In managing shipping operations with Biteship, choosing the right payment method is crucial for the smooth cash flow of your business. Biteship offers two main methods to complete shipping transactions, namely Invoice and Topup.
Understanding the differences between these two methods will help you determine which is most suitable for your shipping volume and company financial policies.
This article will help you understand:
- Definition of the Topup (Prepaid) payment method
- Definition of the Invoice (Postpaid) payment method
- Fundamental differences between Invoice and Topup
- Advantages of each payment method
- How to choose the right method for your business
1. What Is the Topup (Prepaid) Method?
The Topup method is a pay in advance (Prepaid) payment system. Users load balance into their Biteship account first before they can place courier or shipping orders.
How Topup works:
- You top up your balance via bank transfer, e-wallet, or virtual account.
- Each time you place a shipping order, your account balance will be automatically deducted according to the shipping cost.
- If the balance is insufficient, you need to top up again to continue the transaction.
2. What Is the Invoice (Postpaid) Method?
The Invoice method is a pay later (Postpaid) payment system. This method is usually available for business account users who have gone through a verification process and meet certain requirements.
How Invoice works:
- You can make as many shipments as you want without having to top up your balance first.
- Biteship will record all your total transactions within a certain period (for example, weekly or monthly).
- An invoice will be sent to you according to the agreed period, and you simply pay the total bill in one transaction.
3. Comparison Table: Invoice vs Topup
| Feature | Topup (Prepaid) | Invoice (Postpaid) |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Timing | Upfront (before shipping) | At the end (after a certain period) |
| Transaction Smoothness | Limited by balance amount | No balance limit (according to credit limit) |
| Administration | Many small transactions | One consolidated payment |
| Requirements | No requirements, can be used immediately | Business Account Verification required |
| Suitable For | SMEs, individuals, or new businesses | Companies or businesses with stable shipping volume |
4. Benefits of Using Topup Balance
- Tight Control: You can limit logistics expenses according to the deposited budget.
- Fast & Instant: No need to wait for credit verification, can be used immediately after registration.
- No Minimum Order: Suitable for businesses with fluctuating or low shipping volumes.
5. Benefits of Using the Invoice Method
- Cash Flow Efficiency: Companies can use operational funds for other needs before the invoice payment due date.
- Easy Reconciliation: The finance team only needs to process one payment document for hundreds or thousands of shipping receipts.
- Scalability: Operational processes won’t stop just because of forgetting to top up balance.
6. How to Switch to the Invoice Method?
By default, all new accounts use the Topup method. If you want to switch to the Invoice method, you need to follow these steps:
- Complete Business Account Verification on the Biteship dashboard.
- Ensure your shipping volume meets the minimum criteria set by the Biteship team.
- Invoice use requires a minimum transaction of IDR 5,000,000 per month.
- Contact your Account Manager or Biteship Support team to request Invoice feature activation.
Conclusion: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Topup if you want flexibility without monthly commitments and want to control your budget directly. Choose Invoice if your business is medium to large scale with high shipping frequency and requires more integrated financial reporting.
Whatever your choice, Biteship is committed to making every shipping process easy for you. If you have further questions, our support team is ready to assist you through the help center on the dashboard.