When a customer pays for a service through your software, a complex sequence of events happens in under three seconds. Because we use Immediate Capture, the merchant doesn't have to worry about "closing out" at the end of the day—the system handles the heavy lifting.
1. The Trigger: Initiation
Whether a card is Chipped (EMV), Tapped (NFC), or Keyed, the process starts in your software.
Your software sends the transaction data to Valpay.
Valpay securely passes that data to Adyen (the processor).
2. The Approval: Immediate Capture
This is where our setup differs from old-school credit card terminals:
Authorization: Adyen asks the customer’s bank if the funds are available.
Immediate Capture: Once the bank says "Yes," the transaction is captured instantly. Unlike older systems where a merchant has to manually "batch" at night to claim their money, our integration tells Adyen to lock those funds in for deposit the moment the sale is approved.
3. The Behind-the-Scenes: Midnight "Batching"
Even though the money is captured instantly, the banking world still likes to move in groups.
The Midnight Cutoff: At midnight, Adyen bundles all the "Immediately Captured" transactions from the previous 24 hours.
The Handover: Adyen then sends the instructions to the banking networks to move that bundle of money into the merchant's bank account.
4. Understanding the Costs (Rates & Fees)
Every time a card is processed, the total amount is split. It’s helpful to think of the transaction as a pie being sliced before the merchant receives it.
Component | Why it matters |
The "Interchange" | This is the non-negotiable cost set by the banks (like Chase or Wells Fargo). Keyed-in cards have a higher slice (higher fee) than Chipped cards because the bank takes on more risk when they can't physically verify the card. |
The "Scheme Fee" | A tiny slice that goes to Visa, Mastercard, or Amex for letting us use their network. |
The Service Fee | This is the fee for the integrated technology provided by Valpay and Adyen, ensuring the payment is secure, encrypted, and correctly synced with your software records. |
Pro Tip: To keep fees low, always encourage customers to Chip or Tap. These are the most secure methods and therefore carry the lowest "Interchange" costs from the banks.
Summary of the Team
The Software: Where the merchant manages their business.
Valpay: The bridge that ensures the software and the money-mover are talking to each other.
Adyen: The engine that captures the funds immediately and deposits them into the merchant's account.