The food delivery market is developing at a high speed: every year, both the quantity of users and the number of online orders grow. Users require not only fast delivery, but also the highest level of Secure Payment Gateways for their personal and payment data. In a competitive market, companies providing such services can’t compromise on security.
One of the weakest points of digital goods remains Secure Payment Gateways. Leakage of data, information interception, simulated transactions — all this can cause severe damage to the business and the brand reputation. Therefore, provision of secure payment infrastructure is not a recommendation, but a mandatory condition of market entry and expansion.
At Celadonsoft, they recognize how crucial seamless integration of finance solutions in web and mobile applications, especially in food delivery, is. Look at our page to see how we help teams and companies globally in implementing current and Secure Payment Gateways with proper adherence to industry standards and legal requirements: https://celadonsoft.com/solutions/food-delivery-app-development-services.
In this article, we’ll talk about the practices that we follow in real life while developing applications involving payment logic. We’ll cover best practices, proven by time and project-checking, and describe how their usage helps to build user trust, reduce risk, and create a sustainable ecosystem around your product.
Security Fundamentals: PCI DSS Compliance
When it comes to payment security in mobile food ordering apps, one of the first things to mention is compliance with the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). For developers and businesses alike, this is not a procedure, but a necessary starting point.
Why PCI DSS Isn’t a Choice, but a Necessity
Any program processing payment data — especially bank cards — must comply with the PCI DSS requirements. Failure to comply with this standard can lead not only to penalties, but also to blocking by payment systems and suppliers, and most importantly, to loss of customer trust.
In an extremely competitive food delivery market, the cost of losing a customer due to one security incident could be higher than the cost of investing in obtaining the standard.
What Are PCI DSS Requirements?
PCI DSS is comprised of 12 basic requirements, and we at Celadonsoft always start with the basics:
- Encryption of data in transit is especially important when moving data between client application and server.
- Restricted data access — only approved systems and personnel have access to payment details.
- Monitoring and logging — we record all transactions so that we have a rapid response to anomalies.
- System testing on a regular basis — automated vulnerability scans, and manual security testing.
Celadonsoft Approach
In practice, we don’t just check if the solution “meets” the standard — we apply security in the application architecture itself. That is, PCI DSS requirements are taken into account from the beginning: from choosing a data storage method to the API design.
We also assist clients through all certification stages — consulting, process automation and, if necessary, involving third-party auditors.
Secure Payment Gateway Integration
Security of payment infrastructure is a key aspect in the design of food ordering apps. Not only does it need to be seamless, but also securely protected against any form of threat. We build our payments’ infrastructure on industry best practices and certified technology at Celadonsoft.
Having Trustworthy Providers Is Half the Battle
A secure payment gateway should not only be simple to use — it should also comply with worldwide security standards. We provide and implement tools such as:
- Stripe — customizable API and fraud protection built-in.
- PayPal is a mature, secure mechanism for transaction management.
- Apple Pay/ Google Pay — native, secure, convenient for mobile apps.
We take each client’s requirements to figure out the best combination of providers to provide both business performance and security functionality.
Tokenization — Data Protection in a Snap
Instead of storing real map data, we are employing tokenization — a method where sensitive information is replaced with special tokens. This is in a way that even if the database gets hacked, the hacker will not get to view the user’s bank details.
We use most of the time native tokenization offered by the payment processor company itself, or have a custom intermediate API with a second layer of encryption.
3D Secure and Fado Protection by Default
3D Secure 2.0 type authentication technologies are an essential part of any serious payment system. They offer issuing bank and user authorization to validate transactions with alternative methods (SMS, biometrics, push).
In addition, we recommend the integration of intelligent antifraud systems that track users’ activity in real time and detect suspicious transactions even before they are completed.
Multifactor Authentication and Biometrics
Security has become a part of the user experience in food delivery apps these days. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the key methods to protect against unauthorized access. For start-ups and large corporations working in the product delivery industry, MFA implementation is not only a recommendation, but a requirement.
What Is Multifactor Authentication?
MFA is a process that forces the user to present two or more factors to authenticate his or her identity. These factors can be:
- Something the user knows — password, PIN code.
- Something the user has — mobile phone to receive one-time codes (e.g., through SMS or authentication app).
- Something the user owns — biometric data, e.g., a fingerprint or face recognition.
Why Do Food Delivery Apps Need MFA?
Online ordering and mobile payments via product delivery apps are becoming increasingly popular, and thus there are increased security threats. A password is no longer enough because methods of breaking passwords are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Implementation of MFA makes it significantly more difficult for hackers by requiring more factors to get into the account.
How MFA Operates in Delivery Apps?
- Step one — user types in their login and password. This is the minimum access to the account.
- Step two — the system provides the code on the registered phone number of presents to verify the login through an authentication app (e.g., Google Authenticator).
- Optional step three — biometric such as fingerprint or face recognition can be employed for added security.
Biometrics as a Complement to MFA
In addition to conventional methods, biometric authentication is becoming more mainstream. It can be:
- Fingerprints used by most modern smartphones to provide fast and secure entry.
- Face ID (Face ID), which is becoming the standard for many mobile phones.
- Iris or voice recognition is a technique that has been researched and applied actively in some leading-edge apps.
Benefits of MFA and Biometrics
- Improved security from hacking: Even if the hacker is able to obtain the password, they cannot finalize the second phase of authentication without another device or biometric verification.
- Build customer trust: Individuals are more and more placing a premium on maintaining the privacy and security of their information, as compared to MFA and biometric methods, which offer more assurances.
- Ease and speed: Biometrics nowadays allows you to easily and quickly identify yourself, while also offering a very high level of security.
Solution Implementation of MFA and Biometrics Using Celadonsoft
Included in a mobile app targeted security solution, Celadonsoft offers multifactor authentication and biometric integration, allowing you to have an integrated solution for safeguarding user information. Our experts will help you build a system that not only meets modern security requirements, but also provides an enriched user experience.
Security and Convenience: The Trade-off Between UX and Security
In application payment systems for ordering food, users anticipate not just good security, but also convenience of payment. A balance between ease and good protection has to be achieved.
Handling Various Payment Modes
The most important characteristic of convenience is the presence of several payment methods. In order to make the payment process simple and convenient for all users, you must apply popular solutions such as bank cards, mobile wallets, Apple Pay and Google Pay. The more payment methods are presented, the higher the chances that users will be ready to pay.
One-Click Payment with Data Saving
One-click payment is a simple feature through which customers can purchase something without entering data again. However, if the feature is to be secure, user data must be encrypted and stored securely. Data encryption and tokenization technologies help keep things private and protected, and also maintain payment information secure.
Refund and Cancellation Process Transparency
Another very important aspect of convenience is the transparency of refund and cancellation processes. Users need to be able to easily view how to reverse money in the event of a problem with the order. To make things transparent and trustworthy, one needs to clearly define the timing and terms of returns and use automated processes for rapid handling of such requests.
Preservation of Trust: Transparency and Conformity
Compliance with local and global Secure Payment Gateways are one of the most important factors determining payment security in delivery product applications.
- Conformity with safety standards: Being certified against standards such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) or regulatory compliance with standards such as GDPR in Europe or CCPA in the US demonstrates that your app is secure with respect to today’s security requirements. Those standards minimize risks of data leak, and facilitate users’ rights, thereby instilling confidence in your service.
- Regular audits and testing: Regular penetration tests and independent audits will make your application secure at each step of its usage. Security is not once-achievable, but rather an ongoing process which demands constant scrutiny and patching.
- Alerting users to security measures: Informing users of security measures employed is required. Transparency is among the best methods of maintaining trust. Provide users with complete information on how their data is handled, what security measures are taken to protect their data, and how they can help secure their transactions (e.g., through multifactor authentication services).
You must also revise your privacy policy from time to time with any changes in security requirements and provide clear data to users. This will not only develop trust, but will also boost your app’s image in the market.
