Your Payments Processing Data Template
Your Payments Processing Data Template
- Recommended attributes for payment analysis
- Key process milestones to monitor
- Technical guidance for Fiserv data extraction
Payments Processing Attributes
| Name | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Activity Name
ActivityName
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The specific event or status change that occurred in the payment process. | ||
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Description
This attribute describes the step performed, such as 'Payment Request Created' or 'Payment Settled'. It defines the nodes in the process map and is critical for understanding the sequence of operations. By analyzing the distinct activities, organizations can visualize the workflow, identify skipped steps, and detect non-compliant paths where mandatory validations or approvals were bypassed.
Why it matters
Defines the events that make up the process timeline.
Where to get
Transaction history log or status change audit tables.
Examples
Payment Request CreatedPayment AuthorizedPayment Error IdentifiedPayment SettledPayment Cancelled
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Event Timestamp
EventTimestamp
|
The exact date and time when the activity occurred. | ||
|
Description
This attribute records the precise moment an event took place. It is the basis for all temporal analysis, including cycle times, lead times, and bottleneck identification. In dashboards, this data drives the calculation of duration between steps, such as the time from 'Payment Request Created' to 'Payment Authorized'. High-precision timestamps are necessary to accurately order events that happen in rapid succession.
Why it matters
Required to order events and calculate process performance durations.
Where to get
Audit logs or transaction update timestamp columns.
Examples
2023-10-15T08:30:00Z2023-10-15T09:15:22Z2023-10-16T14:00:00Z2023-10-17T10:00:00Z
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Payment Transaction ID
PaymentTransactionId
|
The unique identifier for the specific payment instruction or transaction case. | ||
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Description
This attribute serves as the central key for linking all activities within a single payment lifecycle. It allows analysts to trace the journey from the initial request through validation, approval, and final settlement or cancellation. In Fiserv environments, this is typically the primary key in the transaction history tables. It is essential for reconstructing the process flow and ensuring that disjointed events (like settlement occurring days after authorization) are correctly associated with the same business object.
Why it matters
It is the fundamental Case ID required to group events into process instances.
Where to get
Consult Fiserv documentation for Transaction or Payment Header tables.
Examples
TRX-99823101PMT-2023-88421002938475CHK-5512WIRE-US-9921
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Last Data Update
LastDataUpdate
|
The timestamp when the record was last extracted or refreshed. | ||
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Description
Indicates the freshness of the data used for analysis. This is crucial for determining if the dashboards reflect real-time operations or historical snapshots. It helps users trust the metrics displayed, ensuring they are not making decisions based on stale data, especially when monitoring cutoff compliance or active bottlenecks.
Why it matters
Ensures data currency and reliability.
Where to get
System time at moment of ETL execution.
Examples
2023-10-27T12:00:00Z2023-10-28T06:00:00Z
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Source System
SourceSystem
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The name of the system where the data originated. | ||
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Description
Identifies the specific Fiserv module or external system that generated the event. This is particularly useful in complex landscapes where payments might originate in a front-end channel and settle in a back-end core banking system. It allows analysts to filter the process view by system of origin, ensuring that analysis can be targeted toward specific technical environments or integration points.
Why it matters
Provides technical context and data lineage.
Where to get
Hardcoded during extraction or system metadata.
Examples
Fiserv PremierFiserv SignatureFiserv DNAFiserv Enterprise Payments Platform
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Currency Code
CurrencyCode
|
The ISO currency code for the payment amount. | ||
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Description
Specifies the currency in which the payment is denominated (e.g., USD, EUR). This attribute is vital for the Currency and Method Volume Trends dashboard, enabling the organization to monitor exposure to different foreign exchanges. It is also used to normalize amounts for global reporting and to ensure that duplicate checks do not falsely flag transactions of the same numerical value but different currencies.
Why it matters
Necessary for multi-currency processing analysis.
Where to get
Transaction header table, Currency column.
Examples
USDEURGBPCADJPY
|
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Error Code
ErrorCode
|
The specific code generated when a payment fails validation. | ||
|
Description
Captures the technical or business error code associated with 'Payment Error Identified' activities. This attribute is the foundation of the Validation Error and Rework Tracker. By aggregating frequencies of specific error codes, the organization can pinpoint systemic data quality issues (e.g., 'Invalid Routing Number') and implement targeted fixes to validation logic or user training.
Why it matters
Identifies the root causes of rework.
Where to get
Error logs or transaction status details.
Examples
E-101INV_ACCNSF_ERRAUTH_FAIL
|
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Is STP
IsStraightThroughProcessing
|
Flag indicating if the payment required no manual intervention. | ||
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Description
A calculated boolean attribute that is true if the case contains no 'Payment Error Identified', 'Payment Error Resolved', or manual 'Payment Approved' steps (depending on definition). This directly supports the Straight Through Processing Rate KPI. It allows for binary segmentation of the process: purely automated flows versus those requiring human touch, facilitating a clear view of automation potential.
Why it matters
Core metric for process efficiency and automation success.
Where to get
Computed during data transformation.
Examples
truefalse
|
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|
Payee Account Number
PayeeAccountNumber
|
The account number to which funds are credited. | ||
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Description
Identifies the destination account. Like the Payer account, this is critical for the Duplicate Payment Detection View. It ensures that the analysis correctly targets specific beneficiary relationships. In cutoff compliance monitoring, knowing the payee can help prioritize strategic vendors or critical settlements that must not fail.
Why it matters
Essential for duplicate detection and payee analysis.
Where to get
Transaction details, Credit Account or Beneficiary column.
Examples
555000111222333444BEN-882-11
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Payer Account Number
PayerAccountNumber
|
The account number from which funds are debited. | ||
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Description
Identifies the source account for the payment. This is a key component of the Duplicate Payment Detection View. When combined with Payee, Amount, and Time, it forms the unique fingerprint used to catch accidental double payments. It also allows for analysis of payment volume by originating account to identify the most active internal portfolios.
Why it matters
Essential for duplicate detection and fraud analysis.
Where to get
Transaction details, Debit Account column.
Examples
123456789987654321ACC-001-992
|
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Payment Amount
PaymentAmount
|
The monetary value of the payment transaction. | ||
|
Description
This attribute represents the financial value associated with the payment. It is a primary dimension for segmenting analysis, allowing users to differentiate between high-value strategic payments and low-value routine transactions. It is essential for the Duplicate Payment Detection View, where identical amounts paired with payer/payee details flag potential errors. It also supports approval authority analysis, as higher amounts often trigger different workflow paths.
Why it matters
Critical for financial risk analysis and duplicate detection.
Where to get
Transaction header table, Amount column.
Examples
150.0025000.5010.991000000.00
|
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Payment Due Date
PaymentDueDate
|
The date by which the payment must be processed. | ||
|
Description
The target date for the payment completion. This is used in the Processing Cutoff Compliance Monitor to flag transactions that are at risk of being late. Comparing the 'Payment Settled' timestamp against this attribute allows for the calculation of on-time delivery metrics and helps the organization maintain trust with payees.
Why it matters
Reference point for measuring SLA adherence.
Where to get
Payment instruction details.
Examples
2023-11-012023-11-15
|
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Payment Method
PaymentMethod
|
The mechanism used to execute the payment (e.g., Wire, ACH). | ||
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Description
Classifies the transaction by its processing rail. This attribute is fundamental for the Authorization Cycle Time Analysis, as different methods have vastly different standard operating procedures and service level agreements. Analyzing process variants by payment method helps isolate whether delays are systemic to a specific channel (like international wires) or general to the organization.
Why it matters
Segments process flows by the infrastructure used.
Where to get
Transaction type or instrument code column.
Examples
WireACHCheckRTPInternal Transfer
|
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Processing Duration
ProcessingDuration
|
The time taken for the specific activity to complete. | ||
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Description
Represents the duration of the activity itself or the time since the previous activity. This allows for granular analysis of where time is being spent in the process. It is used to populate the Processing Time generic mapping and helps identifying specific steps that are consistently slower than expected.
Why it matters
Measures the efficiency of individual process steps.
Where to get
Computed from timestamp differences.
Examples
00:05:0024:00:0000:00:30
|
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Processing User
ProcessingUser
|
The user ID or system agent responsible for the activity. | ||
|
Description
Identifies who performed the specific action, whether it be a human approver or a system automation bot. This data powers the Error Resolution Cycle Efficiency and Approval Authority Throughput dashboards. By tracking users, analysts can identify training needs for individuals with high error rates or recognize bottlenecks where specific approvers are overloaded with requests.
Why it matters
Enables resource analysis and bottleneck identification.
Where to get
Audit logs, User ID column.
Examples
jdoeSYSTEM_BATCHmsmith_approverAPI_USER
|
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Approval Level
ApprovalLevel
|
The hierarchical level required or used for authorizing the payment. | ||
|
Description
Indicates the seniority or authority level associated with the 'Payment Approved' activity. This is used in the Approval Authority Throughput dashboard to analyze if higher-level approvers are becoming bottlenecks. Understanding the distribution of payments across levels (e.g., Level 1 vs. Level 3) helps optimize delegation of authority policies.
Why it matters
Segments approval bottlenecks by hierarchy.
Where to get
User role or approval workflow tables.
Examples
Level 1ManagerDirectorCFO
|
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Beneficiary Bank
BeneficiaryBank
|
The name or identifier of the receiving bank. | ||
|
Description
Identifies the financial institution receiving the payment. This is useful for analyzing settlement delays, as specific receiving banks may have different processing speeds or integration issues. It adds another dimension to the Settlement to Reconciliation Gap dashboard, highlighting if delays are external (bank-specific) or internal.
Why it matters
External dependency analysis.
Where to get
Transaction details, Bank ID or Name column.
Examples
ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoCitibank
|
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|
Business Unit
BusinessUnit
|
The department or division that initiated the payment. | ||
|
Description
Categorizes the payment by the organizational unit responsible for the expense. This helps in allocating costs and understanding which parts of the organization generate the most manual rework or errors. It supports the Payment Path Compliance Audit by ensuring that different units are adhering to their specific regulatory or internal control requirements.
Why it matters
Provides organizational context for performance.
Where to get
Cost center mapping or department code.
Examples
Retail BankingCommercial LendingWealth ManagementOperations
|
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Is Cutoff Missed
IsCutoffMissed
|
Flag indicating if the payment was sent after the daily bank cutoff. | ||
|
Description
A calculated boolean that compares the 'Payment Instruction Sent' time against the daily cutoff time for the specific currency/method. This supports the Cutoff Adherence Rate KPI. Identifying missed cutoffs helps investigate the root causes of delays, whether they stem from late initiation or slow internal processing.
Why it matters
Critical for operational compliance and liquidity management.
Where to get
Computed by comparing EventTimestamp with Cutoff Reference table.
Examples
truefalse
|
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|
Is Rework
IsRework
|
Flag indicating if this specific activity is part of a rework loop. | ||
|
Description
A boolean flag marking activities that happen after an error has been identified but before it is resolved, or repeated activities. This supports the Payment Validation Rework Rate KPI. It allows analysts to filter the process map to show only the 'happy path' or conversely, to focus entirely on the 'rework path' to understand failure modes.
Why it matters
Isolates value-added work from correction work.
Where to get
Computed based on process loops.
Examples
truefalse
|
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Payments Processing Activities
| Activity | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Payment Approved
|
A manual or automated decision to allow the payment to proceed based on authority limits. This is captured when an authorized user or system rule updates the approval flag. | ||
|
Why it matters
Key for the 'Authorization Cycle Time Analysis'. Delays here indicate bottlenecks in the human approval chain.
Where to get
Audit logs showing a user action that changes status from 'Pending Approval' to 'Approved'.
Capture
Logged when approval action is taken
Event type
explicit
|
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Payment Instruction Sent
|
The transmission of the payment file (e.g., ACH batch, Wire message) to the external network or clearing house. This is a critical handover point. | ||
|
Why it matters
Critical for 'Processing Cutoff Compliance Monitor'. Ensures the organization meets daily banking cutoffs.
Where to get
Batch processing logs or file generation timestamps. Often logged as 'Batch Created' or 'File Transmitted'.
Capture
Logged when batch file generated
Event type
explicit
|
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|
Payment Reconciled
|
The internal matching of the transaction against bank statements or settlement files. This closes the loop for accounting. | ||
|
Why it matters
Required for 'Settlement to Reconciliation Gap'. Ensures financial books are closed accurately.
Where to get
Reconciliation module logs where status updates to 'Matched' or 'Reconciled'.
Capture
Logged when reconciliation match occurs
Event type
explicit
|
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Payment Request Created
|
The initial entry of the payment instruction into the Fiserv system. This is explicitly logged when a user or external system initiates a transaction via API or interface. | ||
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Why it matters
Marks the start of the process timeline. Essential for calculating total cycle time and identifying intake bottlenecks.
Where to get
Transaction history table creation timestamp. Look for the earliest record with the specific Payment Transaction ID.
Capture
Logged when transaction record inserted
Event type
explicit
|
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Payment Settled
|
The movement of funds is finalized and posted to the general ledger. This marks the financial completion of the transaction from the bank's perspective. | ||
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Why it matters
The primary end point for 'Straight Through Processing Rate'. Indicates the cash has actually moved.
Where to get
Transaction status 'Posted' or presence of a 'Post Date' timestamp in the ledger.
Capture
Logged when GL posting occurs
Event type
explicit
|
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Payment Authorized
|
The final internal confirmation that funds are available and the transaction is cleared for execution. This may happen simultaneously with approval or as a distinct system check. | ||
|
Why it matters
Differentiates between managerial approval and system-level authorization. Important for the 'Approval Authority Throughput' dashboard.
Where to get
Status change indicating 'Authorized' or 'Ready to Post'.
Capture
Compare status field before/after
Event type
inferred
|
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Payment Cancelled
|
The termination of a payment flow before settlement, initiated by a user or system rule. This stops all further processing. | ||
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Why it matters
Identifies waste and abandoned work. High cancellation rates after approval suggest process inefficiencies.
Where to get
Status change to 'Cancelled', 'Void', or 'Stopped'.
Capture
Logged when status changes to Cancelled
Event type
explicit
|
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Payment Confirmed
|
Receipt of a positive acknowledgement (ACK) from the external network or gateway. This confirms the instruction was received validly by the next entity. | ||
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Why it matters
Validates that the 'Instruction Sent' was successful. Gaps here indicate network connectivity or external format issues.
Where to get
Inbound file processing logs or API response codes acknowledging receipt.
Capture
Logged when ACK received
Event type
explicit
|
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Payment Details Validated
|
System checks account numbers, routing numbers, and format compliance. This is typically inferred when a transaction successfully moves from a received status to a pending or approved status without triggering an error. | ||
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Why it matters
Indicates the first automated gate has been passed. Failure here represents data quality issues rather than liquidity or approval issues.
Where to get
Inferred from a status change from 'Received' to 'Pending' or 'Ready' within a short timeframe.
Capture
Compare status field before/after
Event type
inferred
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Payment Error Identified
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Captures the moment a transaction is flagged with a failure status or exception code. This occurs when validation rules fail or external checks return a negative response. | ||
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Why it matters
Critical for the 'Validation Error and Rework Tracker' dashboard. High volumes here indicate upstream data quality problems.
Where to get
Transaction status field changes to an exception code (e.g., 'Invalid', 'Hold', 'Error').
Capture
Logged when status changes to Error
Event type
explicit
|
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Payment Error Resolved
|
Represents the correction of a previously errored transaction. This is inferred when a transaction moves from an error status back to a processing or valid status. | ||
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Why it matters
Essential for calculating 'Mean Time to Resolve Payment Errors'. It helps measure the efficiency of the operations team.
Where to get
Inferred when the transaction status updates from an error code to a normal processing code.
Capture
Compare status field before/after
Event type
inferred
|
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Payment Notification Sent
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The system triggers a communication (email/SMS) to the payer or payee confirming the transaction. This enhances customer transparency. | ||
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Why it matters
Supports 'Notification Speed and Responsiveness'. Long gaps after settlement reduce customer trust.
Where to get
Communication logs or customer interaction history tables linked to the Transaction ID.
Capture
Logged when email/SMS triggered
Event type
explicit
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Payment Scheduled
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Occurs when a payment is approved but held for a future effective date. The system queues the transaction until the processing window opens. | ||
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Why it matters
Explains idle time in the process. Differentiates between a delay caused by a bottleneck and a deliberate wait for the due date.
Where to get
Comparison of 'Entry Date' vs 'Effective Date'. If Effective Date is future, this state is active.
Capture
Derive from comparing field X to Y
Event type
calculated
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