SPORTS & CULTURE

Subscriptions, whether to a gym, a sports association, a newspaper, magazine or box rental, require proper management of recurring payments and appropriate payment methods to ensure smooth transactions and reduce the risk of interrupted subscriptions.  It is very important to check that the selected payment solution offers payment methods that are suited to subscriptions and recurring payments:  

✅ Card payments: The most common solution for monthly or annual subscriptions with direct debits. 
✅ SEPA direct debits: Ideal for long-term subscriptions, with simplified management of renewals. 
✅ Electronic wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal): Practical for quick and secure initial payments. 

Good management of recurring payments reduces the involuntary churn rate and improves subscriber satisfaction. 

Optimising the recurring payment experience: 
Automated payments linked to a credit or debit card. 
Automated card updating with services such as Card Updater by CB, which update card data without any action required from the customer, which significantly reduces the involuntary churn rate.  
Analysis of failed payments via a dashboard that automatically retries payments in the event of failure.

Offering flexible payment options attracts more subscribers and improves retention and loyalty.  

The best strategies for optimal flexibility: 

Monthly subscriptions or one-off payments: Allows customers to select the level of commitment, depending on their budget. 
Payments with no commitments: Authorises cancellation at any time to attract hesitant customers and finalise purchases.  
Split payments: Offers payments in instalments for large amounts (e.g., premium subscriptions). 
Free trial with deferred payment (a form of Buy Now Pay Later): Finalises the purchase and gives users the option of testing the service before committing.