How Payment Routing Can Save You 20% or More on Card Costs

What Is Payment Routing?

Payment routing is the process of directing transactions through the most cost-effective or high-performing processor available. An agnostic payment gateway enables this flexibility.

Why It Matters in 2025

Card networks have raised interchange rates slightly, while alternative payment methods like open banking are expanding. Routing provides an immediate way to reduce costs without changing providers.

How It Works

Routing Strategy

Example

Typical Benefit

Cost-Based Routing

Direct transactions to lowest-fee acquirer

10–20% lower average fee

Performance Routing

Route to processor with best approval rate

Higher success & fewer declines

Geo-Based Routing

Match acquirer to cardholder location

Better authorization rates

Fallback Routing

Backup routes if one processor fails

Prevents downtime losses

Key Technologies

  • Real-time analytics

  • Multi-acquirer integration

  • AI-based routing engines

  • Payment orchestration platforms

Conclusion

In 2025, payment routing is not just a back-end feature—it’s a strategic financial lever. Merchants using dynamic routing systems are saving 10–25% in costs while improving uptime and customer experience.