This week in e-commerce news, Google rolls out streamlined product feed uploading to its Google Product Search, as well as a new browser, while several payment transaction companies, including eBillme and Javien, announce promotions, updates and new tools.
Meanwhile, MivaMerchant, Paid.com and NetQwik offer, respectively, new security, shipping and accounting features. On the trend front, mPoria unveils an entry-level mobile-commerce plan for small e-tailers. Finally, Internet Retailer highlights a recent study of last year's holiday e-mail marketing campaigns that sheds some light on best-practices for this year.
It's a Go for Existing Data Feeds
Google just announced that its introducing a new uploading option that enables e-tailers to submit information to Google Product Search using existing data feeds they've already prepared for other shopping engines.
According to posting at the site's Google Base Blog, "You can take advantage of this option when you register your data feed in your account. Select the type of feed you're registering and then chose from a drop-down list of feed formats. We'll automatically format your feeds for proper integration and uploading into Google Product Search."
Google says existing Google Product Search providers should continue submitting feeds in the Google Base format to take advantage of optional and custom attributes. For more details and step-by-step instructions about uploading with alternative feed formats, visit the Help Center article.
In other Google news, the search giant released its own Internet browser — the Google Chrome Browser. Business management software provider NetSuite is already on board, as it today announces support for Chrome.
In addition to NetSuite CRM, e-commerce and accounting software products, OpenAir — a NetSuite company offering on-demand professional services automation software — also added support for the new Google Chrome Browser.
Since it is optimized for Web 2.0, the new Google Chrome Browser enhances the performance speed for AJAX-powered features of NetSuite, such as list editing, type-ahead lookups, rich text editing, drag-and-drop and quick-add portlets, according to a company statement. OpenAir experiences similar performance gains for dynamic workflows, the company claims, such as assigning project resources and managing project tasks. NetSuite and OpenAir support three other Web browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.
AuctionInc's New Shipping, Security and Discount Tools
Paid.com this week rolled out additional enhancements designed to increase flexibility, functionality and security for e-commerce vendors using its AuctionInc online shipping calculation technology.
AuctionInc expanded its international shipping calculation capabilities with the addition of UPS International Services and DHL Worldwide Priority Express to AuctionInc's Global Module. AuctionInc is able to include UPS surcharges for "extended areas," country-specific limitations on package weight or dimensions, insurance, dimensional ratings, both daily and retail rates and all of UPS's various surcharges.
The new services include: Canada Standard, Worldwide Express, Worldwide Saver and Worldwide Expedited. AuctionInc also supports UPS discounted "shipment pricing" which treats multiple packages to the same destination as a single package (rated on the total weight of all packages).
AuctionInc continues to expand its capabilities to keep pace with domestic shipping changes by the major carriers. AuctionInc's software accommodates the US Postal Service's (USPS) new Large Flat Rate Box for Priority Mail, as well as the USPS's other flat-rate packaging and weight/size based packages. AuctionInc's smart technology looks at the size of the items ordered and figures out the smallest packaging possible for the shipment, according to the company. If items won't fit into the USPS's regular-sized boxes, it will determine if they will fit into the larger box and calculate postage accordingly.
AuctionInc has also added support to its ShopCart shopping cart for encrypting an online store's Add to Cart buttons. This capability prevents both viewing of the values in a vendor's HTML and, more importantly, most types of malicious attempts to change the values in these buttons. While these types of attempts are very rare, Paid says it is diligent in its efforts to prevent security breaches. Paid offers the option to add the encrypted Add to Cart buttons gradually or all at once for the seller's convenience.
Finally, AuctionInc is launching Coupons 1.0, its new discounts functionality that enables vendors to set up coupon codes for percentage discounts off customer item totals. Vendors can set one or more threshold item totals that must be met for the discount to take effect. For example, a "Thanksgiving Sale" coupon could offer a 10-percent discount for item totals over $25 and a 15-percent discount for item totals over $50. Look for additional enhancement in the coming months, including the capability to discount by dollar amounts, to set up non-coupon discounts, and to link discounts to specified items/item groups, or to item quantities.
eBillme and CardinalCommerce Hook Up
The alternative payment option that leverages online banking for e-commerce checkout, eBillme, and CardinalCommerce, a payment management company, announce new e-tailers that have added eBillme as a checkout option using Cardinal Centinel.
The latest merchants to offer eBillme online and in the call center through Cardinal Centinel include: eImprovement.com's network of stores, which include eFaucets.com, a kitchen and bathroom dealer, as well as LightingCatalog.com, Comp-U-Plus, offering the latest computer hardware, electronics, software, and household goods and CyberPower, a computer system manufacturer.
Through eBillme, merchants can now offer their customers promotions, including the eBillme Gas Card Promotion for first-time eBillme customers to receive free $10 or $20 gas cards with qualified purchases at participating merchants. A complete listing of the eBillme promotions is here.
When shoppers choose the option at checkout, their order is confirmed with an eBill sent to their e-mail address. Consumers simply pay the eBill through their online checking or savings account — the same way they pay utilities, loans, insurance, and other bills. The transaction occurs securely, bank to bank, with no personal or financial information required or transmitted over the Internet.
Javien Supports Sponsors
Javien Digital Payment Solutions, a company specializing in payment gateways for digital assets and e-tailers using micropayments, recently added a sponsorship feature to it's e-commerce platform. This means e-tailers now have the option of setting up a system in which consumers, for instance, a parent, can set up a way for their child to buy games online but with certain dollar amounts and products set as limits. For more information visit the Javien Web site.
NetQwik Clicks with QuickBooks
NetQwik, a Web design company, announced that its shopping cart now supports QuickBooks. "This technology allows business owners to save valuable time and more effectively manage their Web store by synchronizing critical business data between their store and QuickBooks," the company says in a statement. "Users can also take advantage of a QuickBooks Merchant Services account to accept all major credit and debit cards and reconcile Shopping Cart payment data directly in QuickBooks."
NetQwik's shopping cart includes real-time processing with UPS and USP, certified eBay listing and Google Product Search and offers shipping and tax calculators and product promotion options.
Miva Merchant and Control Scan Join Forces
Miva Merchant, a supplier of e-commerce software and services, has joined with ControlScan , a provider of Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance and e-commerce security solutions, to help its merchants meet mandatory requirements set forth by the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC).
Miva Merchant customers will have access to ControlScan's PCI compliance solution, which includes on-demand security scanning and the PCI Self Assessment Questionnaire. These merchants can also take advantage of ControlScan's e-commerce security certification seals.
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