File Dispatch Transfer
HostedPCI File Dispatch allows businesses to transfer batch files containing credit card and ACH account information to third-party processors without including original account numbers in their internal files.
Businesses prepare files using HostedPCI tokens. HostedPCI replaces the tokens with the corresponding account information, applies the configured encryption settings, and delivers the completed files to authorized destinations.
Built on HostedPCI’s PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider infrastructure, File Dispatch helps organizations maintain their existing batch processing workflows while reducing unnecessary exposure to cardholder data.
What Is HostedPCI File Dispatch?
File Dispatch is a token-based batch file transfer solution designed for businesses whose payment processors or service providers require account information in a file.
Instead of preparing files containing original credit card or bank account numbers, merchants create files using HostedPCI tokens and submit them through the File Dispatch API.
HostedPCI identifies the token fields using the mapping established during implementation, replaces each token with the corresponding account information, and delivers the completed file to the configured destination.
This allows businesses to support file-based payment processes while limiting where original account information is stored or transmitted.
How HostedPCI File Dispatch Works
Step 1: Collect and Tokenize Payment Information
Customers enter credit card or ACH account details through a supported HostedPCI payment form, iframe, IVR integration, or other available tokenization method.
HostedPCI stores the original payment information and provides tokens that businesses can use in their internal workflows.
Step 2: Prepare a Tokenized Batch File
When payment records are ready for processing, the merchant prepares a batch file in the format required by the receiving provider.
The file contains HostedPCI tokens in place of original card or bank account numbers.
Step 3: Submit the File Through the File Dispatch API
The merchant submits the tokenized file through HostedPCI’s File Dispatch API using a configured dispatch profile.
The profile identifies the destination and applicable integration settings, including token mapping and file delivery requirements.
HostedPCI locates the tokens within the file and replaces them with the corresponding account information.
Step 4: Encrypt and Deliver the File
HostedPCI prepares the completed file according to the configured encryption and delivery requirements.
Supported workflows include PGP encryption and SFTP delivery to the designated third-party destination.
The receiving provider can then retrieve and process the file according to its established procedures.
Key Features and Business Benefits
Credit Card and ACH Batch File Transfers
Transfer files containing credit card and ACH account information to external processors without requiring internal batch files to contain original account numbers.
Token Substitution and File Mapping
HostedPCI identifies token locations within each batch file and replaces them with the corresponding payment information.
Token positions and file layouts are configured during implementation to meet the receiving provider’s requirements.
Configurable File Formats
File Dispatch supports CSV and other processor-defined batch file layouts.
Supported file formats, field locations, and mapping requirements are established during integration.
PGP Encryption and SFTP Delivery
HostedPCI supports PGP file encryption and SFTP delivery for transferring payment files to authorized third-party systems.
Encryption keys, destination credentials, and delivery requirements are configured according to the integration.
Multiple Dispatch Profiles
Businesses can configure multiple dispatch profiles for different payment processors or service providers.
Each profile defines the applicable destination and integration settings and can be selected when submitting a File Dispatch API request.
PCI DSS Scope Reduction
By preparing batch files using tokens rather than original cardholder information, businesses can reduce the number of internal systems that handle payment card data.
File Dispatch can help reduce PCI DSS scope depending on the organization’s implementation and overall payment environment.
Tokenizing ACH account information can similarly help limit where bank account details are exposed.
Who Is HostedPCI File Dispatch For?
Healthcare Organizations
Healthcare providers operating multiple clinics or locations can collect payment information through HostedPCI and prepare tokenized batch files for centralized payment processing.
Enterprise Payment Operations
Organizations that accumulate payment records over time can prepare scheduled batch submissions without maintaining original card numbers in their internal payment files.
SaaS and Software Platforms
Software providers integrating with third-party processors that require file-based payment submissions can use HostedPCI tokens to reduce direct handling of original account information.
Use Case: Batch Payment Processing Across Healthcare Clinics
A healthcare organization operates multiple clinics that collect patient payments online and over the phone.
Rather than processing every payment separately at each clinic, the organization prepares scheduled payment batches for a central processing workflow.
The receiving processor requires files containing original payment account information.
With HostedPCI File Dispatch:
- Collect: Patients enter payment details through a HostedPCI iframe or IVR integration.
- Tokenize: HostedPCI stores the original account information and provides tokens to the clinic’s systems.
- Prepare: The central billing team creates a batch file using HostedPCI tokens in the format required by the receiving processor.
- Submit: The billing team submits the file through the File Dispatch API using the configured dispatch profile.
- Deliver: HostedPCI replaces the tokens with the corresponding account information and delivers the file to the designated destination using the configured encryption and transfer methods.
- Process: The receiving processor handles the payment records and provides transaction results through its established workflow.
This approach allows the healthcare organization to coordinate payment processing across multiple locations while reducing the need for individual clinics and billing applications to handle original cardholder data.
Need to send payment files to a third-party processor?
Contact HostedPCI to discuss your file format, delivery destination, and integration requirements.
File Dispatch FAQs
What is HostedPCI File Dispatch?
HostedPCI File Dispatch is a token-based batch file transfer service. Businesses submit files containing HostedPCI tokens, and HostedPCI replaces those tokens with the corresponding payment information before delivering the completed files to configured third-party destinations.
Does File Dispatch support credit card and ACH data?
Yes. File Dispatch supports batch file workflows involving credit card and ACH account information. Available fields and file structures depend on the receiving provider’s requirements.
How are files delivered?
The merchant initiates the dispatch through the HostedPCI File Dispatch API.
HostedPCI delivers the completed file to the destination established in the dispatch profile. Supported delivery methods include SFTP, depending on the integration configuration.
Does HostedPCI support PGP encryption?
Yes. File Dispatch supports PGP encryption for payment files.
Encryption keys and requirements are established during implementation according to the receiving provider’s specifications.
What file formats are supported?
File Dispatch supports CSV and other processor-defined batch file layouts.
The required format and token mapping are established during integration.
Can File Dispatch deliver files to multiple destinations?
Yes. Businesses can configure multiple dispatch profiles, each with its own destination and integration settings, and select the appropriate profile when submitting a file.
Does HostedPCI retain completed files after delivery?
File handling and retention requirements depend on the configured workflow. Businesses should confirm the applicable retention and deletion procedures with HostedPCI during implementation.
Can File Dispatch retrieve response files?
Response-file retrieval may be available through certain provider-specific integrations. Availability depends on the receiving provider and the configured workflow.
Does a successful API response mean the payments were processed?
No. A successful File Dispatch API response indicates the outcome of the submission or dispatch operation, not necessarily that the receiving processor successfully authorized or settled the underlying payment transactions.
Payment processing results must be confirmed through the receiving processor’s established workflow.
Does File Dispatch reduce PCI DSS scope?
File Dispatch can help reduce PCI DSS scope by allowing businesses to prepare and manage batch files using tokens instead of original cardholder data.
Actual scope reduction depends on the merchant’s implementation and overall payment environment. File Dispatch does not eliminate remaining PCI DSS responsibilities.
Secure Batch Payment File Transfers With HostedPCI
Prepare payment files using tokens while HostedPCI handles the substitution and delivery of the original payment information to authorized third-party systems.
Contact HostedPCI to discuss your File Dispatch requirements.
View HostedPCI File Dispatch API Documentation for technical integration details.