Why an integrated payment system can make life easier at your veterinary practice

If you work on the front desk in a busy vet practice, you know how hectic things can get. Between booking appointments, answering phones, handling records, and keeping things running smoothly, taking payments can sometimes feel like the most stressful part of the day. 

Especially when your payment terminal doesn’t talk to your Practice Management System (PMS). 
Whether you’re retyping amounts into a card machine, double-checking receipts, or reconciling mismatched figures at the end of the day, disconnected systems make your job harder than it needs to be. 

What is a Payment Integration? 

A payment integration connects your card terminal directly to your Practice Management System (PMS). When you raise a payment or complete an appointment, the exact amount is automatically sent to the terminal. No manual entry required. As soon as the client pays, the transaction is instantly recorded against the correct invoice. 
It’s a simple change, but one that delivers powerful benefits across your entire workflow. 

Less admin, fewer errors. 

Without integration, every transaction is a chance for human error. You might key in the wrong amount, forget to update the record, or spend time cross-checking reports that don’t match. 

With an integrated system: 

• The correct payment amount is sent straight to the card reader
• Transactions are logged instantly against the right client and appointment 
• Reconciliation at the end of the day is smoother, quicker, and more accurate 

No more hunting down mismatches. No more last-minute stress. 

Faster, smoother, more professional checkouts 

When the waiting room is full and the queue at reception is growing, speed matters, and so does confidence. Clients notice when things feel clunky, especially when it comes to payments. 

Integrated payments eliminate delays caused by switching between systems or manually entering amounts. The client pays quickly, the system updates instantly, and you’re ready to move on without the pressure. 

This smoother process doesn’t just save time, it feels more polished and professional. It reassures clients that their payment is accurate, secure, and directly linked to their pet’s treatment. That level of trust and ease goes a long way in shaping a positive client experience. 

What about mobile vets? 

For mobile vets, taking payments on the go can be even more challenging. Some may manually total up charges after the visit and record payments later, which leaves room for delay, confusion, and admin headaches. 

With the right integrated solution, mobile teams can: 

• Take a terminal out on visits 
• Charge the correct amount from within the PMS 
• Accept payments instantly on-site 
• Automatically log the transaction.  No need to input it later 

It’s quicker for clients, and less work at the end of a long day for you. 

So, why isn’t every practice doing this? 

Often, the reason comes down to either habit or not realising there’s a better way. Some practices may assume integration is expensive, difficult to set up, or only for big clinics. 
But today’s systems are designed to be simple, secure, and accessible, no tech background required. 

The Stripe + Ascend Integration 

If your practice is ready to make payments easier for everyone — from reception to mobile staff to your customers — integrated payment systems are designed to streamline the entire process, connecting payments directly with your PMS for a smoother day-to-day experience. 

Stripe gives your practice a smarter, simpler way to take payments – without the usual payment headaches. It’s fully integrated into Ascend, our cloud-based Practice Management System, offering one platform and one clear rate. 

There are no hidden fees, no switching between systems, and no extra admin, just fast, secure, seamless payments built into your daily workflow. 

Want to see how it works? Get in touch with us at marketing.uk@covetrus.com.