Modernizing Cross-Border B2B Payment API
with Kong API Gateway
Client Overview
The client is a UK-based cross-border payments company, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Operating across 50+ countries, they offer seamless global money movement services through a network of local banks and financial institutions. By eliminating intermediaries, they reduce hidden fees and increase transparency in cross-border transactions. Their focus on compliance, speed, and technology enables them to deliver efficient, regulated B2B payment experiences to enterprises and financial partners worldwide.
Business Objective
The client aimed to modernize their real-time payments infrastructure without disrupting their proven legacy systems. Specifically, they wanted to expose their SOAP-based backend services as developer-friendly REST APIs to enhance integration with modern web and mobile applications. The goal was to retain the reliability of their legacy platform while offering faster partner onboarding and improved API-driven adoption.
Industry
Finance
Platform
Kong
Service
API Modernization
Challenges
Legacy SOAP-Based Interface
The payment services platform relied on WSDL/SOAP-based APIs, which many modern developers found difficult to integrate with.
Integration Incompatibility
Partners using mobile apps or modern web platforms faced friction when integrating with the legacy system due to outdated data formats and interfaces.
Security and Identity Concerns
Any new architecture had to integrate securely with the client’s existing identity and user management services.
Solutions
Legacy-to-API Architecture Transformation
NeosAlpha introduced a modern API layer over the client’s legacy backend using Kong API Gateway, converting SOAP services to RESTful interfaces while maintaining full operational integrity.
SOAP to REST & XML to JSON Transformation
Implemented seamless protocol transformation to support modern REST/JSON applications while still routing requests to existing SOAP/XML services.
Secure API Access & Governance
Enabled OAuth2.0 and SHA256-based security for encrypted and authenticated access. Integrated with the client's identity management system to ensure secure, role-based access control.
Drupal-Based Developer Portal
Built a user-friendly developer portal using Drupal, providing comprehensive API documentation, self-service registration, and testing tools.
XSD-to-API Documentation Automation
Generated structured API documentation from existing XSDs to help developers understand message structures and integration workflows.
Results
Accelerated Time to Market
By modernizing instead of rebuilding, the client rolled out REST APIs faster and at lower cost.
Improved Developer Experience
The new portal and REST APIs significantly simplified partner onboarding and integration.
API-Driven Flexibility
The client now supports both modern RESTful applications and legacy services, ensuring continuity with existing systems while future-proofing for fintech innovation.
Enhanced Security & Compliance
Secure authentication and data handling ensured continued FCA compliance and protection of sensitive payment data.
Technology Stack
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