The Problem We Were Actually Solving
I was building a software as a service product that catered to a global audience, and I needed a reliable payment processing system. However, I soon realized that popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, Gumroad, and Payhip had restrictions in many countries, which would have limited my customer base. This was a major problem, as I wanted to ensure that my product was accessible to anyone, regardless of their geographical location. I spent countless hours researching alternative payment solutions, but every option seemed to have its own set of restrictions and limitations.
What We Tried First (And Why It Failed)
Initially, I tried to integrate multiple payment gateways into my system, hoping that at least one of them would work for each customer. However, this approach proved to be cumbersome and inefficient. The integration process was complex, and each gateway had its own set of APIs, documentation, and support channels. Moreover, the transaction fees were high, and the payout terms were often unfavorable. I also encountered issues with currency conversion, which resulted in additional losses. After several months of struggling with these integrations, I realized that this approach was not scalable or sustainable.
