Product Enhancements

Thredd continue to provide enhancements across all the areas of the Thredd Platform.

Risk Management and Fraud Monitoring

Fraud Transaction Monitoring

New guides on Enhanced Fraud Transaction Monitoring are now available:

Sandbox Replay

Sandbox Replay is now available to clients via the Fraud Transaction Monitoring Portal. Sandbox Replay enables clients to run simulation tests to find out how the Fraud Rules they have configured impact transactions.

3D Secure via Apata

3D Secure via Apata is our new 3D Secure service, offering improved flexible configuration options and more authentication methods. For clients in regions not supported by Apata, we continue to offer our 3D Secure service via Cardinal. Below are some recent updates:

  • Support for Biometric/In-App Authentication

  • Support for Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA)

  • Support for both Thredd and client-managed SMS authentication

  • Clarification on how to add, update or delete card-level configurations for Apata, such as the language of the Apata Challenge screens.

For more information, see the 3D Secure (Apata) Guide.

Card Issuing and Management

Sandbox and Developer Portal

Thredd sandbox is a generic environment, set up with test data, which enables developers to try out the Thredd API functionality. Clients can sign up for an account on The Developer Portal, and are provided with immediate access to the Sandbox. During Q1 2024 Thredd worked to enhance the reliability of the sandbox and improve the developer experience. Further enhancements are planned for Q2 2024.

For more information, see Accessing the Developer Portal.

Documentation Portal

We have improved the content and navigation experience for users of the Documentation Portal. Updates include:

  • Reorganisation of the menus, and updates to the content sections to ensure consistency with the terminology used in the payments industry.

  • New business content on our Products and Services to provide high-level descriptions of Thredd products and services, with links to relevant documentation.

Cards API (REST API)

Thredd's REST-based Cards API lets you create and manage cards in your programme through a flexible and easy to use programming interfaceWe continue to introduce new API endpoints and enhance our API functionality. Examples of recent changes:

  • New fields for the Get 3DS Configuration and Get Card Transactions endpoints.

  • Updates to the Cards API, including a new Bulk Create Cards endpoint.

  • Idempotency added across most REST endpoints — enabling consistency of data in REST API calls.

For more information, see the Cards API Website.

Web Services (SOAP API)

We continue to maintain and enhance our traditional web services API, which provide a SOAP interface to the Thredd Platform for creating and managing the cards in your programme. Below are details of recent changes:

  • Updates to action codes plus new action codes to provide better error detection and descriptions in the API responses

  • Addition of new web services and web service fields to enable additional functionality

  • Removal of redundant web services and fields that are no longer needed

  • Additional guide updates to provide clarification and correction of content errors

For more information, see the Web Services Guide.

Program Delivery

Master Virtual Cards (MVCs)

We released a new Master Virtual Cards Guide to describe our MVC functionality and present various Use Case Scenarios for clients. For more information, see the Master Virtual Cards Guide.

Cloud Data Centres

The Thredd AWS Cloud data centres now operate in multiple regions, including Europe and Asia Pacific. The Cloud data centres enable enhanced reliability and redundancy and fast transaction processing times. Clients in our on-premise data centre are gradually being upgraded to the Cloud. For more information, see the Documentation Portal: Frequently Asked Questions.

Payment Processing

Transaction Control using the External Host Interface (EHI)

The Thredd External Host Interface (EHI) is a system which coordinates payment authorisation and financial messages, processed on the Thredd Platform, and communicates with your external systems in real-time, to support the payment authentication process. We provide three different flavours of EHI messaging:

  • XML format

  • JSON format

  • Single Message System (SMS)

SMS is a new format of transaction processing, which we released in Q1 2024 to support US Networks debit card processing.

We are continually enhancing EHI to support the needs of our clients. For example:

  • New field values and options

  • Support for Card Scheme mandates and Compliance-related updates

  • Guide content updates, corrections and enhancements

For more information, see the External Host Interface (EHI) Guide.

Other updates:

  • Support for physical Card Biometric checks and resetting of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) counters

  • Support for multiple EHI endpoints

Transaction Testing using the Card Transaction System (CTS)

The Card Transaction System has been upgraded to enable Standard and STIP tests to be run for simulating Mastercard Network Exchange (MNE) network functionality. This functionality enables clients using our new US debit service to test their transactions.

For more information, see the Card Transaction System (CTS) Guide.

Transaction Reporting

Thredd continues to enhance the reports we provide to Program Managers and Issuers. We now offer new transaction XML reporting formats for splitting transaction reports between real-time authorisation (non-clearing) and Financial (clearing) messages, to provide more timely and focused reporting.

Cards Scheme (Network) Mandates

The Thredd Platform is regularly updated to comply with the Card Scheme Mandates relating to issuer-processor systems. See below for recent mandate updates:

Mastercard

Visa

  • Mastercard Announcements 6794, 7102, 7411 - New Field in Authorisations

  • Mastercard mandate to support Account Name Enquiry

  • Mastercard AN 5762: 3D Secure Changes for Merchant Initiated Transactions

  • Mastercard AN 7205: Support Non-Payment Authentication

  • Mastercard Announcement 7110: Implement Merchant Advice codes for Single use card and non-reloadable cards

  • Change to Minor Units for Icelandic Krona

  • VISA Article 2.5 Changes to Merchant Category Codes and Response Code

  • VISA Article 1.4 Introduction of the Extended Authorization and Expected Clearing Date

  • VISA Article 1.3 Changes to Support Service Date Data

  • VISA Article 2.1 Changes to Support Global Processing Alignment for Issuer

Where a Card Scheme mandate requires changes to Thredd systems that may impact clients, we provide you with 30-60 days advanced information using a Thredd Pre-Release Notification (PRN).