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What is Order Processing Channel?

Order processing channel tells the payment processor how the customer provided their payment information. This affects how the transaction is processed and can impact fees, fraud checks, and compliance requirements. Why it matters:
  • Different fees: Some channels have different processing fees
  • Fraud prevention: Processors handle fraud differently based on channel
  • Compliance: Some regulations vary by channel
  • Processor requirements: Some processors require this information

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Available Channels

ChannelWhat It MeansWhen to Use
ecommerceInternet or electronic commerce transactionsOnline payments, website checkout, mobile app payments
motoMail Order / Telephone Order transactionsCustomer provides card details over phone or mail

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When to Use Each Channel

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E-Commerce (Default)

Use ecommerce for:
  • Website checkout
  • Mobile app payments
  • Online purchases
  • Digital payments
  • Most standard online transactions
This is the default for most merchants.

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MOTO (Mail Order / Telephone Order)

Use moto for:
  • Customer calls to place order
  • Customer mails in payment
  • Customer service representative takes payment over phone
  • Manual order entry scenarios
When NOT to use: Regular online checkout (use ecommerce instead)

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Processor Support

Important: Order processing channel is currently only applicable to WorldPay and BridgePay merchants. For other processors: The default value (ecommerce) is used automatically, and specifying a channel may be ignored.

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How to Specify Channel

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In Invoice Object

Include orderProcessingChannel in your invoice when creating a payment: 
{
  "Invoice": {
    "merchantInvoiceRefId": "123456789",
    "orderProcessingChannel": "moto",
    "Amount": {
      "currency": "USD",
      "value": 30.99
    }
  }
}

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Default Behavior

If you don’t specify orderProcessingChannel:
  • WorldPay merchants: Uses the value from Merchant Settings
  • Other processors: Uses default (ecommerce)
This field is optional—you can omit it and use the merchant setting default.

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Merchant Settings Default

You can set a default order processing channel in Merchant Settings:
  1. Go to Merchant Settings (Merchant Details) in the portal
  2. Set the default orderProcessingChannel
  3. All invoices without a specified channel will use this default
Benefits:
  • Don’t need to specify on every invoice
  • Consistent across all transactions
  • Easy to change for all future transactions
Order processing channel in merchant settings

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Real-World Examples

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Example 1: Online Checkout (E-Commerce)

Scenario: Customer buys product on your website Request: 
{
  "Invoice": {
    "orderProcessingChannel": "ecommerce",  // Or omit to use default
    "Amount": { "value": 99.99 }
  }
}

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Example 2: Phone Order (MOTO)

Scenario: Customer calls to place order, representative enters payment Request: 
{
  "Invoice": {
    "orderProcessingChannel": "moto",  // Must specify for MOTO
    "Amount": { "value": 99.99 }
  }
}

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Best Practices

  1. Use ecommerce by default: Unless you have a specific MOTO use case
  2. Set merchant default: Configure default in merchant settings for consistency
  3. Override when needed: Specify channel on invoices that differ from default
  4. WorldPay only: Remember this only applies to WorldPay currently

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Common Questions

Q: Do I need to specify this for every payment? A: No, it’s optional. If omitted, it uses the merchant setting default. Q: Can I use MOTO for online payments? A: No, use the correct channel. MOTO is only for mail/telephone orders. Q: Does this affect fees? A: It can—different channels may have different fee structures. Check with your processor. Q: What if I’m not using WorldPay? A: The channel setting is ignored for non-WorldPay processors. The default is used.

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Next Steps