Launch Your Online Store in Nepal: A Beginner's Guide to Integrating Unelma Pay (UPay) with WooCommerce

Are you running an online business in Nepal and looking for a simple, secure way to accept payments in Nepalese Rupees (NPR)? If your store is built on WordPress and uses WooCommerce, you're in luck! Integrating the Unelma Pay (UPay) payment gateway is a straightforward process, even if you're new to website management.

 

This guide is written specifically for the non-technical user—the entrepreneur, the small business owner, or the junior developer—who wants to get their payment system up and running without a headache. We'll walk through the entire process, from getting the necessary files to configuring the settings, using the official plugin from UnelmaPay [1].

 

 

 

Phase 1: Getting Your Digital Keys (Credentials)

Before you touch your website, you need to get the "keys" that allow your store to talk securely with Unelma Pay. These keys are your unique merchant credentials.

 

1. Sign Up for a Unelma Pay Merchant Account

You will need to sign up for a merchant account on the Unelma Pay platform. Once your account is approved, you will be provided with two crucial pieces of information:

 

•       Merchant ID: This is your unique identification number. Think of it as your store's name tag in the Unelma Pay system.

•       Merchant Password: This is a secret code used to verify that transactions coming from your store are legitimate. Keep this password secure and private.

 

Pro-Tip for Beginners: If you are just setting up and want to test things out, contact Unelma Pay support to ask for Sandbox Credentials. Sandbox mode lets you run test transactions without using real money.

 

Phase 2: Installing the Unelma Pay Plugin

The Unelma Pay team has created a dedicated plugin that does all the heavy lifting for you. You don't need to write any code!

 

2. Download the Plugin File

The official plugin is hosted on GitHub [1].

 

•       Go to the GitHub Repository: Visit the official Unelma Pay WordPress/WooCommerce GitHub page: https://github.com/unelmacoin/unelmapay-wordpress-woocommerce

•       Download the ZIP: Look for the "Code" button (usually green) and select "Download ZIP". This will download the entire plugin package to your computer.

 

3. Upload and Activate the Plugin on WordPress

Now, you'll upload this file to your WordPress dashboard, just like you would any other plugin.

 

•       Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.

•       Navigate to Plugins → Add New.

•       At the top of the page, click the "Upload Plugin" button.

•       Click "Choose File" and select the ZIP file you just downloaded.

•       Click "Install Now".

•       Once the installation is complete, click "Activate Plugin".

 

Congratulations! The Unelma Pay gateway is now installed on your site.

 

Phase 3: Connecting Your Store to Unelma Pay

The final step is to tell the plugin your Merchant ID and Merchant Password so it can start accepting payments.

 

4. Configure the WooCommerce Settings

Since you are using WooCommerce to run your online store, you will configure the payment gateway through its settings.

 

•       Navigate to WooCommerce → Settings.

•       Click on the "Payments" tab.

•       You should now see "UnelmaPay" listed as a payment option. Click on "Manage" or the name of the gateway to open its settings.

 

5. Enter Your Credentials and Settings

In the Unelma Pay settings panel, you will see several fields. Here is a simple breakdown of the most important ones:

 

Setting	What it is	What to do
Enable/Disable	Turns the payment method on or off.	Check the box to enable it.
Title	The name customers see at checkout (e.g., "Pay with Unelma Pay").	Keep the default or customize it.
Description	A short note about the payment method.	Explain that customers can pay with various Nepali wallets and cards.
Merchant ID	Your unique ID from Unelma Pay.	Paste your Merchant ID here.
Merchant Password	Your secret key for transaction verification.	Paste your Merchant Password here.
Sandbox Mode	Used for testing before going live.	Check this box if you are using Sandbox Credentials for testing. Uncheck it when you are ready to accept real payments.
Debug Mode	Helps troubleshoot issues by creating a log file.	Only enable this if you are having problems and need to contact support.

After filling in the required fields, scroll down and click "Save changes".

 

Phase 4: Testing and Going Live

Your integration is now complete! Before you announce it to the world, you must test it thoroughly.

 

•       Test Transactions: If you enabled Sandbox Mode, perform a few test purchases on your site using the provided sandbox credentials. Ensure the order status updates correctly in WooCommerce.

•       Go Live: Once testing is successful, go back to the Unelma Pay settings, uncheck the "Sandbox Mode" box, and ensure you have entered your live production Merchant ID and Password.

•       Security Check: Always ensure your entire website is running on HTTPS (you see a padlock in the browser address bar). This is a non-negotiable requirement for secure payment processing.

 

By following these simple steps, you have successfully empowered your WooCommerce store to accept payments via Unelma Pay, opening up your business to a wider customer base in Nepal. Happy selling!

  

References

[1] UnelmaPay WordPress/WooCommerce Plugin. GitHub. https://github.com/unelmacoin/unelmapay-wordpress-woocommerce