency or a temporary outage, the ability to route the transaction to the alternative network ensures service continuity. For the merchant, this prevents an abrupt interruption in the conversion funnel and protects revenue from technical issues with the networks.<\/p>\n\n
- The payer’s freedom of choice:<\/strong> the cardholder retains the fundamental right to reject the preselected option and manually select the second network available on their payment card.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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