Step-by-Step Guide to Launching a E-Commerce website by Connecting Paynow Zimbabwe Plugin to WooCommerce on WordPress

If you run a business in Zimbabwe and use WooCommerce to power your online store, integrating the Paynow Zimbabwe payment gateway can streamline payments in a simple and effective way. Paynow Zimbabwe allows customers to make payments via EcoCash, Telecash, ZimSwitch, and credit cards. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you integrate Paynow with your WooCommerce store on WordPress.

Step 1: Prepare Your WooCommerce and WordPress Site

Before you start integrating the Paynow Zimbabwe plugin, ensure that you have the following:

1. A fully functioning WooCommerce installation on your WordPress website.
2. An active Paynow account (if you don’t have one, you can create it at Paynow Zimbabwe).
3. Basic understanding of managing a WordPress website and plugins.

Step 2: Install WooCommerce (If Not Already Installed)

If WooCommerce isn’t already installed on your WordPress site:

1. Log in to your WordPress Admin dashboard.
2. Go to Plugins > Add New.
3. In the search bar, type “WooCommerce.”
4. Once WooCommerce appears in the search results, click Install Now and then Activate once the installation is complete.

Now that WooCommerce is installed, you can proceed with integrating the Paynow plugin.

Step 3: Install the Paynow for WooCommerce Plugin

1. From your WordPress Admin dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New.
2. In the search bar, type “Paynow for WooCommerce.”
3. Once the plugin appears in the results, click Install Now.
4. After installation, click Activate to enable the plugin on your website.

Alternatively, you can download the plugin from the official WordPress repository, upload the ZIP file via Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin, and then activate it.

Step 4: Configure Paynow Settings in WooCommerce

Once the plugin is activated, it’s time to configure your Paynow account settings:

1. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings in your WordPress Admin dashboard.
2. Click on the Payments tab at the top of the page. You’ll see a list of available payment gateways.
3. Locate Paynow in the list, and click Set up or Manage to configure it.

Step 5: Get Your Paynow Merchant Details

You need to provide your Paynow merchant details, which include your Integration Key and Integration ID.

1. Log in to your Paynow Zimbabwe account.
2. Once logged in, go to My Account > Create New Integration (if you haven’t already created an integration for your website).
3. After creating the integration, Paynow will generate an Integration Key and Integration ID for you. Note these down as you’ll need them to complete the WooCommerce configuration.

Step 6: Enter Paynow Details in WooCommerce

Go back to your WooCommerce Paynow settings page and enter the following information:

1. Integration ID: Enter the Integration ID provided by Paynow.
2. Integration Key: Enter the Integration Key you received from Paynow.
3. Test Mode: If you want to test the payment gateway before going live, you can check the Test Mode option. Paynow offers a testing environment where you can simulate transactions.
4. Order Status: Choose the default status for orders when they are completed via Paynow (e.g., Processing or Completed).
5. Enable Logging: For troubleshooting, it’s advisable to enable logging, so you can track any issues that occur during transactions.

Click Save changes after entering all the details.

Step 7: Test the Integration

It’s important to test the integration to ensure everything is working correctly.

1. Enable Test Mode in the Paynow WooCommerce settings (if not already enabled).
2. Add a product to your cart and proceed to checkout.
3. Choose Paynow as your payment method and complete a test transaction using the test credentials provided by Paynow.
4. Check if the payment goes through and the order is updated correctly on your WooCommerce dashboard.

Step 8: Switch to Live Mode

Once you’ve confirmed that the test transactions work as expected, you can switch to Live Mode.

1. Go back to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments > Paynow.
2. Uncheck the Test Mode option.
3. Click Save changes.

Your WooCommerce store is now live and can accept payments through Paynow.

Step 9: Customize the Payment Experience (Optional)

You can also customize the Paynow checkout experience for your customers:

• Payment Methods: Decide which payment options (EcoCash, Telecash, ZimSwitch, or credit card) you want to offer to customers.
• Payment Gateway Branding: Customize the payment gateway page with your store logo and colors to offer a consistent experience across your website.

Step 10: Monitor Transactions and Reports

Finally, monitor all transactions within the WooCommerce orders dashboard. Paynow also provides detailed reports within its merchant dashboard, allowing you to reconcile payments with your WooCommerce orders.

Conclusion

Integrating Paynow with WooCommerce is a powerful way to streamline payments for your Zimbabwe-based customers. By following these steps, you can easily set up the plugin, configure your merchant details, and offer a smooth, secure checkout experience. This integration allows you to receive payments via a wide range of Zimbabwean payment methods, enhancing the convenience and trust for your customers.

Feel free to reach out to Paynow’s support or consult the official documentation if you encounter any issues during the integration process.