What is a SaaS Payment Routing System?

A SaaS payment routing system (also known as a payment orchestration platform) is software that intelligently directs customer payments through the most efficient payment provider, gateway, or acquirer. 

Unlike subscription billing platforms, which manage invoicing and recurring charges, payment routing focuses on maximizing payment success rates and minimizing costs.  

These systems are relevant for global SaaS companies that handle significant transaction volumes across various regions and currencies. 

Payment routing directly impacts a SaaS company’s ability to collect revenue consistently and scale internationally.  Automated payment path selection can affect transaction success rates and customer retention levels. 

Key benefits include: 

• Higher transaction success rates 
• Reduced payment latency and errors 
• Lower processing costs through smart provider selection 
• Competitive advantage via a seamless checkout 

The implementation of intelligent routing may have a relationship with payment decline rates, which could affect customer churn and revenue among SaaS companies. 

A complete SaaS payment infrastructure usually includes: 

• Gateways de Pagamento – Capture and securely transmit customer payment information. 
• Payment Processors / Acquirers – Execute the transaction by moving funds. 
• Subscription Billing Platforms – Manage recurring billing, invoices, taxes, and revenue recognition. 
• Payment Routing / Orchestration Layer – Decides which gateway or processor to use for each transaction. 

When evaluating solutions, prioritize: 

• User-friendly dashboards and APIs 
• Strong security and compliance certifications 
• Wide support for payment methods and currencies 
• Reliable vendor support 

Smart routing rules are central to maximizing performance and compliance.  Considere: 

• Compliance & Security 
• Local regulations (e.g., PSD2 in Europe, PCI DSS for card data security) 
• Revenue recognition rules and tax obligations 
• Desempenho 
• Monitor gateway uptime and success rates 
• Route high-risk or high-value payments through more reliable providers 
• Customer Needs 
• Match payment types (credit card, ACH, wallets) with the best-performing provider 
• Use local acquiring for cross-border payments to reduce declines

When selecting a platform, focus on: 

• Seamless Integration – Ensure compatibility with CRM, ERP, and billing systems. 
• Multiple Payment Methods – Cards, ACH, PayPal, digital wallets, and local methods. 
• Robust Security – PCI compliance, tokenization, and fraud prevention tools. 
• Impacto nos Negócios – Evaluate fees, routing optimization features, and reporting. 

While routing itself does not manage billing, orchestration platforms typically integrate with subscription billing systems to support: 

• Recurring subscriptions (monthly, annual) 
• faturamento baseado no uso 
• Tiered or volume pricing 
• One-time purchases 
• Hybrid and dynamic pricing models 

Even with benefits, implementation can pose challenges: 

• Integration complexity with existing billing and CRM tools 
• Failed payment handling (e.g., retries, dunning workflows) 
• Globalization hurdles – múltiplas moedas and local payment preferences 
• Ongoing compliance with fast-changing regulations 

A well-implemented routing system improves checkout by: 

• Reducing declines and friction 
• Speeding up transaction approval 
• Supporting local currencies and methods 
• Increasing trust through secure and smooth payments 

This translates into fewer abandoned carts, higher conversions, and stronger customer loyalty.