Sarcouncil Journal of Engineering and Computer Sciences

Abstract: Current financial technology developments through payment systems have required a need to think about the architecture of these payment systems in a manner that is rather flexible, resilient, and scalable. This article discusses loose coupling as one of the architected principles that allow different elements of the payment infrastructure to collaborate effectively without sacrificing the independence of operations. The loosely coupled payment systems enable the evolution of components without the need for modification of others. This is achieved through the clear definition of the interfaces, standardized protocols that define the interaction and interdependency among the components, and ensure the system evolves to better meet evolving needs. The article on interface design as the foundation of loose coupling implementation is provided, including the discussion of how using the standardized form of message, a well-specified API, and an event-based form of communication allows drawing steady interaction borders. The operational demonstrations of these principles can be seen at many levels of the payment system, such as multi-method payment infrastructure, scalable onboarding of providers, autonomy in scaling, and greater system resiliency. To the financial technology practitioners operating in the more perplexed payment ecosystems, knowledge of the loose coupling concept is a valuable input in how they can go about designing sustainable payment structures that can evolve along with technology as it constantly mutates without compromising its operational integrity.