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Category: ISV Playbooks

For software vendors building with Aurora

  • Understanding Embedded Finance: Beyond Payments

    Understanding Embedded Finance: Beyond Payments

    Software platforms are transforming how people pay, borrow, and manage money. In the past, customers relied on separate banks, lenders, or insurers to complete financial tasks. Today, more of these services are being built directly into the digital products people already use. This shift is called embedded finance, and it’s becoming one of the most impactful trends in financial technology.

    For SaaS executives, product leaders, and business owners, embedded finance offers a new way to increase the value of their vertical-specific platform, build revenue, and strengthen and deepen customer relationships. And while embedded payments are the most common starting point, the model extends much further. With the right partner, platforms can add tools like recurring billing, white-label solutions, or even banking functions like lines of credit, deposit accounts and disbursement tools without becoming a bank themselves.

    Aurora Payments currently supports vertical-specific software companies and service platforms with embedded payments infrastructure designed to launch quickly and scale over time. Aurora is also developing the next generation of embedded finance tools to further strengthen and expand the services offered by our ISV Partners to the merchants they serve.

    What is Embedded Finance?

    Embedded finance means integrating financial services like payments, lending, insurance, or banking into software that was not originally designed for finance. For example, a pet care scheduling platform that lets users book appointments and also pay within the app is offering embedded payments. An auto repair shop system that lets customers finance their bill through the same platform is using embedded lending. The financial tools are no longer separate, they are built into the core product workflow and offer a more seamless and intuitive user experience. 

    The biggest benefit of this approach is convenience. Users no longer have to bounce between platforms or log into different systems to complete tasks. The platform is empowered to build and deliver a more relevant and curated experience that keeps the user engaged and captures more value from each transaction.

    Beyond payments: lending, insurance, banking as a service

    Embedded finance is not limited to payment processing. It includes lending options, such as buy-now-pay-later or working capital financing. It includes insurance offerings that can be added at the point of sale. It can also include banking services, such as automated account creation, custom deposit accounts for faster deposit availability, or debit card issuance for fund disbursement with full spend controls, all designed to work seamlessly within the SAAS company’s native application. 

    Aurora has built its ARISE platform, a modern technology platform with easy to use integration components, as the foundation for many of these services. Today we offer businesses the ability to accept ACH, credit cards, and digital wallets within their software, and we give platforms the tools they need to start participating in embedded finance. As our Partner’s  strategy expands, the services offered through the ARISE platform will expand as well  – ensuring that our Partners can participate in, and thrive within this new payments frontier and scale with confidence over time. 

    Key Benefits of Embedded Finance

    Software companies are embracing embedded finance not just because it is more convenient for users, but because it helps the business itself. Here are three core benefits to remember that make embedded finance a smart strategy.

    Customer retention and platform stickiness

    When your users can complete more tasks inside your software, they are more likely to stay. Payments are often the first step. Instead of directing users to an outside payment page, embedded payments allow them to complete a transaction inside your application. That convenience builds loyalty. It also allows you to offer services like recurring billing, stored payment methods, and digital invoicing that keep customers connected to your platform over time. You worked hard to earn your customers, Aurora makes it easier to keep them.

    Aurora’s ARISE platform allows software providers to embed branded payment flows that support these use cases. Once payments are integrated, software companies can build additional features around that foundation, including revenue reporting, loyalty programs, or installment billing.

    New revenue from payment activity

    Another reason SaaS companies invest in embedded finance is because it opens a new revenue stream. Every time a customer makes a payment, the software provider can earn a share of the transaction. Over time, this can become a major contributor to the company’s bottom line, especially if the customer base is growing. 

    Software companies can create a new monetization stream without having to build or manage a payments infrastructure from scratch. Aurora provides the APIs, embeddable components, onboarding tools, and compliance support needed to operate in the background, while the software provider focuses on growth.

    Fully branded user experience

    Brand matters, especially for companies that have invested in their design and customer experience. With embedded payments, payment flows remain inside the software platform and reflect the Partner’s branding. This includes checkout pages, receipts, account management screens, and more. This continuity of experience reinforces our Partner’s brand and the trust they have built with their customers. 

    Aurora gives partners full control over the look and feel of their payment experience. The platform provides flexible APIs and easy to use interface components that can be styled to match their brand. There is no need to redirect to a third-party processor or use off-brand forms. This allows platforms to offer a seamless user experience while Aurora handles processing behind the scenes. 

    Where Aurora Fits In

    Aurora Payments provides embedded payment tools specifically for SaaS companies, software vendors, and vertical platforms that want to add financial functionality to strengthen their core software product. The ARISE platform offers everything a software development team needs to launch and scale quickly.

    Our focus on embedded payments

    Aurora’s platform includes features like ACH transfers, credit card acceptance, network tokenization, stored payment credentials, and recurring billing. These tools can be easily embedded through APIs, SDKs, and hosted components. Partners can create custom payment flows that match their use cases, whether they are running a fitness platform, a repair scheduling tool, or a field service CRM.

    Behind the scenes, Aurora manages transaction processing, risk and fraud protection, compliance, and settlement. The platform supports both card-present and card-not-present environments and is designed to work across multiple devices and locations.

    How we support ISVs

    Aurora works directly with independent software vendors (ISVs) to embed payments into their products. Every partner receives a dedicated solutions engineer, a full sandbox for testing, and access to Aurora’s U.S.-based support team.

    Most importantly, the onboarding process is a curated and fully guided experience that includes dedicated assistance with API integration, payment flow design, and merchant enrollment workflow. Aurora provides branded onboarding tools so ISVs can onboard their users under their own brand, with Aurora operating in the background.

    Aurora Partners also receive a dedicated Partner Success Manager. This Partner resource is focused on providing consulting expertise to ensure our Partners take full advantage of our decades of go-to-market experience to help Partners hit the performance metrics and milestones that are important to them.

    Once the platform is live, ISVs get access to reporting dashboards, revenue tracking, and performance metrics. Aurora’s team works with partners to optimize performance and support future growth.

    Embedded Payments in Action

    Aurora supports embedded payments across a wide range of industries. Here are a few examples of how the platform delivers value in real-world use cases:

    • Veterinary platforms can offer recurring wellness plans with automatic tokenized credit card billing, reducing missed payments and administrative work.
    • Jewelry software providers can enable high-ticket transactions through secure ACH transactions using VerifyPlus within their in-app payments to reduce credit card fees and minimize risk.
    • Transportation and logistics platforms can use text-to-pay and itemized invoicing for faster settlement and predictable cash flow across multiple locations.
    • Funeral home management software can provide branded, discreet ACH payment links for pre-need and at-need services.
    • Sporting goods and league management systems can automate team dues and equipment fees using stored payment methods that are automatically updated as lost, stolen, or expired cards are updated.

    Each of these examples shows how embedded payments not only simplify operations but also open up new revenue opportunities for the software provider.

    Fintech Integration

    Embedded finance is not just a trend. It is becoming a core expectation across industries. As users expect more from their software tools, platforms that offer integrated financial services will stand out.

    Aurora Payments gives SaaS companies and software platforms a fast, reliable way to embed payments into their product. With modern APIs, strong support, and a clear revenue model, Aurora helps platforms move from payment processing to full financial integration.

    If your platform is ready to grow through embedded payments, Aurora offers the tools and support to make it happen. Let’s go!

  • How to Choose the Right Embedded Payments Partner for Your SaaS Business

    How to Choose the Right Embedded Payments Partner for Your SaaS Business

    Choosing embedded payment platform partners is one of the most strategic decisions a SaaS company can make. It influences product experience, revenue potential, and long-term scalability. Whether you’re a founder, product manager, or tech leader, this guide will help you cut through the noise and choose a partner that supports your growth.

    Highlights

    • Clear framework for evaluating embedded payments partners
    • Practical insights for SaaS leaders at every stage: startup, growth, and mature
    • Monetization opportunities with the right payments partner
    • Expert quote from Aurora’s Director of Partner Enablement
    • Real-world red flags to avoid

    Why Embedded Payments Matter for SaaS

    Embedded payments aren’t just a backend feature. They have a direct impact on how your users interact with your software. When payments are integrated into your platform, users benefit from a smoother, more intuitive experience. This reduces friction, helps with retention, and can elevate customer satisfaction.

    But there’s more to it than convenience. Embedded payments also offer the chance to unlock new revenue streams and improve the financial health of your business. By taking control of the payment flow, your SaaS platform can generate income from every transaction processed. It also improves your investor appeal, as recurring revenue streams and higher margins are often key metrics in valuation discussions.

    Build vs. Buy vs. Partner: What’s Right for You?

    SaaS leaders often debate whether to build their own payments infrastructure, buy from a processor, or embed payments through a partner. Each path has distinct trade-offs.

    Building in-house gives you complete control over the payment stack. You can customize every detail and tailor the user experience to fit your product. However, this comes with major overhead. You’ll need a dedicated team for compliance, ongoing maintenance, fraud prevention, and customer support. For large or well-funded companies, this route might be viable, but for most, it’s not realistic.

    Buying from a third-party processor can get you to market quickly, but you’ll sacrifice customization and brand control. Many processors also limit your ability to monetize payments directly, so the long-term upside may be small.

    Partnering with an embedded payments provider can offer the best of both worlds. You maintain control over the experience while benefiting from APIs, integration support, compliance, and go-to-market enablement. This route is ideal for SaaS businesses looking to scale without rebuilding core infrastructure.

    Evaluating Embedded Payment Platforms

    Not all partners are created equal. Choosing embedded payment platform providers requires more than comparing rates or tech specs. A good partner should align with your goals, support your teams, and deliver a strong experience for your merchants.

    Start by looking at integration capabilities. Are their APIs straightforward and well-documented? Do they offer direct support for your development team? A complex integration can slow your launch and distract your resources.

    Next, assess how well the provider works with your internal teams. Do they support your onboarding, support, and sales teams? Or are they just another vendor? A true partner should operate as an extension of your business.

    Also consider the end-user experience. Can your merchants get fast support when they need it? Do they have access to onboarding tools, reporting, and troubleshooting resources?

    Finally, think about the business opportunity. The right provider will offer transparent pricing, revenue sharing options, and help you turn payments into a growth engine.

    “As someone who works directly with software partners to drive adoption and performance, I’ve seen firsthand that the right embedded payments partner is a strategic growth lever. It’s not just about plugging in a payment solution. It’s about aligning with a partner that enhances your platform, supports your merchants, and helps you scale smarter. The right partner integrates seamlessly, accelerates onboarding, and acts as an extension of your team.” — Sherrie Bryant, Director of Partner Enablement at Aurora

    Bryant’s perspective reflects a few critical elements that SaaS companies should prioritize when evaluating providers. A partner-first approach means finding a payments provider who doesn’t operate in a silo but collaborates with your onboarding, support, and sales teams. This creates a unified experience across your business and delivers smoother merchant launches.

    Frictionless integration is another must-have. Look for providers offering simplified APIs and direct developer support. This can make or break your timeline when trying to go live. Fast, responsive communication and support for your technical team ensures integration issues don’t delay your growth.

    It’s about aligning with a partner that enhances your platform, supports your merchants, and helps you scale smarter.

    Sherrie Bryant – Director of Partner Enablement at Aurora

    The merchant experience is just as important. A quality payments partner extends your brand’s promise. That includes reliable uptime, self-service tools, and support that makes you look good when issues arise. A seamless merchant experience builds trust and keeps users on your platform longer.

    Most importantly, the right provider should help you grow through both revenue and retention. The best embedded payments strategy boosts your bottom line while making your product more valuable to customers.

    Matching the Right Partner to Your SaaS Stage

    Your needs will vary based on your company’s maturity. A startup launching an MVP will need different capabilities than an enterprise SaaS managing thousands of transactions daily.

    In the startup phase, simplicity is key. Look for partners that can offer quick deployment and hands-on integration help. You may not be focused on monetizing payments yet, so prioritize ease of use and low technical lift.

    During the growth stage, your payment needs become more complex. You’ll want APIs that support customization, onboarding support for scaling users, and merchant support that can scale with your customer base. This is also the time to start exploring how to turn payment processing into a revenue stream.

    If your SaaS business is mature, flexibility is a top priority. You may need multi-channel support, such as enabling both card-present and card-not-present payments. Your partner should offer advanced analytics, flexible pricing models, and deep integration options to help you fine-tune your payment offering.

    Monetizing Payments: Beyond the Basics

    Payments aren’t just a feature to check off your list. They can be a serious growth lever. The right partner will offer revenue-sharing options that let you capture a percentage of each transaction. This becomes a predictable, scalable income stream.

    You can also create new pricing tiers or product bundles by integrating premium payment features. Some platforms offer opportunities for upselling, such as instant payouts or custom invoicing, which can improve the overall lifetime value of your customers.

    And most importantly, embedding payments into your platform increases user stickiness. Once customers run payments through your system, it’s much harder for them to churn.

    Red Flags to Watch Out For

    There are plenty of providers promising fast, easy payment integration. But not all deliver.

    Watch for limited or poorly documented APIs. If your developers struggle during onboarding, that’s a sign the platform isn’t ready for prime time. Lack of direct support is another issue. If you can’t talk to a real person when things go wrong, that’s a risk.

    Opaque pricing is also a major concern. If you don’t have a clear view into costs, you could be leaving money on the table. Inflexible contracts and minimal compliance support are other warning signs that you’re not working with a true partner.

    A Real-World Example: ARISE in Action

    Consider the example of a home services SaaS platform, representative of the kinds of ISV partners Aurora supports. This illustrative scenario demonstrates the type of impact ARISE can have. In this case, the platform needed both card-present and card-not-present payment capabilities, along with a way to streamline onboarding for new merchants.

    By embedding Aurora’s ARISE platform, they would be able to offer a fully integrated, branded onboarding experience. They could also embed payments directly into their user flow and benefit from revenue-sharing that turns payment processing into a new source of income. With support from Aurora’s partner enablement team, including technical assistance and launch coordination, the rollout would be efficient and merchant experience seamless.

    While this is a composite example, it reflects real results Aurora customers can expect, including faster onboarding, stronger monetization potential, and smoother merchant support, all through a strategic embedded payments partnership.

    Next Steps

    Choosing embedded payment platform providers is a decision that will shape your product, your customer experience, and your revenue strategy. Take the time to evaluate your options carefully and match your needs to a partner that supports your long-term goals.

    Aurora’s ARISE platform is built specifically for SaaS platforms that want to scale faster, monetize payments, and deliver great experiences to their users. If your current payments setup isn’t helping you grow, it’s time to reevaluate.

    Ready to level up your embedded payments strategy? Connect with Aurora and see how ARISE can transform the way your platform handles payments.