How can you handle errors and exceptions when integrating mobile payments into your payment system?

Understanding the payment flow in handling errors is crucial because it helps ensure the reliability and security of financial transactions. Identifying potential points of failure allows for effective error handling, reducing the risk of financial losses or disruptions in the payment process. Additionally, a thorough understanding enables the implementation of robust systems and protocols to address errors promptly and maintain the integrity of the payment system.

Algo importante antes de pedir una integración o desarrollo nuevo, es de suma importancia comunicar a todos los equipos el objetivo de lo que se busca y explicar en cada paso que se requiere. Un error muy común, es solo pensar en las áreas de desarrollo, pero es mi experiencia transmitir esto con legales , cumplimiento, seguridad , operaciones, comerciales y finanzas ayuda a crear una solución más completa, que no solo satisface al usuario final , sino a todos los equipos de la empresa y se aportan los escenarios finales y necesidades de cada área.

Understanding the payment flow is a fundamental step in error handling, A comprehensive grasp of the payment process allows for proactive identification of potential issues. By anticipating where errors might occur within the payment flow, developers can implement robust error-handling mechanisms, ensuring a smoother user experience and minimizing disruptions in the mobile payment integration process.

A deep dive into the documentation provided by a particular provider. Request format, response format, error codes etc. Job queues work well for retries, timeouts and cancellations since they maintain a record of all successfully run jobs (code executed i.e. API calls), failed jobs and pending jobs. This makes it easy to retry and cancel jobs. Laravel has this bundled with the framework. There are also open source options available like Apache Kafka that provide message queues out of the box. When it comes to database interactions, transactions would be a great option for queries that span multiple models. This way queries can be rolled back in case of failure, therefore maintaining a consistent database.

Integrating mobile payments demands meticulous error handling. From validating user input to gracefully managing network issues, a robust system anticipates errors, communicates clearly with users, and employs monitoring mechanisms for real-time issue resolution, ensuring a seamless and secure payment experience.

There are two types of validation: 1- Client-side: which can be done on the mobile app itself for example, restrict mobile number format, the pros that it can be done quickly without calling the server (Backend) while the cons is changing the validation criteria could require new app version in traditional apps. 2- Server side: it is a business rule or entered data validation, the pros is can be maintained easily and can handle complex validation while the cons are that it requires a connection trip between the app and the server which could be time and performance issues.

There can be multiple approaches for validations. 1. Validate each and everything that comes into the system with payment file. Example - Creditor, Debitor, Currency, Amount, Intermediary parties, File structure, File Standard, etc. 2. We validate just the data that corresponds to our customer. Example - If debitor is our customer, we check if he has enough balance. 3. We check both the above. Generally institutions prefer #3. But there are (and can be) cases where we stick to #2 only. Reason is that the parties, currency, or to be precise, file level validations are already performed by the channel through which the payment file has reached us, like SWIFT. If our target is very fast payment processing, we can trust the channel.

The second step to handle errors and exceptions is to validate the input data that you receive from the user or the provider. For example, you need to check if the user has entered a valid phone number, email address, or card number for the payment method. You also need to check if the provider has sent you a valid token, signature, or authorization code for the payment transaction. You can use regular expressions, checksums, or encryption algorithms to validate the input data. If the input data is invalid, you need to return an error message and ask the user or the provider to correct it.

Ensure that the data received from mobile devices is not only accurate and complete but also meets continuing criteria through a couple of strong input validation mechanisms. Consistency and even format, including treatment for special characters and edge cases.

One of the best ways to validate data is to do it on both sides of the application, meaning both on the client-side (frontend) and the server-side (backend). This way, you ensure that your system will not send incorrect information to the server and, even if something wrong is sent, the server is already equipped to identify this error and respond appropriately.

Handling errors in payment systems is different from others, it ins't about just pybass a code borwken, it could happen in the middle of a debit/credit transaction which may impact one transaction leg, it could be delete/add information, it could be charging or top-up an account, so the developer must handle the error from a business perspective even before handling it from a technical perspective, so if a debit/credit, he has to reverse the transaction or maybe use "batch commit" a technical concept which means make sure that the full logic is passed not a partially passed.

Exception can happen in both the system.We can't do exception handling for other systems but have to make sure that our system is fault tolerant. Sometimes what happens is that, payment got charged but due to slow network or other issues we don't get the proper response. We may have to handle this situation carefully and may need duplicate jobs to make sure payment records are in the correct state in every system.

The third step to handle errors and exceptions is to handle them gracefully in your code. You need to use try-catch blocks, error handlers, or exception handlers to catch and handle any exceptions that may occur during the payment process. You need to log the exceptions, display appropriate messages to the user, and take corrective actions if possible. For example, you can retry the payment request, redirect the user to another payment method, or cancel the payment transaction. You also need to follow the guidelines and standards of your provider for handling exceptions.

Most important is collect handled and anonymized errors via secure way to the monitoring database for later analyze including all possible side information like versions and not wait for customer reports.

Formulate a technique to manage exceptions, as your code shall contain the adequate implementation of error-handling mechanisms. Except () should be used in try-catch blocks for catching specific exceptions. This implies that providing error messages with some value in characterizing and fixing a misstep. Develop a friendly end-user interface for error when necessary as well, and try not to use any technical language.

In my experience, incorporating best practices and security measures in your code not only enhances its reliability but also builds trust with your users. Rigorous testing and debugging should be viewed as an ongoing process, with continuous improvements and updates based on new findings and evolving security threats. This approach helps in maintaining the integrity and performance of your mobile payment system in the long run.

A good and thorough testing can save a lot.....what to test 1. Test all functional flows- Collab with your product owners, product manager, BA, operations team....document all cases and test. 2. Test all technical cases /exceptions - discuss with the design and development team to list down technical issues like system down, field missing, incorrect data type and data length , network errors 3. Do load testing to test system behaviour during peak times. 4. If possible test by injecting production like cases (5-6 month patterns) and any glitch in E2E processing.

The fourth step to handle errors and exceptions is to test and debug your code thoroughly before deploying it to production. You need to use tools, frameworks, or simulators to test your code in different scenarios and environments. You need to simulate different types of errors and exceptions that may occur during the payment process, such as network failures, invalid data, authentication issues, or fraud attempts. You need to check how your code handles them, and if it returns the expected responses and codes. You also need to check if your code follows the best practices and security measures for mobile payments.

Thoroughly test your payment integration under various scenarios, including network failures, server errors, and payment gateway downtimes, to ensure robustness and reliability.

Run in-depth testing for the integration, which is to include both positive test cases and negative ones. Try several test cases that involve network issues, incorrect input, or server outages. To avoid and tackle issues timely, use debugging tools. Logging can be useful for detecting valuable details during the testing state.

Set up a long-sector monitoring platform that monitors key performance indicators, error rates, and response times. Utilise analytics to spot abnormalities and potential instances. Suppose some vulnerabilities or improvements are identified through the review. In that case, it is mandatory to keep on updating and take care of your codebase in time after regular reviews are conducted Keep up with payment protocol modifications and match and adapt your integration accordingly.

The fifth step to handle errors and exceptions is to monitor and improve your code continuously after deploying it to production. You need to use analytics, reports, or dashboards to monitor the performance and reliability of your mobile payment integration. You need to track the number, type, and frequency of errors and exceptions that occur during the payment process, and how they affect your conversion rate and customer satisfaction. You also need to update your code regularly to fix any bugs, enhance any features, or comply with any changes in the provider's APIs or protocols.

Use a monitoring tool and logging tools to be able to track end-to-end what happens in your system and also to capture errors. It's important to emphasize the use of a logging tool, as it is extremely helpful in identifying what caused the error, thus allowing you to replicate and fix it in the testing environment before rolling out the solution in the production environment.

Testen Sie neues Codes innerhalb der Testumgebung bzw Sandbox um einem Downgrade der Conversion und Successrate zu vermeiden, AI erm?glicht Codes schneller auf Probleme zu testen.

Provide users with a mechanism to report errors or issues encountered during the payment process. This feedback can be invaluable in identifying and addressing recurring problems.

Mit Fehlern offen umgehen, Halbwissen kann gef?hrlich ein, proaktiv im Netzwerk anfragen. Nur wer fragt, erh?lt Antworten und neue Sichtweisen.

The sixth step to handle errors and exceptions is to learn from others who have integrated mobile payments into their payment systems. You can read blogs, articles, or case studies that share their experiences, challenges, and solutions. You can also join forums, communities, or webinars that discuss mobile payment integration and APIs. You can ask questions, share feedback, or seek advice from other developers, experts, or providers. You can also learn from the best practices and standards of the industry and the provider for mobile payment integration and error handling.

En mi experiencia, preguntar a diferentes personas el mismo problema, te lleva a diferentes soluciones y aprendes como mejorar tu producto o servicio. Consejo: esto debe ser durante toda la vida de tu producto o servicio, las críticas negativas ayudan a mejorar y saber cuáles son las prioridades para mejorar.

Think like an end user. What all errors can a user get. Jot them down in simple terms , then translate them to tech error codes! There's no way an error is skipping this route ??

Always remember to set up a testing environment and to use your own application end-to-end, manually testing the entire flow. Also, try to induce errors during testing, mimicking a real customer. This way, you will uncover some errors and preempt others that could have been deployed to the production environment.