Back offices processes

Explain what Back Office Processes are and why your organisation needs them

Back office processes ensure the smooth ordering payment and reporting of transactions on the web site. The processes are accessible and visible to the public. Some back office function include accounting, record keeping of clients orders, stock control and the management of the public facing website. Are organisation need this as then it prevents the ordering processing from going crazing

What processes are involved in Stock Control? What is at the centre of this type of system?

The process involved in stock control is to make sure that there are enough products to meet the customers needs and to make sure that a n item is not sold twice. The centre of this type of system is a database because they can have all of the items listed and the information about the item and the supplier of the item and updates all the item and everything about them.

Explain what ASPs, and how it can update a database.

ASP (active server pages) the code contained in the webpage to allow the database to be read and updated, it changes the amount in stock as they are purchased.


How do organisations maintain the virtual shopping basket for a customer, what processes are involved?

As a customer moves through an online store ordering goods, it is necessary to hold the details of the items to be purchased. The idea is rather like a supermarket trolley on a computer screen. Items are placed in the trolley but until the customer is finished shopping.

The following processes are involved in maintaining the trolley
Items are added
Prices are totalled
Stock is reserved so that it is not sold twice
Items can be removed
Delivery costs may be added.

Draw an example flowchart for your organisation to illustrate these processes.

P143, Explain briefly the difference between, HTTP authentication, and cookie identification.

HTTP- this type of authentication produces the familiar login/password browser sequence. This is where a user is asked for a password and an ID to access the server.
Cookie-these can be placed on the customer’s computer but are typically set using an HTML form and common gateway interface script. Many users due to privacy concerns often view cookies with suspicion and they may reject them.





What advantage do cookies have over HTTP authentication?
Cookie is a automated way of tracking who’s on your website even if they aren’t logged in.