The Impact of Real-Time Payments on eCommerce

The eCommerce landscape is evolving quickly, and so are the expectations around how money moves. Consumers want instant checkouts. Merchants want faster access to funds. And both sides are tired of the friction caused by legacy banking rails. That’s where real-time payments (RTP) come in.

While card payments and ACH transfers have long dominated online transactions, real-time payments represent the next leap forward. These systems allow funds to move and settle instantly, 24/7, without traditional banking delays. For eCommerce brands, this shift has major implications for everything from cash flow to customer satisfaction.

Let’s break down what real-time payments are, how they work, and what they mean for merchants looking to compete in a faster, more fluid economy.

What Are Real-Time Payments?

Real-time payments refer to instantaneous bank-to-bank transfers that occur in seconds and settle immediately, any time of day, including weekends and holidays. Unlike traditional payment methods that rely on batch processing or clearing delays, RTP systems operate continuously and post transactions in near real time.

Different countries have their own real-time payment networks, such as:

• RTP® Network (U.S.) by The Clearing House
  
  
  

• FedNow (U.S.) launched by the Federal Reserve
  
  
  

• Faster Payments Service (UK)
  
  

• SEPA Instant (Europe)
  
  

• UPI (India)
  
  

• PIX (Brazil)
  
  

These systems are designed to move funds directly between bank accounts with no intermediaries, delivering speed, transparency, and certainty in each transaction.

How Real-Time Payments Are Changing eCommerce

For online retailers and platforms, real-time payments offer more than just a faster transaction, they enable a shift in how financial operations are managed, optimized, and scaled.

1. Instant Settlement Means Better Cash Flow

One of the biggest benefits for merchants is immediate access to funds. Traditional card payments often take 1–3 days to settle. With RTP, the money hits your account in seconds, giving you faster access to working capital. This is particularly valuable for:

• High-volume or fast-turnover businesses
  
  
  

• Brands managing tight inventory cycles
  
  
  

• Merchants relying on reinvestment for paid media or fulfillment
  
  
  

Real-time payments reduce the financial lag between making a sale and having usable cash.

2. Reduced Payment Failures and Chargebacks

RTP transactions are push-based, meaning the customer initiates the transfer, similar to how Venmo or Zelle works. This eliminates many of the issues that cause traditional card declines, such as fraud filters, expired cards, or insufficient credit.

Since RTP payments can’t be reversed the way card payments can, chargeback risk is significantly lower, making it a compelling option for high-risk or high-dispute verticals.

3. Lower Processing Costs

Real-time payments bypass the card networks entirely. That means no interchange fees, no processor markups, and fewer middlemen. While banks may charge a small flat fee for RTP transactions, they’re often cheaper, especially at scale, than traditional credit card rates.

Over time, merchants could see a meaningful reduction in payment processing costs by shifting more volume toward RTP.

4. Enhanced Customer Experience

As consumers become more familiar with mobile payment apps and instant banking, they expect eCommerce to keep pace. Offering real-time payment options can reduce friction during checkout, particularly in markets where digital wallets or bank transfers are preferred.

Faster payment confirmation also enhances post-purchase experience. There’s no waiting for verification or confirmation emails, customers get immediate assurance that their order went through.

Use Cases: Where Real-Time Payments Fit in eCommerce

While RTP won’t replace credit cards entirely, it’s becoming a valuable layer in the payment stack. Here are some of the most promising use cases:

• High-ticket purchases where consumers prefer bank transfers over card limits
  
  
  

• Same-day payout models for marketplaces or creators
  
  
  

• Subscription payments with predictable, repeatable bank transfers
  
  
  

• Returnless refunds or instant customer reimbursements
  
  
  

• B2B eCommerce where suppliers need faster remittance for inventory restocking
  
  
  

In each of these scenarios, real-time payments bring more agility to the checkout, back office, and customer service operations.

How Lasso Supports Real-Time Payment Readiness

At Lasso, we believe merchants shouldn’t be limited by legacy systems. That’s why our platform is designed to integrate with emerging payment technologies, including real-time rails and direct bank transfer solutions.

While most eCommerce checkouts are still built exclusively around card-based payments, Lasso allows merchants to:

• Add real-time payment methods alongside traditional gateways
  
  
  

• Customize checkout flows for different payment types
  
  
  

• Route transactions dynamically based on risk, region, or cost
  
  
  

• Track performance metrics across payment methods from one dashboard
  
  
  

• Capture and validate first-party data for secure bank transfers
  
  
  

Whether RTP is available in your region today or coming soon, Lasso ensures your checkout is ready to support it without needing a complete rebuild.

Final Thoughts

Real-time payments are no longer a future concept, they’re here, and they’re growing fast. For eCommerce merchants, adopting RTP means faster cash flow, lower costs, fewer chargebacks, and a more modern customer experience.

While cards will continue to play a major role, RTP offers a parallel path to greater efficiency and control, especially for merchants with high transaction volume or complex cash cycles.

With Lasso, you're not just reacting to payment trends, you’re preparing for them. Our infrastructure is built to support whatever payment evolution comes next, including real-time networks that put merchants in control of their money, 24/7.