SASSmail e-commerce integration
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Overview

Simply, SASSmail reads electronic mails from online shops, matches orders and payments, and outputs the details for subsequent processing. Encrypted emails are decrypted, as required.

SASSmail also downloads order and payment emails by file transfer protocol (ftp). An essential capability for merchants who experience email delays or losses. Requires minor change to shopping site.

SASSmail Lite produces HTML invoices in a user defined format - just edit the template with your favourite HTML editor.

SASSmail Pro produces files tailored for the production of customer invoices or shipping lists, VAT returns, and customer databases. It also includes Microsoft Word and Excel templates and macros so that invoices, or other documents, can be printed automatically.  As with SASSmail Lite, HTML invoices can also be produced.

SASSmail ProPlus includes 'order intercept' to allow you to accept, reject or amend orders prior to subsequent processing.

SMdb is an Access database specifically designed to store customer, order and payment data (more information).

An additional module, SMout, emails order summaries and invoices (as text and/or HTML or MS Word docs) to pre-configured addresses: back to the customer, to the merchant, or fixed email addresses. This module also sends mailshots to mailing lists derived from orders processed by the SASSmail Pro and ProPlus.

SASSmail is compatible with Shop@ssistant Classic Version 3 and Shop@ssistant Classic MC4, and with other e-commerce systems through the use of plug-in modules.

See diagram.

Principles of operation

SASSmail works by searching email files, MS Outlook Inbox, or the Clipboard, for pre-defined patterns (start and end of order, start and end of payment details) and specific keywords. Order and payment details are extracted from the emails and saved, and (optionally) printed to the system printer. Order and payment details are extracted and exported as CSV or tab delimited files and can be input directly to additional applications.
  • reads email folders
  • decrypts payment emails (SASSpay)
  • matches order and payment emails
  • allocates an order sequence number
  • creates HTML invoice
  • calls selected applications with order and payment data
SASSmail recognises fragment orders and payment details (e.g. missing end, missing start), and reports them to the user who can then check the incoming mails.

SASSmail is compatible with Shop@ssistant Classic (version 3) and Shop@ssistant MC4.

SASSmail Features

  • Identifies order and payment emails, as they arrive.
  • Extracts order and payment details directly from email folders, or from the Clipboard.
  • Matches order and payment emails using the order reference.
  • NetBanx, WorldPay, SecureTrading and SASSpay payment services.
  • Allocates numeric sequence number (cross referred to Shop@ssistant reference).
  • Automatically deletes order and payment details after printing (optional). No plain decoded credit card details need be stored.
  • Highly configurable - mail folders, orders directory, mail program, pgp password; also the strings for recognising start/end of order and start/end of payment details can be changed.
  • Recognises and reports duplicates and partial order / payment details.
  • Automatically produces HTML invoices for viewing with a web browser, editing with your favourite HTML editor, or transmission by email.
  • Repeat print of order details on request.
  • Automatically extracts details of products ordered into CSV or tab delimited files.
  • User defined profiles specify fields to be exported, their order, and a user defined “local” name.
  • Multiple data export profiles with different formats defined for processing by different applications, e.g. for invoices, customer database, shipping list, VAT returns.
  • Automatically calls external applications, e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, Access.
  • Compatible with Microsoft Outlook Express Versions 4 and 5, Outlook 2000, Eudora and other text based email tools.
  • SASSmail runs on industry standard PC running Windows.
  • Includes Microsoft Word, Excel and HTML invoice templates.
  • Customisable Plug-in Module to read merchant specific emails (e.g. emails from alternative shopping systems, competition entries, data capture).
  • Produces CSV files for input to third party applications (e.g. SAGE, Quicken).
  • Direct interface to read emails from MS Outlook and Exchange (MAPI).
  • 'Read and Process Orders then Quit' mode. Allows SASSmail to be scheduled to run at particular times of day, e.g. using the MS Scheduler.
SASSmail ProPlus Features

As SASSmail Pro plus:

  • Optionally intercept order for manaul attention
  • Accept orders for subsequent prcessing (e.g. print invoice, update database)
  • Discard orders if no further processing is required (e.g. fraudulent order)
  • Save orders for later processing (e.g. if out of stock)
  • Amend order details (e.g. change customer details, add instructions)
  • Amend ordered items (change items details, add or delete item)
  • Raise new order
  • Recalculate order totals and VAT
  • FTP order details from web server. Please ask about saving order details in a log file for later download

SMdb database module

The SASSmail database module imports customer, order, and item data from SASSmail Pro and ProPlus.

SMdb is an Access database comprising:

  • macros and modules that import the data
  • forms that allow records to be viewed and changed
  • sample query and report
  • transaction journal
It may be necessary to tailor the database to accommodate special fields contained in the order emails. It is envisaged that merchants will make full use of Access Wizards to enhance the basic database to produce their own reports etc.

SMdb requires Access 2000 or later and SASSmail version 5. A good knowledge of MS Windows is recommended.

SMout outgoing email module

The SASSmail outgoing email module (SMout) processes tab-delimited files produced by SASSmail Pro and ProPlus. Three main functions are currently available:
  • Order forwarding (back to the original customer, to the merchant,  and/or to other nominated email addresses, including item suppliers). The email content is user configurable and can comprise plain text, including data extracted from individual orders, and the SASSmail HTML or Word invoice.
  • Shipping Lists to single email address (sends MS Word or HTML Shipping Lists produced by SASSmail).
  • Mailshots to mailing lists derived from customer orders, and other sources.
Mailing List Subscribe and Unsubscribe are also provided (through SASSmail).

SASSmail's PC requirements

  • System requirements: Windows 9*, Windows NT, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP.
  • Email Program: requires email program such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Outlook 2000, Eudora or Netscape Communicator etc. (SASSmail is designed to operate with text based email files, as well as directly with MS Outlook through 'MAPI').
  • Disk requirements: 2 Mb disk space plus up to 5K bytes maximum per order (approx, depending on version and data deletion options).

Performance

  • 200 orders processed per minute on a Pentium 233 (orders email and SASSpay encrypted emails); most of this time is taken for decrypting credit card details. If SASSpay is not enabled, then the estimated rate is 1000 orders per minute.

    • These figures exclude printing time, and time taken by third party applications.

SASSmail e-commerce integration
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