# Getting Started source: https://developer.mastercard.com/account-to-account-commerce-for-csp/documentation/getting-started/index.md ## Before You Start {#before-you-start} The creditor service provider interested in consuming the Account to Account Commerce service must contact the local Mastercard representative to commence the onboarding process. You can also reach out to us by filling out the form [here](https://www.vocalink.com/contact-us/). ## Onboarding Process Overview {#onboarding-process-overview} Any customer willing to implement the Account to Account Commerce service needs to be onboarded to the Mastercard platform. Following are the key activities involved during onboarding: * Signing Contract * Obtaining Mastercard credentials (Interbank Card Association (ICA) and Mastercard Connect access) * Code Development * Key Exchange in the Key Management Portal * Logical Address setup for File Exchange * Data Onboarding to internal systems (7 days in the Mastercard Test Facility (MTF) and production) At the end of the onboarding process, the customer would be enabled for consuming our services and perform connectivity testing. During the Account to Account Commerce onboarding process, Mastercard reviews the development and testing environments, issue resolution, and certification with the customer. The overall implementation process may differ for each customer and an implementation project plan is tailored to each customer's specific needs after an implementation project has been initiated. ### Onboarding Teams {#onboarding-teams} The onboarding process is led by the Mastercard customer delivery team. ### Customer Roles and Responsibilities {#customer-roles-and-responsibilities} The responsibilities of the customer include: * Sign the Mastercard Account to Account Commerce Agreement. * Provide the necessary resources to support customer onboarding and testing activities. * Create a [Mastercard Developers Account](https://developer.mastercard.com/account/sign-up). * Register in [Mastercard Connect](https://www.mastercardconnect.com). * Exchange and manage certificates and cryptographic keys. Refer to [API Basics](https://developer.mastercard.com/account-to-account-commerce-for-csp/documentation/api-basics/index.md) for more information. * Provide information for onboarding the participant. * Develop and implement Account to Account commerce as per the technical specifications outlined at [API Reference](https://developer.mastercard.com/account-to-account-commerce-for-csp/documentation/api-reference/index.md). * Provide a network to establish a connection between the participant and Mastercard. * Complete certification in Mastercard Test Facility (MTF). * Deploy the code into production. * Plan for launch. ## Key Conventions {#key-conventions} | Terms (Acronyms in brackets) | Description | |------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | API Gateway (APIGW) | The API Gateway provides routing, configuration, authentication, and authorization for API traffic between Mastercard and its customers. The primary function of the API Gateway is to act as a security policy enforcement point for Mastercard APIs exposed to customers. | | Creditor | An individual or business who makes a request to the debtor (Payer) for payment, either for a bill, invoice, or funds transfer.​ | | Creditor Service Provider (CSP) | An entity that consumes Account to Account Commerce services to (1) associate a creditor to a debtor for the purpose of facilitating bill and invoice presentments and peer-to-peer fund transfers, and (2) exchange payment request data with the debtor service providers for such presentments and fund transfer.​ | | Debtor | An individual or business who authorizes a debit of their financial account to make payment for a bill, invoice, or funds transfer request. | | Debtor Service Provider (DSP) | An entity, often but not exclusively a financial institution, that consumes Account to Account Commerce services to (1) associate a debtor to a creditor for the purpose of facilitating bill and invoice presentments and fund transfers, and (2) exchange payment request data with creditor service providers for such presentments and fund transfers. | | Designated Settlement System (DSS) | The Designated Settlement System (DSS) refers to the method of processing settlement instructions and includes a payment system. A payment system is used for transferring funds. | | Initiating Party | Unique identification of the party that has initiated the message exchange. | | Operator | An entity that operates Mastercard's request for pay products, services, and solutions. The operator holds and manages the business relationships with creditor service providers, creditor institutions, debtor service providers, and debtor institutions determines which entities are allowed to be onboarded to Mastercard's Request for Pay (RFP) programs and sets 'resale' pricing of Mastercard RFP services for creditor service providers, creditor institutions, debtor service providers, and debtor institutions. | | Key Management Portal (KMP) | Self-service portal available in Mastercard Connect for participants to request and exchange keys and certificates with Mastercard. | | Key Management Services (KMS) | The business function within Mastercard responsible for keys and certificates exchange. | | Mastercard Connect (MCConnect) | [Mastercard Connect](https://www.mastercardconnect.com/) is a secure global platform for business customers to explore, onboard, enrol, service, and grow their businesses with Mastercard. A self-service portal, available in Mastercard Connect, for participants to request and exchange keys and certificates with Mastercard. | | Mastercard Test Facility (MTF) | Test environment for customers to perform testing with Mastercard. | | AtoAC | Account to Account Commerce. | | Participant (Customer) | A creditor service provider or, a debtor service provider. | | Zapp Platform | Zapp is the core platform powering the Account to Account Commerce solution. |