🚀 Simplifying Payments: One-Tap Google Pay Integration (UPI Intent Flow)! 💳

We faced a significant challenge: customers were spending too much time entering credit card details at checkout. This was causing friction and potentially leading to cart abandonment.

💡 Our Solution: We streamlined the payment process by implementing one-tap payment with the Google Pay app. No more tedious data entry just a quick and seamless transaction with a single tap.

🛠 Implementation Highlights:

Custom Payment Gateway Plugin : Tailored to integrate Google Pay as a primary option.
Compatibility with WooCommerce Blocks : For a seamless user experience.
Secure Payment Verification : Enhancing trust and security.

🏆 Results:

• Faster checkout process
• Enhanced user experience, especially for Android users
• A cost-effective solution for small to medium e-commerce businesses

Integrating Google Pay with Your Website: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re looking to integrate Google Pay into your website for seamless transactions, this guide will walk you through the process. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, this integration can help streamline your payment process, making it easier for customers to complete their purchases.

Prerequisites:

Before you begin, make sure you have the following in place:

1. Merchant Verification: Ensure your business is a verified UPI merchant.
2. API Access: Obtain the necessary APIs from your bank to check payment statuses.
3. Unique Transaction ID: Every transaction must use a unique transaction ID to ensure secure processing.

Setup Process:

1. Sign Up

Register your business on the Google Pay and Wallet Console and accept the Terms of Service. This will give you access to the tools you need to integrate Google Pay with your website.

2. Create Payment Method

Use JavaScript to create a payment method object with necessary UPI fields like pa, pn, tr, mc, and am. Here’s an example:

const supportedInstruments = [{
  supportedMethods: 'https://tez.google.com/pay',
  data: {
    pa: 'merchant-vpa@xxx',
    pn: 'Merchant Name',
    tr: 'uniqueTransactionID',
    mc: '1234', // Merchant category code
    am: 'orderAmount',
    cu: 'INR', // Currency
  },
}];

3. Define Order Details

Next, define the order amount and currency within a details object:

const details = {
  total: {
    label: 'Total',
    amount: { currency: 'INR', value: 'orderAmount' }
  }
};

4. Create Payment Request Object

Construct a PaymentRequest object using the supported payment method and order details:

let request = new PaymentRequest(supportedInstruments, details);

5. Check Payment Readiness

Use the canMakePayment() method to verify if the user can make payments:

request.canMakePayment().then(function(result) {
  if (result) {
    // User can make payment
  } else {
    // Handle payment unavailability
  }
});

6. Show Payment UI

Initiate the payment process by calling the show() method on the PaymentRequest object:

request.show().then(function(paymentResponse) {
  // Process the payment response
}).catch(function(err) {
  console.error('Payment failed', err);
});

7. Handle Payment Response

Convert the payment response to JSON and send it to your server for validation against your bank’s API:

function processResponse(paymentResponse) {
  fetch('/your-server-endpoint', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify(paymentResponse)
  }).then(function(response) {
    // Handle server response
  });
}

8. Server Verification

Finally, validate the payment response by checking with your bank’s API to ensure the transaction is legitimate before fulfilling the order.

Testing

Make sure to thoroughly test the implementation using Chrome for Android and verify the transaction flow from initiation to completion.

Check out the demo site I deployed on Netlify. While you can't make a payment since I'm not a merchant, I tested it using the company's Merchant VPA, and it works fine.

The Next Challenge: Integrating Google Pay with WooCommerce

As an e-commerce developer, I recently tackled the challenge of integrating Google Pay into our WooCommerce site. Our goal was to simplify the payment process, making it as seamless as what users experience on major platforms like Flipkart.

The Challenge: Button Placement Issues

Initially, we faced difficulties placing the Google Pay button on the checkout page. Our project lead suggested an innovative solution: instead of a separate button, we decided to integrate Google Pay as a default radio button option in the WooCommerce payment methods.

Our Implementation - Google Pay UPI Intent Flow in WooCommerce

We created a custom payment gateway plugin for WooCommerce. Here’s an overview:

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress website with WooCommerce installed
• Basic knowledge of PHP and JavaScript
• Access to your WordPress theme and plugin files

Step 1: Setting up the Custom Payment Gateway

Create a custom payment gateway for Google Pay. Start by creating a new file called custom-gateway.php in your plugin directory:

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: Google Pay
Description: Google Pay Payment integration for WooCommerce with custom payment selector.
Version: 1.1.0
Author: Kamesh
Author URI: Your website link/
Text Domain: google-pay-integration
Domain Path: /languages
*/

add_action('plugins_loaded', 'woocommerce_myplugin', 0);
function woocommerce_myplugin(){
    if (!class_exists('WC_Payment_Gateway'))
        return;

    include(plugin_dir_path(__FILE__) . 'class-gateway.php');
}

add_filter('woocommerce_payment_gateways', 'add_my_custom_gateway');

function add_my_custom_gateway($gateways) {
  $gateways[] = 'My_Custom_Gateway';
  return $gateways;
}

This file sets up the basic structure of our plugin and includes the main gateway class.

Step 2: Creating the Gateway Class

Now, create the class-gateway.php file:

<?php
class My_Custom_Gateway extends WC_Payment_Gateway
{
    public function __construct()
    {
        $this->id = 'my_custom_gateway';
        $this->method_title = __('Google Pay', 'my-custom-gateway');
        $this->method_description = __('Accept payments through Google Pay', 'my-custom-gateway');

        $this->init_form_fields();
        $this->init_settings();

        $this->title = $this->get_option('title');
        $this->description = $this->get_option('description');
        $this->icon = plugins_url('/asset/GPay_Acceptance_Mark_800.png', __FILE__);

        if (!$this->is_android_device()) {
            $this->enabled = 'no';
        }

        if ($this->is_gsa_device()) {
            $this->enabled = 'no';
        }
    }

    public function process_payment($order_id)
    {
        $order = wc_get_order($order_id);
        $order->update_status('pending', __('Awaiting Google Pay payment', 'my-custom-gateway'));

        $processing_page = get_page_by_path('payment-processing');
        if ($processing_page) {
            return array(
                'result' => 'success',
                'redirect' => add_query_arg('order_id', $order_id, get_permalink($processing_page->ID)),
            );
        } else {
            wc_add_notice(__('Payment processing page not found. Please contact the administrator.', 'my-custom-gateway'), 'error');
            return;
        }
    }
}

This class extends the WooCommerce payment gateway and handles the basic setup and processing of the Google Pay payment.

Step 3: Creating the Payment Processing Page

Create a new page template called page-payment-processing.php in your theme directory:

<?php
/*
Template Name: Payment Processing
*/
?>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html <?php language_attributes(); ?>>
<head>
    <meta charset="<?php bloginfo('charset'); ?>">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <title>Processing Payment</title>
    <?php wp_head(); ?>
</head>
<body>
    <script>
        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
            var orderId = <?php echo $order_id; ?>;
            var isProcessing = true;

            function handlePayAndroid(orderId, price) {
                const amount = Number(price);
                if (!window.PaymentRequest) {
                    console.log('Web payments are not supported in this browser.');
                    return;
                }

                const supportedInstruments = [{
                    supportedMethods: ['https://tez.google.com/pay'],
                    data: {
                        pa: 'merchant-vpa@xxx',
                        pn: 'Merchant Name',
                        tr: generateTransactionReferenceID(),//replace with your generating transaction id
                        url: '<?php echo add_query_arg('order_id', "' + orderId + '", get_permalink(page id)); ?>',//replace with your actual page id 
                        mc: '5977',
                        tn: orderId,
                    },
                }];

                const details = {
                    total: {
                        label: 'Total (including shipping)',
                        amount: {
                            currency: 'INR',
                            value: amount.toFixed(2)
                        }
                    },
                };
            }

            handlePay(orderId);
        });
    </script>
    <?php wp_footer(); ?>
</body>
</html>

This page template handles the Google Pay UPI Intent flow and processes the payment.

Step 4: Implementing Blocks Integration

To ensure compatibility with WooCommerce Blocks, create a class-block.php file:

<?php
use Automattic\WooCommerce\Blocks\

Payments\Integrations\AbstractPaymentMethodType;

class WC_Google_Pay_Integration extends AbstractPaymentMethodType
{
    public function initialize()
    {
        // Set up the payment method integration
        add_filter('woocommerce_blocks_payment_method_type_registration', function ($gateways) {
            $gateways['google_pay'] = $this;
            return $gateways;
        });
    }

    public function get_name()
    {
        return 'google_pay';
    }

    public function is_active()
    {
        return true;
    }
}

$wc_google_pay_integration = new WC_Google_Pay_Integration();
$wc_google_pay_integration->initialize();

Step 5 : Testing and Deployment

Test the plugin in your staging environment before deploying it to production. Ensure that all functionalities work as expected, especially the payment processing page.

Here i didn't attach the Successful payment in the gpay because of the security

Integrating Google Pay with your WooCommerce site can greatly enhance your customer’s shopping experience by providing them with a faster, more secure payment option. With this integration, you can simplify the checkout process and potentially increase your conversion rates.

This blog post covers the essential steps to integrate Google Pay into a website and WooCommerce, along with the challenges and solutions I encountered during the process.

Comparison with Flipkart

While our solution achieves the goal of integrating Google Pay, there are some differences compared to how Flipkart handle one-tap payments:

Payment Flow:

• Redirects to a separate processing page, which may add an extra step but allows for more control over the payment flow.

Integration Depth:

• Flipkart : Likely have deeper integration with Google Pay's API, possibly using advanced features.
• Our Solution: Uses the standard Web Payment Request API, which is more accessible for smaller e-commerce sites but may lack some advanced features.

Advantages of Our Approach

While our implementation differs from major e-commerce platforms, it offers several benefits:

1. Ease of Integration: Works within the existing WooCommerce framework.
2. Flexibility: Can be easily adapted to different WooCommerce themes.
3. Familiar UX: Maintains consistency with other WooCommerce payment methods.
4. Cost-Effective: Doesn't require extensive custom development.

Official Documentation link

Additional Features

1. Automatically Generate a Transaction ID:

   • Ensuring each transaction has a unique ID is crucial for tracking and validating payments. In our implementation, the transaction ID is automatically generated using a custom function. This ensures that no two transactions have the same identifier, which is vital for both security and record-keeping.
   • Example:

    function generateTransactionReferenceID() {
        return 'TXN' + Math.random().toString(36).substr(2, 9).toUpperCase();
    }
   

• This function generates a unique alphanumeric string that can be used as a transaction reference ID for each payment.

1. Compatibility Handling:

   • The Google Pay implementation provided in their documentation is primarily compatible with Chrome on Android devices. To ensure a smooth user experience, we’ve implemented a feature that disables Google Pay for non-compatible devices automatically. This prevents users on unsupported platforms from encountering errors or issues during the checkout process.
   • Example:

    if (!window.PaymentRequest || !navigator.userAgent.includes('Android')) {
        // Disable Google Pay option
    }
   

• This check ensures that the Google Pay option is only available for users on compatible devices, providing a seamless payment experience.

1. Bank API and Google Pay Issues:
   • During our implementation, we encountered some issues with the bank's API and Google Pay integration. To address this, we reached out to the Google Pay developer team for support. The team is currently investigating the issue, and we are working closely with them to resolve it. Despite these challenges, the integration has been successful and has already generated approximately ₹1 lakh in revenue within the first week.
   • This emphasizes the importance of ongoing support and communication with service providers when integrating complex payment solutions.

Transaction Fees:

Razorpay and PhonePe charge a fee of 2% + GST on all successful transactions.

Regarding Google Pay (Gpay), it can indeed offer lower transaction fees, especially for UPI-based transactions. UPI transactions typically have lower or no fees, which can help reduce overall costs compared to traditional payment gateways.

If you’re looking to minimize transaction fees for your business, integrating Gpay for UPI payments could be a cost-effective solution.

Conclusion

While our implementation may not be as streamlined as Flipkart's it provides a practical solution for integrating Google Pay into a WooCommerce site. It balances functionality with the constraints of working within the WordPress ecosystem, offering customers a convenient payment option without requiring a complete overhaul of the checkout process.

Implementing the Google Pay UPI Intent flow in WordPress WooCommerce involves several steps, from creating a custom payment gateway to handling the payment process and ensuring compatibility with WooCommerce Blocks. By following this guide, you can offer your customers a seamless and secure payment option using Google Pay.

Remember to test thoroughly in a staging environment before deploying to your live site. Also, ensure that you comply with all necessary security standards and regulations when handling payments.

By continuously refining our approach, we aim to narrow the gap between our implementation and those of major e-commerce players, always striving to provide the best possible user experience for our customers.

Happy coding!