Gateway

Overview

Interact Gateway is a transaction authorization system that allows clients to review, approve, or decline transactions in real-time. Unlike other interact components, clients retain full control over authorization decisions and card balances. Instead of Qolo making the authorization decisions, Qolo forwards transaction requests to the client’s system, where they are evaluated against the client’s internal rules before a response is returned.

This approach is ideal for businesses that require custom decision logic, need to enforce specific risk and compliance rules, or prefer to retain ownership of card balances and funding management. Clients act as the system of record for all transaction processing decisions, making this a flexible option for businesses that need custom rules and deeper transaction insights.

When to Choose Gateway

If program:

Wants full control over authorization decisions, rather than relying on Qolo’s predefined rules.
Holds and manages card balances internally and need to be the system of record.
Requires custom rules for approving, partially approving, or declining transactions.
Needs real-time authorization control over transactions before they are completed.
Has complex risk, fraud, or compliance measures that must be checked against each transaction.

How It Works

The Gateway process follows a structured flow that allows the client to evaluate each transaction before approval:

1. Transaction Request Initiation

A merchant sends an authorization request to the card network.
The card network forwards the request to Qolo.

2. Qolo Pre-Authorization Checks

Qolo performs basic validation to check:
- Program limits
- Blocked merchant category codes (MCC restrictions)
- Address verification system (AVS) checks

3. Client Authorization Decision

Qolo forwards the request to the client’s authorization endpoint.
The client evaluates the request based on their internal rules and policies and responds with:
- Approve – The transaction is fully authorized.
- Partial Approve – A lower amount is authorized (if supported by the merchant).
- Decline – The transaction is rejected.

4. Final Authorization Response

Qolo sends the client’s response to the card network.
If approved, funds are moved into the cardholder’s account, and the transaction is completed.

5. Notification & Record Keeping

Qolo sends a notification to the client’s webhook endpoint, allowing the client to log the transaction outcome.

Response Capabilities

Clients using Interact Gateway have the flexibility to include additional data in their response, allowing for custom authorization behavior.

Response Capability	Description
Approval or Decline Decision	Determines whether the transaction is fully approved, partially approved, or declined.
Partial Authorization Amount	Allows clients to approve a lower amount than requested (if supported by the merchant).
AVS Override	Clients can override Qolo’s Address Verification System (AVS) check by providing updated address information.
Program Funding Account Selection	Clients with multiple program funding accounts can specify which account should be used for the transaction.