It’s not brands with beautiful interfaces (although they’re also needed) that succeed in modern fintech, but those who can ensure scalability and control over operational processes. Fintech investor and expert Artsiom Liashanau believes payment orchestration is the key to this. An approach that turns a local PSP into a global player. He talked about this in his column – we’ve collected the main theses from it and retold the most important ones.
Liashanau Artem, who’s been developing fintech projects for over 10 years, emphasizes: the true value of the industry is hidden not in brand showcases, but in internal infrastructure.
“Real magic happens where infrastructure is built,” notes Artsiom Liashanau.
From gateways to orchestration
The fintech expert explains that the evolution of payments began with the payment gateway, which acted as an intermediary between the card and the acquiring bank. Over time, businesses moved to payment routing, which made it possible to optimize costs. But the real breakthrough was the emergence of orchestration.
In his opinion, if the gateway is just a “door” in the process and routing is a road map, then orchestration works as a smart GPS navigator that retracts routes depending on favorable or not so favorable circumstances.
“Payment orchestration is a conductor who keeps the rhythm of everything,” notes Liashanau.
Why orchestration has become critically important
Local PSPs can cope without complex add-ons – but only while they’re working on their domestic markets. But when going global, challenges begin: different currencies, regional payment methods and strict data protection requirements. This is where, according to Artsiom Liashanau, orchestration becomes a very relevant solution.
“There’s SEPA Instant in Europe,PIX in Brazil and UPI in India. Each method would require a separate integration. This is expensive and time-consuming. Orchestration solves the problem in one go,” the expert explains.
He adds that orchestration platforms give businesses “operational control” – the ability to track efficiency in real time, automatically switch transactions between providers and ensure uninterrupted operation even in crisis situations.
Artsiom Liashanau places a special emphasis on cybersecurity and regulatory requirements. Payment orchestration involves tokenization, adaptive 3D Secure and flexible anti-fraud tools. This reduces the burden on compliance teams and gives businesses confidence in working in the US and EU markets.
The next level of PSP development
According to Artsiom Liashanau, orchestration forms a new role for payment services: from a simple intermediary to an “operations center” of financial flows. This is a higher level of responsibility and at the same time a chance to reach a global level of profitability.
“A fintech business that continues to live in the categories of gateway or routing risks being left on the sidelines. Those who develop orchestration gain a strategic advantage: speed, flexibility and control. Only then does the business sound harmonious, and payments are processed as they should be: imperceptibly for you and always successfully,” concludes Liashanau.
Today, payment orchestration is transforming from a “fashionable term” into a fundamental development tool. As Artsiom Liashanau emphasizes, it is this model that will determine who can become a global fintech player and who will remain a local provider. And here three factors are crucial: speed, stability and scalability.