Best Practices and Troubleshooting

Overview

To ensure a successful integration with Qolo’s Interact system, it is important to follow best practices for API implementation, error handling, and debugging. By proactively addressing common issues, clients can maintain efficient transaction processing, prevent authorization failures, and improve system reliability.

This section covers:

  • Recommended strategies for integrating Qolo’s APIs.
  • Common errors and how to resolve them.
  • Debugging techniques for troubleshooting API requests.

Recommended Implementation Strategies

1. Optimize Authorization Response Times

  • Ensure all authorization requests are processed within 3 seconds to prevent automatic declines.
  • Use efficient server infrastructure to minimize processing delays.
  • Implement asynchronous processing for non-critical operations to prevent slowdowns.

2. Implement Robust Error Handling

  • Log and track all API responses for debugging and reconciliation.
  • Gracefully handle declined transactions, ensuring customers receive clear decline reasons.
  • Use standardized response codes to classify different types of transaction failures.

3. Secure API Communication

  • Use encrypted connections (HTTPS) for all API calls to protect sensitive transaction data.
  • Authenticate API requests properly to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Monitor API logs for unusual activity or security threats.

Common Errors & How to Resolve Them

Error TypePossible CauseResolution Steps
Authorization TimeoutClient system took longer than 3 seconds to respond.Optimize processing speed and reduce latency.
Declined TransactionInsufficient funds, blocked MCC, or fraud flag.Provide a detailed decline reason in response.
Invalid API KeyIncorrect authentication credentials.Verify API key configuration in your system.
Malformed JSON RequestRequest payload has incorrect formatting.Validate JSON structure before sending API calls.
Duplicate TransactionsResubmitting an already processed transaction.Check transaction status before retrying.

Debugging API Requests

1. Logging and Tracking API Calls

  • Enable detailed logging for all API calls and responses.
  • Store request and response data for troubleshooting.
  • Use unique identifiers (transaction IDs, timestamps) for tracking.

2. Testing in Sandbox Mode

  • Always test new implementations in Qolo’s sandbox environment before deploying to production.
  • Simulate authorization requests, declines, and refunds to ensure error handling works correctly.
  • Validate API responses against expected behavior.

3. Using API Response Codes for Debugging

  • Use Qolo’s response codes to diagnose transaction issues.
  • Compare expected vs. actual API responses to detect anomalies.
  • Ensure proper error messages are displayed to users when transactions fail.

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