Your Payments Processing Data Template

Fiserv
Your Payments Processing Data Template

Your Payments Processing Data Template

This template provides a structured framework to help you map your Fiserv data into a format suitable for process mining and analysis. It outlines the essential attributes and activities needed to gain clear visibility into your settlement and reconciliation cycles. By following this guide, you can create a robust event log that highlights inefficiencies and compliance risks within your financial operations.
  • Recommended attributes for payment analysis
  • Key process milestones to monitor
  • Technical guidance for Fiserv data extraction
New to event logs? Learn how to create a process mining event log.

Payments Processing Attributes

These recommended data fields provide the necessary context for your event log to support a comprehensive analysis of your entire payments lifecycle.
5 Required 10 Recommended 5 Optional
Name Description
Activity Name
ActivityName
The specific event or status change that occurred in the payment process.
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
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
Payment Transaction ID
PaymentTransactionId
The unique identifier for the specific payment instruction or transaction case.
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
Last Data Update
LastDataUpdate
The timestamp when the record was last extracted or refreshed.
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
Source System
SourceSystem
The name of the system where the data originated.
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
Currency Code
CurrencyCode
The ISO currency code for the payment amount.
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
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
Is STP
IsStraightThroughProcessing
Flag indicating if the payment required no manual intervention.
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
Payee Account Number
PayeeAccountNumber
The account number to which funds are credited.
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
Payer Account Number
PayerAccountNumber
The account number from which funds are debited.
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
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
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
Payment Method
PaymentMethod
The mechanism used to execute the payment (e.g., Wire, ACH).
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
Processing Duration
ProcessingDuration
The time taken for the specific activity to complete.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Required Recommended Optional

Payments Processing Activities

Capture these essential process steps and milestones in your event log to enable accurate discovery and optimization of your payment workflows.
5 Recommended 8 Optional
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
Payment Cancelled
The termination of a payment flow before settlement, initiated by a user or system rule. This stops all further processing.
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
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.
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
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.
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
Payment Error Identified
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.
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
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.
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
Payment Notification Sent
The system triggers a communication (email/SMS) to the payer or payee confirming the transaction. This enhances customer transparency.
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
Payment Scheduled
Occurs when a payment is approved but held for a future effective date. The system queues the transaction until the processing window opens.
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
Recommended Optional

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