Mastering Digital Payments: A Deep Dive into the Seerbit Payment API Experience
Tags: digitalpayments
Published: 2023-08-26 15:48:46



Picture yourself browsing through an online store, adding items to your cart with a single click, and seamlessly completing your purchase without ever having to enter your payment information.

We live in a world where businesses can effortlessly integrate various payment methods into their applications or websites. Virtual payment APIs make that possible! From credit cards to digital wallets and even cryptocurrency payments, these APIs act as the ultimate bridge between different software systems, allowing them to communicate and exchange payment information in a standardized and efficient manner.

Virtual payment APIs have revolutionized the way businesses accept and process payments. These APIs act as intermediary software components that facilitate seamless integration between different payment methods and software systems.

By leveraging virtual payment APIs, businesses can offer their customers a wide range of payment options. Whether it's credit cards, digital wallets like PayPal or Apple Pay, or even emerging technologies like cryptocurrency payments, these APIs ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place for secure and efficient transactions.

One of the key advantages of virtual payment APIs is their ability to standardize the way different systems communicate with each other. They provide a standard set of protocols and interfaces that allow various software components to exchange information consistently.

But that's not all! These APIs offer businesses incredible flexibility and control over their payment workflows. They can customize payment flows, set up recurring billing, manage subscriptions, and handle refunds with ease. It's like having a magic wand to create the perfect payment journey tailored to their specific needs.

These APIs are opening up new horizons for businesses to expand globally. By integrating with multiple payment processors, companies can accept payments from customers all around the world, regardless of their preferred currency or payment method. It's like tearing down borders and embracing a world where cross-border transactions are a breeze.

## The need for a seamless payment API

As a Software Engineer, it is important to remember that part of our mission is to increase the GDP of the Internet. Day-to-day, that means we’re focused on bringing more businesses online and building the infrastructure that will facilitate a more economically connected world.

Payment API technologies have been around for quite some time, and it remains one of the most popular ways to accept payments online. The digital payment trends around the world will enable you to process and accept payments quickly with just a few clicks on your smartphone or laptop/desktop screens. 

According to a report by [BCG](https://www.bcg.com/press/2june2022-digital-payments-in-india-projected-to-reach-10-trillion-by-2026),
>  _"The value of digital payments in India is to increase threefold from US$3 trillion today to US$10 trillion by 2026"._

In theory, the internet knows no boundaries, but practical limitations arise when it comes to conducting transactions. While it is easy to send emails globally, many individuals face obstacles in receiving online payments or buying from well-known online stores. These obstacles mainly stem from artificial restrictions on the flow of money online, and our objective is to dismantle these barriers.

It should be possible to start and run an online business that is equally as successful in Nigeria as it is in the United States. We want every single developer and entrepreneur, no matter where they are in the world, to have access to the tools they need to build a global online business. More on that later...

## The hunt for a good payment API

A good payment API must possess essential features for businesses to ensure a seamless and secure payment processing experience. These include seamless integration capability, robust security measures, support for various payment methods, low latency, reliable uptime and availability, intuitive and well-documented API documentation, flexible and customizable solutions, recurring payments, subscription models, and a well-designed webhook system for real-time notifications.

Responsive customer support is crucial for technical queries, integration challenges, and dispute resolution. Regular updates and improvements demonstrate the provider's commitment to ensuring the latest features and security enhancements. 

By considering these essential features, businesses can confidently select a payment API that aligns with their requirements, resulting in a seamless and secure payment processing experience for their customers.

## Processing Payments with Seerbit's API Integration

According to the Seerbit official website:
> "_Seerbit is a dynamic business solution that is transforming the way African businesses collect and manage payments, unleashing untapped potential and delivering exceptional value to their customers. Initially, our focus was on providing innovative solutions for financial service providers._" 

However, as we evolved, we recognized a considerable payment gap that existed between African businesses and their customers – a challenge that traditional banks were unable to address effectively. 

Seerbit offers solutions ranging from "seamless online payments through USSD, bank transfers, and direct debit, to In-Person Payments with a possible integration of SeerBit Point-Of-Sale

As a developer, this made me impressed because up until recently, a country as huge as Nigeria was largely shut out from the part of international commerce that allowed local online entrepreneurs and start-ups to earn foreign exchange through the sale of their goods and services.

Let’s not deceive ourselves; the fact that Nigerians can now shop on Amazon or Alibaba using their debit cards does not in any way mean that we are participating in the game of e-commerce internationally. 

What is happening, in my opinion, is that we are being fleeced by many of the international establishments. So from Facebook to PayPal to Netflix to Uber, these international organizations are here to do business and nothing but business, and with the way these types of transactions are structured, it is almost impossible for our largely analog nation to get a dime as tax. This puts a strain on our public services and infrastructure, as well as exacerbation and poverty.

## Using the Seerbit Payment APIs

As an inquisitive tech-savvy software engineer with a deep passion for building and empowering the tech community, I saw the immense potential of Seerbit's Payment APIs in revolutionizing the way businesses manage their transactions in Africa. 

Eager to explore the possibilities and put my tech skills to work, I decided to take on the challenge of using Seerbit's APIs to build a quick application while thoroughly testing all of its features.

**Step 1: Documentation Review**

When integrating an API into a project, developers typically refer to the 			documentation provided by the API provider. 
The documentation serves as a comprehensive guide that explains how the API works, what endpoints are available, the required parameters for each endpoint, and the expected responses. 

The best API docs are self-service reference that succinctly explains what is possible, what is not, and how to get started.

The better the [API] documentation, the higher the rate of adoption and the fewer questions to technical support.

API documentation can make or break a developer's experience, and readability is a crucial factor that separates the great from the not-so-great.

Do you know what's essential when building a kick-ass product? Time! And that's why API documentation needs to be short and sweet. I get it—nobody's got all day to go through a never-ending novel just to figure out how to use an API.

See, even the most amazing API with mind-blowing features won't reach its full potential without clear and user-friendly docs. It's like having a fancy sports car with no driving manual—you might have all that power under the hood, but if you don't know how to use it, you'll be stuck in neutral!

Great documentation is like the GPS that guides developers on their coding journey. It tells you what endpoints are available, how to send requests, what to expect in responses—the whole shebang!

Without it, devs are left in the dark, fumbling around and wasting precious time trying to figure things out.
So, good API docs get straight to the point. They tell you what you need to know without any fluff. Time is precious, my friend and we're all about maximizing it to build useful products that rock! 🚀.

**Addressing Challenges in Utilizing the Seerbit Documentation API**

Alright, so here's the deal with Seerbit's starter code—it's only available in JavaScript. Not cool, right? For devs who dig other programming languages, it's like hitting a roadblock. You gotta do this extra dance of converting the code to your preferred language, and that's just a big ol' headache.

But hey, it doesn't have to be this way! If Seerbit hooks us up with starter codes in different programming languages, life would be so much easier. You'd just grab the code that matches your skills, and bam! You're ready to rock without any annoying conversion drama.

Imagine a world where devs from all walks of life can jump in and build wicked solutions using Seerbit's APIs. It'd be like one big party of coding awesomeness!

And hey, here's an epic idea—step-by-step guides with playable outputs for each supported programming language. Like, picture this: you follow along, and voilà! Practical examples of using the API in your chosen language magically appear. It'd be a total game-changer, saving you time and making integration a breeze.

The API documentation could also use a search feature. A well-organized and searchable API documentation lets you find what you need in a flash. No more aimless scrolling or endless clicking—it would be a time-saving game-changer
The bottom line is, Seerbit can level up the developer experience with comprehensive documentation and interactive resources for each programming language. No more hassle, no more headache—just smooth sailing and happy developers all around!
So, let's make it happen, Seerbit! Give us the multi-language starter codes and interactive guides, and watch the developer community soar to new heights of coding brilliance! 🚀💻

#### Step 2: Testing out the API

You might say, "Hey, but it's unfair to judge API quality based only on the docs, right?" Well, you're right—documentation is crucial, but testing is the real deal! So, I put Seerbit's payment process to the test, checking out 5 API endpoints:

1. **Simple Checkout**: Simple checkout with Seerbit was a breeze! It's like a magic wand for businesses, effortlessly receiving funds within and across borders. And the best part? Incorporating it into a website is a piece of cake with the simple **SeerbitPay()** JavaScript function. Abracadabra and the payments are sorted!🪄💸.
   
   The Simple checkout goes the extra mile! Not only does it make receiving funds a piece of cake, but it also gives you the power to customize the look of the Seerbit widget. It's like having your magic paintbrush to create a payment experience that matches your website's vibe. This API endpoint is the one that won my heart. 🎨✨

2. **Standard Checkout**: Ah, the standard checkout endpoint had a bit of a stumble. It struggled with error handling for API calls, leaving me a bit frustrated. And the lack of customization options was a bummer too. I couldn't give it that personal touch I wanted. But hey, every journey has its bumps, right? 

	Hopefully, Seerbit can work some magic and iron out those wrinkles to make the standard checkout shine bright like a diamond! Additionally, it would be super helpful to add some extra endpoints to support batch operations.

	 Picture this: developers can perform multiple operations all at once, like a well-coordinated dance! It'll save them from making repetitive API calls, and their workflow will be as smooth as butter. It's like hitting the efficiency jackpot!
	
3. **Subscriptions**: Alright, gotta keep it accurate here—integrating Seerbit's subscription API was a bit of a headache. The docs seriously dropped the ball on pointing out how to deploy webhooks for subscriptions. 

	Webhooks are like the secret sauce to keep your app in the loop when things go down, like renewals or cancellations. But the docs left us hanging on that front, not cool!

	And wait for it, no action for canceling existing subscriptions? Seriously?! That's like having a car without a brake pedal. Canceling is a basic need for users, and it's kinda shocking that the docs failed to provide clear info on how to do it.

4. **Virtual Accounts**: This section of the docs is kinda slacking! It's like they forgot to spill the beans on how to use this feature properly. Come on, we need the deets, the nitty-gritty stuff, the step-by-step guide to make it work like magic.

	It's like they left us hanging on whether the virtual account is just a one-time thing or a forever deal. Is it temporary or permanent? That's a pretty big deal! Knowing this affects how we handle and manage the virtual accounts we create.

	 However, Creating a virtual account turned out to be a pretty decent experience overall. Despite the missing details, you were able to make it work and get that virtual account up and running. Way to go!
	 
5. **Card tokenization**: Ugh, the dreaded error messages strike again! It's frustrating when the documentation leaves us in the dark about important stuff. While implementing card tokenization was a breeze, those edge cases with expired, frozen, or blocked cards had us scratching our heads.

	Seerbit, we need answers! What happens when we encounter these situations? How do we handle them gracefully? We want to build rock-solid apps that can handle anything life throws at us, including those pesky expired or blocked cards. T for Thanks.


**Step 3: Evaluating Security Measures**
I was concerned about how Seerbit plans to manage and protect our money, then I did a little digging too, and let me tell you—it's all good in the hood! Seerbit's got our backs when it comes to managing and protecting our money.

Their API endpoints are like fortresses—built with robust security measures that'll blow your mind! We're talking encryption protocols, tokenization, and strict compliance with industry standards like PCI DSS. They are serious about safeguarding our precious payment data.

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In conclusion, Seerbit has the potential to take its API documentation and APIs to the next level by focusing on a few key improvements;

First and foremost, adding comprehensive explanations, clearer instructions and practical code examples would make the documentation a developer's dream come true.
Additionally, addressing the missing details in certain sections and providing more insight into edge cases would enhance the overall usability and developer experience.

On a side note, it's truly remarkable and inspiring to witness Nigerians stepping up to build solutions for their problems. Gone are the days of waiting for a knight in shining armor. Instead, we see a wave of creativity, innovation, and determination as Nigerians tackle challenges head-on.

It's a testament to the spirit of resilience and entrepreneurship that runs deep in the country.

_And here's a financial fact for you: Did you know that Nigeria's economy is one of the fastest-growing in Africa? With its vibrant tech community and talented developers, the country is driving digital transformation and unlocking new opportunities for economic growth_. 

The future is bright, and we're excited to see what groundbreaking solutions Nigerians will continue to create!
In conclusion, let's cheer on Seerbit as they level up their API documentation and celebrate the power of Nigerian innovation and determination in building a brighter future! 🚀🇳🇬