Understand Offline Stand-in for Commerce Engine

Description: Learn how Commerce Engine processes payments when your device loses connectivity to the Shift4 platform.

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Commerce Engine can continue approving transactions locally if your payment device temporarily loses its connection to the Shift4 platform. When connectivity is restored, stored transactions are automatically forwarded for processing.

What Happens When Your Device Goes Offline

When the device detects that it cannot reach the Shift4 platform, Commerce Engine automatically enters offline mode.

While offline:

• Transactions continue to be processed on the device.
• Each transaction is evaluated against a set of rules to determine whether it can be approved locally.
• Approved transactions are stored securely on the device until connectivity is restored.
• Your POS receives a payment response that looks the same as a normal online transaction.

What You Should Know

Not every transaction can be approved while offline. Commerce Engine applies safeguards to limit risk:

• Very large transactions may be declined.
• Once the total value of stored offline transactions reaches a configured limit, additional transactions may be declined.
• Expired cards are declined.
• Transactions requiring online PIN verification are declined.
• Certain card types that are not eligible for offline processing are declined.
• Contactless transactions may be declined while offline.

Important: Offline approval is not a guarantee of authorization. Transactions approved offline are submitted for online authorization when connectivity returns and may be declined by the cardholder's bank at that point. You bear this risk when accepting offline payments.

When Connectivity Returns

When the device regains connectivity, all stored transactions are automatically forwarded for processing. No action is required on your part.

Checking Offline Status

The device does not display a visual indicator when it is in offline mode. This is by design to protect your business from bad actors.

When to Contact Shift4

• For questions about offline payment configuration or enabling offline payments, contact your Shift4 representative.
• For help investigating transactions that were approved offline but declined after forwarding, or any unexpected offline behavior, contact Shift4 Support.