Embedded payments refer to the integration of payment processing capabilities directly into a software platform, application, or digital experience so that paying becomes a seamless part of the user workflow rather than a separate step handled by an external payment page. Instead of redirecting customers to a third-party checkout, the platform presents payment fields, processes transactions, and manages the payment lifecycle within its own interface. For the end user, the payment feels native to the product they are already using.
The shift toward embedded payments has been driven by two converging forces. First, platforms and vertical SaaS companies have recognised that payments are not just a utility but a strategic asset — owning the payment experience increases user engagement, reduces churn, and opens new revenue streams through transaction fees. Second, modern APIs and white-label payment infrastructure have made it technically feasible for non-financial companies to embed payments without becoming regulated payment institutions themselves. A property management platform can let landlords collect rent in-app; a healthcare scheduling tool can process co-pays at booking; a logistics platform can settle carrier payments automatically.
However, embedding payments is not as simple as dropping in a payment form. The platform must consider PCI compliance, multi-currency support, regulatory requirements across geographies, reconciliation, dispute handling, and the ability to support multiple payment methods. Building this infrastructure from scratch requires deep payments expertise and significant ongoing maintenance. Many platforms initially integrate directly with a single PSP, only to discover that they are locked into that provider’s limitations — a single acquirer’s approval rates, a single set of supported payment methods, a single settlement currency.
Shuttle Global’s Embedded Payments product is designed specifically for platforms that want to own the payment experience without building the underlying infrastructure. Shuttle provides a white-label payment layer that connects to 40+ PSPs through a single integration, so platforms can offer their merchants the best possible payment coverage without managing multiple PSP relationships. The platform’s branding remains front and centre — end users see only the platform’s checkout, not Shuttle’s — while Shuttle handles PCI compliance, tokenisation, smart routing, and settlement behind the scenes. This approach lets platforms monetise payments, maintain PSP flexibility, and ship a complete payment experience in weeks rather than the months or years a direct build would require.