What Is CEDP? Understanding the Commercial Enhanced Data Program by Visa

For merchants who accept commercial credit cards, data matters more than ever. The Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP) is designed to improve the quality of invoice-level transaction data submitted with commercial card payments, helping ensure eligibility for optimized interchange rates and improved reporting. Here is what you need to know.

What Is the Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP)?

The Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP) enables the secure exchange of high-quality, invoice-level data between participants while providing an interchange structure for eligible transactions.

CEDP rewards merchants and acquirers who consistently submit detailed, accurate enhanced data with their Visa commercial credit card transactions. The goal is to:

  • Improve transaction transparency
  • Maintain high data quality standards
  • Support proper interchange qualification

How the Program Works.

As part of CEDP, Visa conducts ongoing monitoring and validation to ensure participating merchants meet program standards. Visa charges a 5 bps CEDP fee for transactions reviewed under CEDP.

This includes two key review processes:

1. Transaction Data Quality Validation

Each month, Visa reviews all eligible participating transactions to confirm that enhanced data meets CEDP standards.

  • Validation follows the Visa Enhanced Data Services File Specifications
  • Enhanced data submitted with Visa commercial credit transactions is reviewed
  • Transactions pass validation when all required enhanced data elements meet program standards

If data does not meet requirements, transactions may not qualify under the intended interchange structure.

2. Merchant Data Quality Verification

Visa also evaluates merchants over time and assigns a Merchant Data Quality Verification Status or “Merchant Status.” This status is based on historical performance and consistency in submitting compliant enhanced data.

Verified Merchant

  • Consistently submits enhanced data that meets CEDP standards
  • Maintains strong historical data quality performance

Non-Verified Merchant

  • Does not consistently meet program standards
  • May require corrective action to improve data quality

Merchant status is dynamic and can change depending on submission quality over time. Visa continuously evaluates merchants and reports monthly to acquirers.

What Happens If a Merchant Is Non-Verified?

  • Acquirers receive reports outlining Merchant verification status
  • Acquirers can collaborate with Visa to help improve data submissions
  • Merchants can work to correct formatting, missing fields, or inconsistencies

Important Note: Visa reserves the right to remove a merchant’s Verified status in cases of program misuse.

Why CEDP Matters for Merchants

Participating in CEDP and maintaining Verified status can:

  • Help ensure eligibility for enhanced interchange structures
  • Improve invoice-level reporting and transparency
  • Strengthen compliance with commercial card data requirements
  • Reduce the risk of downgrades due to incomplete data
  • Helps reduce disputes by providing detailed transaction data

For merchants accepting corporate, purchasing, or commercial cards, enhanced data is no longer optional. It is strategic.

Have Questions? We’re Here to Help.

If you have questions about CEDP, contact the Echelon Support Team at 866-373-2249.