SAP Payment Engine (FS-PE)
SOLUTION
Thanks to its parallel-processing capability and its scalability, SAP Payment Engine can handle the high volumes of payments typical of large financial institutions and IT service centers, while allowing institutions with lower volumes to achieve a low total cost of ownership.
Input Channels
SAP Payment transaction data can be delivered via various channels in various formats on various mediums. These input channels deliver payment orders to Payment Engine in both batch mode (files) from feeder systems and online mode (messages) over the payment order interface.
Upload of Referential Data
SAP Payment Engine supports the upload, validation, and management of referential data. The data is stored in a generic data structure for use during routing, validation, and clearing.
Format Conversion
Payment Engine supports the implementation of format-specific converters for the validation and conversion of payment information. Inbound converters read incoming payment data and convert the data needed for processing to the internal metaformat. Other information contained in the uploaded data is stored separately for retrieval after the payment transactions have been processed. Outbound converters convert processed payment data to external payment data formats, for example, for export in an outgoing file.
Enrichment and Validation
Based on checks for accuracy, consistency, and errors, Payment Engine validates and enriches payment orders and payment items with defined information. An internal repair function can add or correct data automatically, or you can correct errors manually. Other errors can be passed to an exception-handling function. Data enrichment is also based on standard settlement instructions (SSI) to support routing of international payments.
Routing Control
Payment Engine handles internal and external payments based on defined clearing scenarios. Flexible rules enable evaluation and route processing at payment-item level for internal payments and those to be transferred to other financial institutions or connected account-management systems. Payment Engine supports different types of master data, such as value date agreements, routes, and clearing agreements. It can also calculate and validate payment transaction charges that are later posted to an account management system.
Clearing and Settlement
Payment Engine supports different clearing scenarios: direct clearing for nostro or vostro accounts, settlement through a clearing institute, and clearing with a separate cover provision. It distributes payment data to internal account-management systems or to outgoing clearing channels. Moreover, the system can park individual payment items in queues for later release or can bundle them in collectors for collective posting to internal accounts or forwarding in an outgoing payment order.
Monitoring and Control Functions
SAP Payment Engine provides the following functions to monitor and control the payment processing workflow:
Payment Order Management
SAP Payment Engine allows you to view all payment information during all processing phases and to manage payment orders and payment items manually. You can, for example, prioritize urgent payment transactions, recall payment orders, and postprocess payment data.
Exception Handling
SAP Payment Engine provides semi-automated exception handling. If exceptions prevent further processing of a payment transaction, the system triggers responses based on defined rules.
Other Functions
SAP Payment Engine can run periodic tasks, such as end-of-day processes and correspondence. You can view logged events, run reports, and evaluate business data. Payment Engine uses the user-management, authorization, and authentication mechanisms provided by SAP NetWeaver.
