09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Back-Office processes Unit 2 Assessment Criteria (b) 10 marks

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Processes A transactional website interacts with a user via webpages. These are created by software that runs on the server. Choices made by the user are transferred back to the server for processing. This processing includes  Real-time tracking of customers’ actions  Maintaining the virtual shopping basket  Identification and authentication routines  Payment processing  Stock control  Despatch and delivery These software systems may link to  Other systems within the company  External systems (such as credit card authorisation systems)

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Diagrams In this unit, you need to describe the back-office processes that take place. You can do this by  Writing a full description  Using diagrams  A mixture of both Diagrams are a good way to convey lots of useful information.

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) The Search Phase User makes choices and enters information into the web page This data is transferred back to the server and used to query the product database The resulting data is used produce a web page that shows the product that matches the search criteria This page is transmitted back to the user Additional information, may also be sent such as  Price information  Stock levels  Delivery times  Etc.

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) The Search Phase The next slide presents this process in a diagram.

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) The Search Phase User Web Server Search page Search Criteria Search results page Product database Search criteria Search results Internet connection

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Real-time tracking of customer’s actions Each time a user visits a transactional website, a record is created in the server’s database. This is commonly known as a session. Each session has an ID number. This session record is used to track and record information about the user’s visit.

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) The Virtual Shopping Basket The user finds a product and now adds it to the virtual shopping basket. The session data records product details and quantity ordered. Other products are added if the user makes additional choices. Session records keeps a list of items in the basket. In some cases, the user can add items to the basket and leave the site without making a purchase. In other cases, the user can save the basket and access it at a later date. The next slide presents this process in a diagram.

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) The Virtual Shopping Basket User Web Server Place items in shopping basket Virtual shopping basket Add items to users shopping basket Internet connection

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Identification and authentication routines When the user has finished shopping and goes to the checkout page on the site  Existing users log on – the authentication information (username and password) is transmitted to the server and checked against the registered user database  New users enter personal details and register – these details are store in the registered user database From this stage on, transactions between user and website are usually done using a secure connection The next slide presents this process in a diagram.

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Identification and authentication routines User Web Server Log-on/checkout page Virtual shopping basket Authentication details Internet connection Authentication details User welcome page User details

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Payment processing After logging on or registering, the server will calculate the total sales price using the session data about items in the users shopping basket and will apply the site rules for postage, packing etc. If the user confirms the purchase  The server may ask for credit card details (these may already be saved in the system)  The server transmits the user’s credit card details and amount to the credit card company’s authorisation computer  When authorisation is received, the server will create a record of this sale on the transaction database  The server will then update stock levels on the product database

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Stock control, despatch and delivery The server will notify the warehouse computer about the sale Using data recorded in the transaction database, the warehouse computer will print off a picking list and address label The warehouse personnel will pick and pack the items, stick on the address label so that it is ready for the delivery company to collect. The next slide presents this process in a diagram.

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Completing the Sale User Web Server Credit card details Transaction database Items sold and delivery details Internet connection Credit card details Authorisation Details of sale Sale confirmation page Warehouse/goods despatch system Credit card authorisation service

09/04/2015Unit 2 (b) Assessment Evidence Produce diagrams for the e-commerce website that you have described showing the events involved in an online purchase. These diagrams should be effectively presented and should show  The flow of information between the user, the website and other back-office processes  How the virtual shopping basket is maintained  How customers are identified and authorised  How payment is processed  How the system links with stock control, despatch and delivery