Smart Router

Ottu’s Smart Router is a rule-based engine that intelligently directs each payment to the most suitable route. It boosts success rates, lowers costs, and gives merchants full control over how transactions are handled.

What It Does

• Evaluates each payment transaction in real time

• Compares the transaction against a set of business rules

• Selects the most appropriate MID to maximize success and minimize cost

• Uses a fallback MID if no specific rule applies — ensuring no transaction is lost

How It Works

Steps the Smart Router follows to process a transaction.

1

Start Transaction

A customer initiates a payment

2

Apply Blocker Rules

The Smart Router first checks if the transaction should be blocked

If the transaction is blocked, it stops here. If allowed, the system moves to Router Rules

3

Apply Router Rules

These rules identify which MIDs are valid for this transaction.

4

Evaluate Strategies

Selects the best MID

5

Use Fallback MID if Needed

If no MID is selected by strategy (e.g., all excluded or none match), a fallback MID acts as a safety net.

6

Send to Selected MID

The transaction is routed to the chosen MID.

The below diagram shows how Ottu’s Smart Router handles a transaction from the moment it starts, through rule checks and decision logic, to the final payment sent to the bank.

Routing Rules

Routing rules are divided into two major categories: Blockers and Routers.

Blocker Rules

These rules filter transactions before routing begins.

BIN Access Control

Allows or blocks transactions based on the card's BIN range.

Geographic Restriction

Restricts or permits transactions based on card-issuing countries.

Card Scheme Restriction

Filters transactions by supported card networks such as Visa or Mastercard.

Router Rules

These rules assign valid transactions to the correct MID.

BIN-Based Routing

Routes a transaction to a specific MID based on BIN match.

Country-Based Routing

Directs transactions to MIDs depending on the card's issuing country.

Supported Schemes

Routes based on card type like Visa or Mastercard.

Fallback Routing

Acts as a backup route when no other rule matches.

Strategies

Once router rules find valid MIDs, strategies decide how to pick the best one.

Strategy Types:

• Multi-Selection: Considers several MIDs and selects based on rule logic.

Exclude Unavailable

• Removes MIDs with too many recent errors.

• Can blacklist for hours or until midnight.

• Automatically expires after a set time.

Transaction Size

• Routes based on transaction value.

• Each MID can have a minimum and maximum amount.

• Single-Selection: Narrows immediately to one best MID.

Round Robin

• Distributes transactions evenly across MIDs.

• Balances load by cycling through gateways.

Fallback

• Acts as a safety net.

• Sends to a default MID if no other options are available.

FAQ

1️What is an MID?

An MID, or Merchant Identification, is a unique number assigned to a merchant account to identify the transaction processor.

2️What happens when a transaction exceeds the set maximum amount?

If a transaction exceeds the maximum amount set for an MID, it will be rerouted according to the configured routing rules or fallback option.

3️How does the Round Robin method distribute transactions?

The Round Robin method distributes transactions evenly across multiple MIDs, ensuring balanced load by sequentially cycling through available gateways.

4️What is the purpose of a Fallback option?

The Fallback option serves as a safety mechanism to ensure transactions still get processed by sending them to a default MID if no other MIDs are available.