- Secure Transaction Environment
SSL Encryption
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
encryption provides a level of security and privacy for those
wishing to conduct secure transactions over the Internet.
Introduced by Netscape
Communications, the SSL protocol protects HTTP
transmissions over the Internet by adding a layer of encryption.
This insures that your transactions are not subject to
"sniffing" by a third party. For companies wishing to
conduct E-Commerce, such as receiving credit card numbers
or other sensitive information, SSL is a must.
Digital
Certificates
Savannah Webs uses SSL in tandem with a Digital
Certificate.
A Digital Certificate gives your customers the assurance that your
web site is legitimately yours and not that of an impostor. It
also provides you with a legal basis to perform transactions on
the Internet.
- Storefront Management Applications
Savannah Webs selected the
Miva Merchant application, it
is a browser based storefront development tool that integrates
cataloging, product maintenance, category management, shopping
basket, order and credit card processing. Miva Merchant is a
product of the Miva Corporation.
- Payment Processing Services
Online Payment Processing
When a customer purchases an item with a credit card, a two step
process begins.
- The merchant or the website requests an authorization from
the customer's credit card account to ensure that the card is
valid and the customer has enough available balance for the
purchase. The customer's bank sends an authorization number
back to the merchant or the website and the order is
"captured".
- The merchandise is sent, and the merchant informs the bank
where they have a merchant account. The bank deposits funds to
the merchant's account while the customer's account is debited
for the amount of the purchase. At that time, the customers'
bank takes out the required fees and the transaction is
complete.
Credit cards are an important part of enabling Internet
commerce. The easiest process to integrate into an existing
business is an off-line authorization and settlement process. For
more advanced web merchants who are processing more than 100
transactions per month, real time credit card authorization
becomes economical. With a link to a Processing Service Provider
such as AuthorizeNet, the website generates an authorization
request when the customer places the order.
If the merchant is selling hard goods which have to be shipped
to the customer, then order is saved securely for later
settlement. Once the goods are shipped, the merchant can settle
the order, and the transaction is completed. If the merchant is
selling downloadable media, software, or site memberships for
example, then the order can be authorized and settled in real
time, without any intervention by the merchant.
Savannah Webs selected Authorize.Net
to handle it's processing service, it is a server-based
transaction processing system that enables
businesses with approved merchant accounts to authorize, process,
and manage credit card and electronic check transactions in a
real-time, online environment. Savannah Webs storefronts are
linked to Authorize.Net by a proprietary shopping cart and
storefront creation program, Miva
Merchant.
Merchant
Demo |
