Introduction
Accepting payments in regions where Shopify Payments is unavailable requires a reliable third-party solution. The UnumPay payment gateway for Shopify serves as a mediation platform that connects merchants to over 40 different payment providers through a single integration. This setup is particularly effective for businesses operating in Pakistan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
We developed HidePay — free to install to complement these types of regional gateways by giving merchants granular control over how these options appear at checkout. While a gateway handles the transaction, our app manages the visibility and organization of those options to improve the customer experience. This article explains how to set up the UnumPay system and optimize your checkout to maximize conversion rates and reduce operational costs.
Whether you are expanding into new markets or looking for a more robust local payment setup, understanding payment mediation is the first step. You will learn how to manage multiple gateways, handle multi-currency transactions, and use rules to protect your profit margins.
Understanding Payment Mediation on Shopify
A standard payment gateway connects your store to a specific bank or processor. A payment mediation platform like UnumPay acts as a bridge between Shopify and dozens of different gateways simultaneously. This structure is different from a typical one-to-one integration.
When you use a mediation platform, you do not have to install a separate app for every local wallet or credit card processor. You install one app and then configure your credentials for various providers within that single interface. For merchants in markets like Pakistan, where local methods like Raast QR, JazzCash, and Easypaisa are essential, this consolidated approach saves significant development time.
This centralized system also simplifies reconciliation. Instead of logging into five different dashboards to check transaction statuses, you view all paid orders and transaction IDs in one unified reporting area. This visibility helps your finance team match payments to orders without manual data entry.
Why Regional Merchants Choose UnumPay
Shopify merchants in growth markets often face "gateway fatigue." They need local methods to satisfy local customers, but they also need international card processing to reach global buyers.
Bridging the Gap in Non-Shopify Payments Markets
In countries where Shopify Payments is not supported, merchants often struggle with limited options. Using a mediation platform allows these stores to behave like native Shopify stores. It provides the infrastructure to accept digital payments in regions where cash on delivery (COD) has historically been the only reliable method.
Redundancy and High Uptime
Relying on one gateway is risky. If that provider experiences a technical failure, your checkout effectively closes. By connecting to multiple gateways through one integration, you can maintain high uptime. If one local provider has issues, you can quickly route traffic to another configured option within the platform.
Access to Local Wallets
Local wallets and QR-based payments are often more popular than traditional credit cards in markets like Pakistan and the UAE. The ability to integrate Raast QR or regional bank-direct methods directly into the Shopify checkout process is a significant competitive advantage. These methods often have lower transaction fees than international credit cards, which protects your margins.
Oculte, ordene e renomeie os métodos de pagamento do Shopify usando condições poderosas. Personalize o seu checkout e controle as opções de pagamento com o HidePay.
Key Features of the UnumPay Integration
The platform provides several tools designed to solve specific e-commerce problems beyond just moving money from the customer to the merchant.
Multi-Currency Support
Customers generally prefer to shop in their local currency. Seeing a price in a foreign currency creates a mental hurdle that leads to cart abandonment. The platform includes a currency switcher that displays the correct local price based on the customer’s location. This feature builds trust and makes the final checkout amount predictable for the buyer.
Advanced Payment Options
For high-ticket items or custom orders, merchants often need to collect a deposit rather than the full amount upfront. The app supports advance payments and "Try Before You Buy" models. This flexibility is useful for B2B merchants or luxury brands that require manual verification before completing a large sale.
Unified Reporting and Analytics
The dashboard aggregates data from all connected providers. You can filter reports by gateway, transaction ID, or date. This level of detail is necessary for managing refunds, as the platform supports both full and partial refunds directly through the interface.
How to Install and Configure the App
The installation process is designed to be completed without a developer. While the specific menu names in the Shopify admin can change as Shopify updates its interface, the conceptual steps remain consistent.
Step 1: Install from the Shopify App Store
Search for the app in the Shopify App Store and add it to your store. Once you approve the installation, the app will appear in your Shopify admin under your installed applications. If you're ready to get started, you can install HidePay on the Shopify App Store.
Step 2: Connect Your Providers
You must have active accounts with the individual payment providers you wish to use (such as Direct Pay, CCavenue, or Stripe). Within the app dashboard, you will enter your Client ID, Secret Key, and other credentials provided by your chosen payment processor.
Step 3: Activate the Gateway in Shopify Settings
After configuring your credentials in the app, you must enable the payment method in your Shopify "Payments" settings. You can search for the provider by name and activate it. At this stage, the gateway becomes visible to your customers during the checkout process.
Step 4: Testing Your Setup
Always use "Test Mode" before going live. Most gateways provide a set of test credit card numbers. Place a test order to ensure the transaction flow works and the order status updates correctly in your Shopify admin. Once verified, toggle the "Active" switch to live mode.
Optimizing Your Checkout with Rules
Connecting 40+ gateways is powerful, but showing all of them to every customer is a mistake. Too many choices cause "decision paralysis," leading customers to leave without buying. Our app, HidePay, allows merchants to refine this experience by creating specific rules for when and how these payment methods appear.
If you want a step-by-step guide for creating rules, see the HidePay documentation on how to create a payment customization.
Hiding Methods by Geography
If you use the UnumPay payment gateway for Shopify to offer a specific Pakistani wallet, you do not want that option appearing for a customer in the United Kingdom. Using a geography-based rule ensures that only relevant local methods are shown. This keeps the checkout clean and professional for a global audience.
Sorting for Preferred Conversion
Not all payment methods are equal. Some have higher fees, and others have higher conversion rates. We allow you to reorder how these options appear. You can place your most reliable, low-fee gateway at the top of the list to guide customers toward the best choice for your bottom line. See the HidePay help article on how to sort and rename payment methods in the checkout for full instructions.
Renaming for Clarity
Sometimes the technical name of a gateway is confusing to a customer. Using a tool like HidePay to rename a gateway from a technical label to something like "Credit / Debit Card (Secure)" can improve trust. Clearer labels lead to fewer questions and higher completion rates.
Protecting Your Margins and Reducing Risk
Payments are not just about convenience; they are about protecting your business from unnecessary costs and risks.
Reducing Chargebacks
Certain payment methods are more prone to chargebacks or fraud. By using rules to hide specific gateways for high-risk orders (based on cart value or customer tags), you can mitigate this risk. For example, you might hide a specific "Buy Now, Pay Later" option if the customer has a history of disputes.
Managing Cash on Delivery (COD) Costs
While COD is still prevalent in many markets, it is expensive for merchants due to high return-to-origin (RTO) rates. You can use rules to hide the COD option if the cart total exceeds a certain amount or if the customer is in a region where shipping is too costly. This encourages customers to use the digital gateways you have configured through your mediation platform.
Handling Currency Fluctuations
Multi-currency selling exposes you to exchange rate risks. By directing customers toward gateways that settle in your primary business currency, you can avoid multiple conversion fees. The right combination of gateway configuration and checkout rules keeps your pricing stable and your payouts predictable.
If you need to target specific cart attributes when hiding or showing payment methods, follow the HidePay guide on using cart attributes to hide payment methods.
The Technical Advantage of Shopify Functions
Modern Shopify apps should prioritize store performance. Because we build our tools on native Shopify Functions, they run directly within Shopify’s infrastructure. This means there are no external scripts slowing down your checkout page.
When you use a mediation platform to add multiple gateways, the underlying code must be efficient. High-latency checkouts lead to abandonment. Using native logic ensures that your rules—whether hiding, sorting, or renaming—execute instantly as the customer moves through the payment steps. This technical efficiency is a key part of maintaining a high conversion rate while scaling globally. For a deeper read on why native Shopify Functions matter, check the Nextools blog post introducing HidePay and our approach to checkout optimization.
Practical Scenarios for Merchant Success
Understanding how to apply these tools in real-world scenarios helps you see the immediate value of a controlled checkout.
Scenario A: The International Dropshipper
A merchant based in the UAE sells products to the US and Europe. They use a mediation platform to access international gateways. To maximize profit, they hide high-fee gateways for low-margin products. They also rename their primary gateway to "Global Express Checkout" to appeal to their international audience.
Scenario B: The Local Brand Scaling Nationally
A clothing brand in Pakistan wants to move away from COD. They integrate local wallets via the UnumPay app. They then use rules to hide the COD option for any order over 10,000 PKR. This forces high-value customers to pay digitally, significantly reducing their RTO rate and improving cash flow.
Scenario C: The B2B Wholesaler
A B2B store sells to both small retailers and large distributors. They use customer tags to distinguish between the two. For distributors, they hide standard credit card options and only show bank transfer or advance payment methods. For small retailers, they show all standard card options but sort them to show the lowest-fee provider first.
If you’d like to expand beyond payments into shipping controls, consider pairing HidePay with HideShip; Nextools published a post on eliminating confusion in shipping that explains how the two apps often work together.
Action Plan for Optimizing Your Payments
To get the most out of your payment setup, follow these steps:
- Audit your current gateways: Identify which ones have the highest fees and which ones are most popular with your customers.
- Consolidate with mediation: Use a platform like UnumPay to bring your various regional providers into one dashboard.
- Clean up the UI: Use HidePay to remove irrelevant methods for customers based on their country or currency; you can get HidePay for your store now.
- Test and refine: Monitor your conversion rates for 30 days. Adjust the order of your payment methods to see if surfacing a specific gateway improves the "Success Rate" of transactions.
- Monitor reconciliation: Use the unified reporting tools to ensure your payouts match your order volume without manual errors.
If you plan to migrate old Scripts or build custom Shopify Functions for more advanced logic, Nextools’ SupaEasy app on the Shopify App Store can help generate and migrate functions without code.
Conclusion
The UnumPay payment gateway for Shopify provides the essential infrastructure for merchants in regions with limited native payment options. By acting as a mediation layer, it simplifies the technical challenge of offering multiple local and global payment methods. However, the key to a truly high-converting store is not just adding more options, but managing them intelligently.
Effective checkout management involves:
- Providing local payment methods to build trust in regional markets.
- Using unified reporting to simplify financial operations.
- Applying rules to hide, sort, or rename methods based on customer data.
- Prioritizing store performance with native Shopify Functions.
Taking control of your payment display ensures that your customers always see the most relevant, trusted, and cost-effective options at the moment of purchase. You can begin optimizing your checkout by choosing to install HidePay on the Shopify App Store today.
Ready to improve your checkout experience? Install HidePay from the Shopify App Store to start creating custom rules for your payment methods.
FAQ
Does UnumPay replace Shopify Payments?
It serves as an alternative for merchants in regions where Shopify Payments is not available. It allows these merchants to connect to over 40 different third-party gateways through a single app.
Can I use multiple gateways at the same time?
Yes, the platform allows you to connect multiple providers simultaneously. You can then use rules to decide which specific gateway is shown to a customer based on their location or cart contents. See the HidePay help doc on how to create a payment customization for details on conditions and rule setup.
How does the currency switcher work?
The app detects the customer's location and automatically switches the displayed prices to their local currency. This helps reduce confusion and improves the likelihood that the customer will complete the purchase.
Is it difficult to set up local wallets like Raast QR?
No, the process is streamlined within the app dashboard. Once you have your credentials from the local provider, you enter them into the configuration section of the app to enable the method on your storefront. For practical tips on renaming and ordering methods to improve clarity, review the HidePay guide on sorting and renaming payment methods.