How real-time is payment infrastructure data?

Transaction data such as authorizations and declines is available as transactions happen. Settlement and fee data depends on when each provider sends its files, often daily, so reconciliation status updates as those files arrive. Dashboards should show both, and make clear which figures are final and which are still pending settlement.

Two speeds

Transaction events, authorizations, declines, captures, refunds, are recorded as they happen and are available in dashboards within seconds. Settlement and fee data arrive with each provider's settlement files, usually daily, sometimes weekly for some methods. Reconciliation status therefore updates as files arrive, not in real time.

What dashboards should show

• Real-time figures: attempts, approvals, declines, volume, by provider and merchant.
• Settlement figures: what has been settled, what is pending, what did not match.
• A clear marker of which numbers are final and which are provisional.

Why the distinction matters

A merchant reading today's sales in a dashboard is seeing authorizations, not money in the bank. A finance team closing the month needs settled amounts with fees. Mixing the two leads to the classic question: why does the dashboard say one thing and the payout another? Showing both, with their status, answers it before it is asked. Operators should also know each provider's settlement rhythm and publish it to merchants, so expectations about payout timing match reality.