> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://academy.zrupay.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# What is a payment aggregator?

Zru is defined by helping businesses manage their online collections. This is possible because it is both an [orchestrator](https://academy.zrupay.com/es/article/que-es-un-orquestador-de-pagos-y-para-que-sirve-my5dkh/) and a **payment aggregator**.

# What is an aggregator?

As we explain in our guide "What is Zru?", in order to collect payments online, businesses need to connect to payment methods — whether card processors or alternative methods like Bizum, PayPal, Klarna, etc.

To avoid businesses having to make a separate **connection** to each payment method individually, an **aggregator** takes on that role.

Zru is connected to [more than 200 connections](https://www.zrupay.com/metodos-de-pago-online) between card processors and alternative payment methods.

Using payment methods through a platform like Zru has several advantages:

- **Manage all payments from a single dashboard.** Businesses can perform actions like refunds, captures, releases, or send receipts directly from the Zru dashboard, without having to go to each payment method's panel.
- **Create and send payment links.** When creating a payment link from Zru, the customer will see all the methods the merchant has configured on the payment screen.
- **Independence from the development team.** Payment teams can add or change payment methods with a click, without depending on the technical roadmap for every decision.

If you'd like to learn more about how our platform can help you, get in touch with our team:

[Talk to sales](https://www.zrupay.com/empezar)