Element Versus Authorize.net or Forte
This article is to act as a strictly informational guide for the differences between Payment Gateways like Authorize.Net and Forte versus an integrated solution like Element (Vantiv/WorldPay); for exhaustive details about each of these credit card processors, please visit their respective websites.
Differences in Process
Authorize.Net and Forte are best compared to a card swipe service. They aren't integrated with your ERP system, so when a user makes a payment, an Admin needs to manually claim and allocate those funds to the appropriate invoice.
In contrast, Element is integrated with your ERP system, so when a user makes a payment through Element, that payment information can be automatically applied to the imported ERP order. Element currently only integrates with the Prophet 21 ERP.
Both Element and Authorize.net/Forte allow your website to accept credit cards while keeping your relationship with your current bank.
Differences in Fraud Protection
Authorize.net has its own integrated fraud protection system.
Element and Forte do not have a built-in fraud protection system but will integrate with the third-party MaxMind Credit Card Fraud Protection service. See our MaxMind Credit Card Fraud Protection article for more information regarding the service.