Online Technology

Alexander Schwenkenberg,
IT Manager

Interested in our Online Technology services? Consider these other services:

• Event Management
• Administrative Services

The Professional Exchange Service Corporation (PESC) is excited about new developments with online technologies.  We search out new technologies that will help our clients become more agile, more efficient, and more effective.

Blogs

Everyone’s heard about blogs but a surprising number of people have yet to make their first blog post.  We are transitioning our clients to blogs with RSS feeds to Email.  This is changing the way our clients communicate.  People can subscribe to the blogs that interest them.  They receive the entire message within 2 hours of posting.  Blog posts are delivered to as many locations as desired (work computer, home computer, mobile device).  Communications delivered in this way aren’t intercepted by spam filters.  If computers or mobile devices are down, people can check the blog and get the same content online.

Blogs are a quick and easy way to update websites.  They can be configured for public or private use, with and without comment capabilities.  They can have one or more authors to keep the content interesting and dynamic.

Intranets

Intranets allow us to communicate easily and efficiently with people in other locations.  The intranets we develop are generally not public.  Logins and passwords are required.  Most have reporting functionality so clients can watch activity and evaluate results.  We’re currently using intranets to:

• Take calls and open municipal trouble tickets online.  Instead of answering the phones, city employees can focus on resolving constituent problems.
• Eligibility screening and referral for a statewide governmental program.
• Nationwide eligibility screening to determine if callers qualify for public or private health insurance programs.

Online Credit Card Processing

Online payment systems are complex.  Three separate systems must integrate seamlessly to complete online transactions.

1. Online payment portal.  People enter their credit card information at the initial online payment portal.  This portal must meet Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standards.  These standards require secure networks and applications that protect cardholder data.  Our online payment portal incorporates all 12 technology elements covered in the PCI security standards.
2. Immediate credit card verification.  After entering credit card information into the online payment portal, credit cards must be verified.  The online verification checks to make sure the cards are valid and payments won’t exceed the maximum credit limit.
3. Merchant services processing.  The transaction is then routed to merchant services processing.  Charges are made to people’s credit cards.  Approximately 3 days later, the transactions are deposited directly into our clients’ checking accounts.

Credit card rates and fees will vary depending on how the online payment portal is configured.  Our clients benefit from the lowest rates and fees possible.

Online transactions can occur at any time of day or night.  Bank deposits for these transactions happen several days later.  It can be challenging to track and account for all the different kinds of online transactions.  We’ve synchronized our systems and developed reports so online transactions can be properly posted on our clients’ books.

Online Event Registration

Our online payment portal allows people to register and pay for meetings and events.  They can also renew their memberships, make donations, and pay for sponsorships and advertising.

We provide our clients with links so they can check on income and attendance at any time.  This real-time information makes better planning possible.  Headcounts are more accurate, meeting space can be increased or decreased, and costs can be adjusted.

Online Membership Databases

Online membership databases improve communications and automate membership processes.  Members can update their own contact information.  Dues renewal noticing can be automated.  Organizations can track members’ participation at meetings and events and automatically manage members’ website log-ins and passwords.  Event registration and payment portals are integrated parts of our online databases.

Websites

We develop websites that are clean, fast, and functional.  With blogs, RSS feeds, and other Web 2.0 tools, we try to make our clients’ websites more dynamic and less static.  To keep our services affordable, we start with free web templates that we then customize with content and graphics.

Our clients depend on us to maintain their websites.  Every month, we visit our clients’ websites.  We remove what’s old and obsolete and add new information.  We post meeting flyers and promotional announcements, update contact information, and insure that rosters are accurate.

We specialize in online technologies that work!