back offices processes continued

8. A cookie is a small text file that is stored on the user's hard disk by the web server. It is a way for a server or a website to place information on the client computer. Cookies contain information about the user, normally in the form of an identification. A transactional wesbite needs cookies to store the user identity and a the website can see how many times the user has gone to the website.


9. Customers who are logged in may be tracked anoymously by using a random number sent in a cookie. other tables in the database will track the customer's actions. The best way of tracking a customer is to see whether he/she is logged in. Actions can trigger data being written to the database. this information can be used in a variety of ways. Loyal cutsomers can be rewarded by special offers.

A list showing the customers actions
Wishlist wapcarts
visits stock
shipments related products
products payments
orders options
emails discounts
customers creditcards
categoriesproducts
admins

10. HTTPS encrytion is used when a payment is made throught a transactional website, the website will need to use secure data transfer method and the details stored in the database then the table of field holding the data need to be encrypted aswell. This way if the database is accessed by unauthorised people, the card details cannot be read.


11. By using the HTTPS method of encrytion this prevents anyone from intercepting the details of your card and the user needs to have the encrytion key and the software routine, and the ctransaction website will have to contact the cardprovider to sheck the details on the credit card.

12. A stolen card will not be used on a transactional website the reason for this is the address needs to be checked and first time orders must always be delivered to the address held by the card company, payments cannot be stopped unless the card has been stolen.

13. Stock Control is a term which refers to all the processes involved in ordering, storing and selling goods, real-time stock control is an important part of the back office process. A website stock control system runs on a computer system. the onjective is to ensure that there is always enough stock to meet the demand, but too much stock will tie up money that could be used for other purposes in the business. When these is a need to order relpacements the webiste could have links to the supplier via the internet so that replacements goods can be ordered automatically. Careful analysis of sales cna help with the prediction of sales volume so that a minium level of stock is maintained.


14. Despatch and Delivery- this part of the process is largely a manual process. address labels nmeed to be printed along with dispatch notes and invoices. The gods needs to be packaged and collected by courier. At this point, the organisation will hand the tracking over to them. the customers can be infromaed via emaiil or by logging into the courier tracking system so that the suer can see where his or hers products is and whats status its in either dispatch, processing, compeleted, delivery.