I recently spent half-a-day on the telephone with a website customer who was concerned that, when she purchased her website, she was told that the site would be “fully e-commerce enabled” and that this was included in the cost; however, she was surprised to learn that she would need to pay additional fees for credit card processing.  Let’s clarify, because this misunderstanding is not uncommon.

Often, the term “e-commerce” is incorrectly understood to mean the process by which a merchant collects payments over the internet.  In actuality, e-commerce (or electronic commerce) typically refers to only the logistics and mechanics involved in the creation of transactions over the internet or through a customer’s website.  When we develop a website for a client, if they desire to conduct commerce through that site, then we will create all of the functionality necessary to allow for these transactions to occur.  This can include the create of items within a catalog, catalog pages within the site, and shopping carts that will allow customers to identify the items they wish to purchase and prepare an item or group of items for a check-out process.

However, these e-commerce functions do not include the actual collection of payment or the processing of credit card transactions.  This is a different service we refer to, in general, as “merchant services.”  Typically, this actual processing of credit card transactions and the collection and appropriate distribution of funds is done by financial institutions such as banks, for example, though there are other companies that provide merchant services as well.  The important thing to remember is that merchant services will always carry additional costs for the ability to accept credit cards, which is typical whether the credit card is being accepted in person or online, as well as specific predetermined fees associated with each and every transaction.

The combination of E-commerce and Merchant Services, when properly designed and implemented into a website, provides a great deal of advantages and allows for business to often be conducted more efficiently and in an equally secure manner.  And e-commerce is not limited to solely “selling items online.”  Here are just two examples of our “nontraditional” e-commerce website customers:

1.  A refuse collection company services over 11,000 individual households and receives 11,000 pieces of mail every quarter, each containing a $19 check.  The mail must be received, opened, processed, and then taken to the bank for deposit.  By accepting payment through their website, we have reduced the mail and associated processing costs, and we also were able to automate the website e-commerce system to communicate with the accounting software and automatically record the payments and update the accounts.

2.  A non-profit organization established a donations section of their website to accept online donations.

These are just two examples of the countless ways that an e-commerce enabled website can provide great service to your business.  Contact us today to learn how we can quickly design your e-commerce enabled website!

Hand in hand with the importance of BEING online also comes the ability to actually conduct transactions online through your web presence.  Commerce that transpires online is called “e-commerce,” and POTW makes enabling your website with this important tool easier than ever before.  As a POTW client, you have access to all of the tools neccessary to set-up merchant accounts, a fully customizable product catalog, a virtual shopping cart, advanced pricing features, shipping handling and tax rules, payment options, inventory tracking, and order processing features. 

Creating an extensive online catalog, with literally thousands of items, is as straight-forward as making the decision to do it.  Use images, seperate your product by categories and divisions, provide extensive product descriptions, code for discounts, allow for custom shipping methods, include handling charges, and calculate tax on orders…all with the tools included with your POTW web solution.

Already using your accounting software to process your orders?  No problem.  Your POTW web site will streamline the order process by automatically generating invoices and download orders directly into your software each time a customer makes a purchase on your website.

With multiple billing options, you can process credit cards and e-checks online, in real time, have orders sent to you by e-mail, or receive daily batched order reports by fax.  And no matter how your orders are being processed, be confident that they are safe and secure on our SSL-encrypted network.

Syncronize your actual product inventory with the inventory displayed in your online catalog.  POTW will help you to set up your website so that it will automatically notify your customers of whether or not an item is currently in stock, and advanced inventory features allow you to accept or reject orders on out-of-stock items.

Conduct business and make money on-line 24 hours a day?  Sounds good!