One Experience, Every Way to Pay: Why Payment Diversity Matters

One customer wants to pay online. Another expects to tap their phone at the point of sale. A resort guest may use a branded wallet, a festival attendee may prefer an RFID wristband, while an international visitor wants to use a familiar payment method in their own currency.

For operators across events, venues, attractions, hospitality and other experience-led environments, accommodating these preferences can create a fragmented setup involving multiple providers, terminals and reporting systems.

Payment diversity is not simply about accepting more payment methods. It is about connecting them within one flexible payment ecosystem.

Glownet brings online, in-person, open-loop and closed-loop payments together within one connected platform. Alongside Glownet payment solutions, including Tap to Pay and integrated PSP options, the platform supports more than 25 online payment gateways and six in-person PSP payment solutions. This allows operators to select the right payment setup for each market and environment without creating unnecessary complexity behind the scenes.

Give every customer a convenient way to pay

Different audiences and experiences require different payment options. With Glownet, operators can support:

• Online card payments
• Pay-by-bank options
• Credit and debit cards
• Mobile wallets, including Apple Pay and Google Pay where supported
• SoftPOS and Tap to Pay
• Cryptocurrency payments through supported providers
• Cash at selected points of sale
• Stored value, credits and tokens
• RFID wristbands, NFC cards, eTags and digital wallets
• Hybrid and split payments using multiple tenders
• Online orders completed through supported in-person payment networks

The ideal combination depends on the environment, audience and operating model.

A multi-day festival may benefit from preloaded RFID wristbands and onsite top-ups. A stadium or nightclub may prioritize contactless cards and SoftPOS. A theme park or resort might combine online payments, branded guest wallets and onsite POS transactions, while a permanent venue or multi-merchant destination may need several payment providers and settlement models operating within the same environment.

Instead of forcing every organization into the same payment model, Glownet allows the payment experience to fit the business.

Open-loop, closed-loop or hybrid payments

Open-loop payments allow guests to use familiar bank cards and mobile wallets. Closed-loop cashless payments store funds, credits or tokens within a defined customer ecosystem, accessed through an RFID wristband, NFC card, eTag or digital wallet.

Many operators benefit from combining both.

Glownet supports hybrid payment environments where cards, mobile wallets, SoftPOS, cash, stored value, credits and tokens can operate across the same deployment. Split payments also allow guests to complete a purchase using more than one tender, for example, spending the remaining balance held on a wristband and paying the difference by card.

Supporting these combinations requires more than simply offering several payment methods. Glownet manages how different tenders interact with tax, tips, marketplace fees, discounts, loyalty, receipts and downstream accounting, helping keep the complete transaction connected when payment methods are combined.

This gives operators the flexibility to adapt their payment strategy to their audience, infrastructure and market without limiting guest choice.

Connect online and on-site payments

Customers do not think of online purchases, entry, food and beverage, merchandise, services and upgrades as separate payment journeys. To them, they are all part of one experience.

A connected payment environment brings these different touchpoints together. A customer can pay online before arrival or collection and continue spending onsite using a card, phone, wristband or another enabled payment method.

Glownet can also support payment journeys that begin online and are completed through an in-person payment network. For example, a customer may place an order online and complete payment at a participating post office, retail outlet or payment agent. Reseller interfaces and APIs connect the in-person payment back to the original order, providing an important alternative in markets where card ownership, online payment adoption or customer preferences vary.

For operators, connecting online and in-person payments creates a clearer view of transactions across the customer journey while reducing the need to manage isolated payment systems.

Turn compatible devices into payment terminals

Traditional card terminals are not always practical when operators need to add payment points quickly, support mobile teams or serve large numbers of customers and merchants.

Glownet SoftPOS and Tap to Pay solutions enable compatible devices to accept contactless card and mobile wallet payments without requiring a separate payment terminal. The same device used for the Glownet point-of-sale system can also support tap-to-pay transactions.

This can make it easier for festivals, stadiums, resorts, bars, attractions and permanent venues to deploy additional payment points, respond to demand and keep customers moving.

Local payment flexibility, centralized control

Payment preferences, currencies and providers vary across markets. With more than 25 online payment gateways and over six in-person PSP payment solutions supported, Glownet allows each deployment to use the payment setup best suited to its location, audience and commercial requirements. Payment routing can also be configured according to country and currency.

Operators can configure payment methods at different levels:

• Tenant-level payment methods can be used across all merchants.
• Individual merchants can connect their own payment methods and accounts.
• Payment fees can be absorbed or passed on where appropriate.
• Order limits and expiry times can be configured for specific workflows.

This provides local flexibility while maintaining visibility and control across the wider operation.

Simplify refunds, fees and vendor payments

Managing payments also means handling refunds, fees, commissions and vendor proceeds.

Glownet enables operators to refund cancelled orders or eligible wallet balances and configure fixed or variable payment fees. For multi-vendor environments, Glownet Marketplace can apply commissions, calculate vendor proceeds and generate settlement-ready data.

This is especially valuable for festivals, fairs, fan zones, stadiums, food markets and multi-merchant destinations, where multiple businesses may operate within the same payment ecosystem.

More choice for customers. Less complexity for operators.

Every rejected payment method, unnecessary step or delay adds friction to the customer experience. Fast and familiar payment options make it easier for people to buy, spend and keep enjoying the experience.

A flexible payment ecosystem can help operators:

• Remove barriers to purchase
• Serve local and international guests
• Reduce queues at sales points
• Scale payment capacity when needed
• Support different merchants and business models
• Connect transaction data across the customer journey

But adding more payment options only creates value when they remain manageable.

Glownet brings online payments, in-person transactions, cashless wallets, stored value, RFID credentials, SoftPOS and Tap to Pay into one configurable ecosystem, giving every customer a convenient way to pay and every operator a simpler way to manage it.

Ready to build the right payment ecosystem for your venue, destination or experience? Explore Glownet Payments or get in touch with our team.