You raise an invoice and now need to get paid without chasing a bank transfer reference by phone. Two common ways: send a payment link the customer clicks and pays through, or send a UPI collect request that pops up in their UPI app for them to approve. They look similar from the customer's side, but they behave differently enough to matter for a small firm.
How a payment link works
- Works over WhatsApp, SMS or email, and on any payment method the customer's browser supports — UPI, card, net banking.
- The customer has to open it and complete the payment; nothing happens automatically.
- Good for one-off invoices sent to a wide range of customers, including ones without UPI set up.
How UPI collect works
- A request goes straight into the customer's UPI app for them to approve — no separate page to load.
- Needs the customer's UPI ID upfront, so it suits repeat customers more than first-time ones.
- Collect requests have been tightened over time against misuse, so approval rates and limits can vary by app.
What it costs you
A payment link is the more flexible default — it reaches anyone, on any device, through whatever channel you already message them on. UPI collect is faster for repeat customers you already have a UPI ID for, but is worth less for a new or occasional customer. Whichever you use, tie the payment status back to the invoice automatically — a paid invoice that is not marked paid in your books is exactly the reconciliation problem you were trying to avoid. Keep a fallback option too: a customer whose UPI app is acting up on a given day should still be able to pay by card or net banking through the same link, rather than being stuck.
Questions to ask any vendor
- Does a payment automatically mark the matching invoice as paid, or do you check manually?
- Can you send both a link and a collect request, and pick per customer?
- Where does the settlement land — directly in your account, or through an intermediate wallet?
How we can help
Kanakku matches incoming payments, whichever way they arrive, to the right invoice and posts the entry for you to approve, so collection and bookkeeping stay in sync. See it at /products/kanakku, and tell us how you invoice today at talk to us.
