Data associated with a payment may be perfected before additional processing. An image file is received during a first time period, and a processor determines, during the first time period, data associated with the image file. The processor automatically determines, during the first time period, one or more exceptions associated with the data by evaluating if the data meets one or more exception rules. The processor performs, during the first time period, one or more data perfection procedures triggered by the one or more exceptions to obtain perfected data. The processor sends, during the first time period, the perfected data to a posting application.