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Overview
Affordable, scalable and proven, Escalate's Ecometry Commerce Suite is fueling over 250 direct marketing businesses today ranging from emerging firms processing a few hundred orders per day up to the titans of the direct world processing over 200,000 orders per day.
Escalate's Ecometry Commerce Suite is designed to grow with your business over time and includes two dozen optional modules with pre-built integration into Escalate Retail's e-commerce and POS platform. Our Open Systems design gives you the choice over technology alternatives and ensures that your investment will work with tomorrow's hardware and database solutions. Product Tour: Ecometry Direct Commerce Suiteclick on the image below  Overview
Affordable, scalable and proven, Escalate's Ecometry Commerce Suite is fueling over 250 direct marketing businesses today ranging from emerging firms processing a few hundred orders per day up to the titans of the direct world processing over 200,000 orders per day.
Ecometry Commerce Suite is designed to grow with your business over time and includes two dozen optional modules with pre-built integration into Escalate Retail's e-commerce and POS platform. Our Open Systems design gives you the choice over technology alternatives and ensures that your investment will work with tomorrow's hardware and database solutions Product Tour: Ecometry Direct Commerce SuiteClick on the image below:
Merchandising
ITEM CONTENT
Managing product involves defining integrated system reactions throughout the company when a given product number is referenced. This includes online during a search for products, in the shopping cart, in the call center when a product is keyed and upsell automatically flashes on the screen, or in the warehouse when the laser gun reads the order for shipping confirmation.
Managing product requires a system that will allow every conceivable reaction to be defined, yet is "smart" enough to bypass unnecessary functions. The Commerce Engine was designed to provide the ultimate in product definition with minimum data input, all within a single program.
Design Features
- Internal Product Number Tracking
The Commerce Engine assigns an internal product number for all tracking and analysis. Any code can be used to refer to a product. A code can also be changed without any loss of historical tracking data.
- Automatically Summarized Product Numbers
A product code (of up to twenty (20) characters) can specify three (3) sub-levels for the prompting and report subtotals. These sub-levels can vary from product to product.
- User Control of Status Description
The messages displayed on the screen for status and other product-related codes can be changed with the Screens Management module.
- Vendor Product Master
The Commerce Engine allows up to nine (9) vendors to be specified for a product and maintains data unique to each vendor for a product (i.e. vendor product number, cost, lead-time, etc.).
PURCHASING
Managing purchasing involves balancing two important needs: the major cash investment in inventory and the ability to fulfill customer orders as soon as they are received.
An ideal system would allow a company to receive products for inventory the same day it receives orders from customers. However, perfect, just-in-time delivery is rarely a real-world option. Getting as close to that ideal as possible and eliminating lengthy backorders is a reasonable goal - one that Purchasing Management addresses.
Design Features
- OnLine Vendor Search
A client can search for a vendor using the full facilities of customer search and retrieval, including Contact Names, Vendor Name, City, State and Zip Code.
- Automation of Purchasing
The Commerce Engine provides for online automation of purchasing with key and predictive analysis of future needs. Recommended-to-buy reporting functions instantly create suggested quantity purchase order requisitions for review.
- Allows for Multiple Due Dates for a Product
The Commerce Engine allows a client to specify multiple due dates for a product within a single purchase order. This allows a client to spread out receipt dates based on predictive forecasting while the purchase order is being entered.
- Automated Drop Ship
Drop-ship purchase orders are created automatically and distributed to client vendors via EDI, Fax, Email or through a conventional print format.
- Automatic Purchase Products
Products that clients do not stock and that cannot be drop-shipped can be set up for automatic purchase. When a customer orders the product, the system will automatically generate a purchase order to the vendor. A client simply orders the product and when it is received the system will release that customer's order for picking and shipping.
- Faxing Purchase Orders
When the client completes a purchase order, the Commerce Engine simply issues it. With the optional Fax server, the system will Fax the document to the vendor. Otherwise, the system will print the purchase order.
PRODUCT DEMAND ANALYSIS
Overview
- Product Demand Sales
Demand sales activity for the past five weeks is displayed in summary. By clicking tab, demand sales for up to three years can be viewed.
- Inventory Position
Current Physical Inventory is displayed along with In Process Inventory, Current Backorders, Current Available Inventory and Total Inventory Due on pending purchase orders.
- Purchase Activity
The oldest four purchase orders are displayed in summary. By clicking tab, a client can also see the detail of all purchase orders including received quantity and date information.
VENDOR PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
Overview
- Vendor Sales
This reporting function provides shipped sales of the product, typically for reporting to the Vendor or the Manufacturer. Sales are extended with cost.
- Vendor Sell-Thru Report
This reporting function provides shipped sales of the product, typically for reporting to the Vendor or the Manufacturer. Sales are reported with zip code.
- Vendor Items Shipped
This reporting function provides shipped sales of the product, typically for reporting to the Vendor or the Manufacturer. Sales are displayed with Backorders, Quantity on Hand and Current Available.
Financial Management
OPEN ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
Design Features
- Credit Approval
Open Account Management is fully integrated with the system to control the extension of credit to customers. The system holds in Credit Approval all Open Account and COD orders for customers who are over their open account or COD credit limit, providing information for a speedy credit approval process and a lower bad debt ratio.
- Multi-Company Multi-Division
Run multiple companies with multiple divisions, all from the same set of screens. This eliminates the need to log-on to other programs or applications in order to access Accounts Receivable data from another operation.
- Lock Box Integration
Load the file and built-in interfaces bring data back from a Lock Box service provider.
- Automated Dunning
A dunning function that automates dunning letters. Establish the amount and aging criteria and the letters are automatically generated.
- Automated Write-Off
Write off a series of open debits or credits based on the age and amount, or write them off individually.
- Flexible Payment Options
Open account customers can pay past-due accounts over the phone by credit card. Key the credit card number into the Payment Application screen and apply the payment to the open debits.
- Foreign Currency Integration
Up to 99 currencies can be run simultaneously. Customers will be billed in their home currency. A/R Aging reports are converted into the client's base currency.
- Reprint Invoice
Selectively reprint any invoice at any time.
- Online Credit Approval
The Credit Approval function holds all Open Account and COD orders for customers who are over their credit limits. View the quantity and status of orders awaiting approval or select a particular order or task through the hold buckets. All necessary account information is displayed for each order on hold for credit approval. This data is presented online with real-time updating. If a payment is applied to an account, that payment will be reflected in the payment history immediately after posting.
- Status and Quantity
The Main Menu in Credit Approval displays the status and quantity of all orders awaiting credit approval. These orders are segregated into logical groupings based on the reason the order was held or what action has taken place.
- New Accounts
Orders for first-time customers with open account as method of pay. The value of the order is greater than the established, default open account credit limit.
- Over Credit Limit
Open account orders for current customers and the value of their current order exceeds their open account credit limit.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE MANAGEMENT
Escalate Retail's tightly integrated Accounts Payable solutions ensure efficient, timely payment of invoices while automatically maximizing available discounts and terms. Powerful applications for invoice entry, matching, and General Ledger distribution react within retailer-defined variance tolerances to automatically post receipts, debit memos, credit memos, and cost adjustments to the Escalate Retail master database to minimize payment processing time, facilitate vendor relationship management, and keep all critical accounts (sales, inventory, cash, etc.) accurate and up-to-the-minute. Transactions may be received electronically to minimize staff in the Accounts Payable area.
GENERAL LEDGER MANAGEMENT
Escalate Retail General Ledger applications keep financial analysts out of the details and focused on issues that impact the bottom line. Comprehensive, flexible General Ledger management applications are complemented by robust Financial Reporting tools that allow each retailer to personalize the system to accommodate specific business requirements and make month and year ends straight-forward and trouble-free. Analysts are empowered to make proactive business decisions that manage cash flow more effectively, and plan financing to minimize unnecessary cash on hand.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Financial Analytics combines General Ledger and Accounts Payable applications into a unified view of the organization that quickly and efficiently aligns business strategies, actuals, budgets, and operational plans. By integrating the various data elements required for budgeting, closings, analysis, and reporting, Financial Analytics shortens the time-to-close period, reduces costs, and allows the company to sharpen its focus on future events. Analysts can evaluate risks and opportunities to arrive at more timely, profitable decisions.
ACCOUNTING CONTROL
The Accounting Control module contains several accounting-related master files and functional modules that provide enhanced financial control.
- Transaction Control
- Recommended Chart
- Refund Check Number Update
- Cost Adjustment
- Invoice Approval
- Related Reports
- Cost Adjustment
- Related Reports
- Drop Ship Invoice Approval
- Related Reports
- Dunning Management
- Dunning Processing
- Agency Extract
- Credit Card Company Entry
- Clear Ticket
- Supported Credit Card Processing Agents
- Foreign Currency Period Table
- Foreign Currency Rate Table
- Write Off Credits and Debits
- Void Coupons Gift Certificates
Supply Chain
ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT EXCHANGE
Effective collaboration depends upon the timely, accurate, and seamless exchange of information between all trading partners. VendorConnect speeds the accurate transmission of purchase orders, purchase order acknowledgements, advance ship notices, invoices, and many other transaction types to trading partners throughout the supply chain. By integrating e-mail, web applications, electronic data interchange (EDI), and XML, into a unique "Any-to-Any" exchange, critical documents are translated into the appropriate format for the immediate electronic flow of information between business partners of any size, running on any platform. VendorConnect streamlines and integrates the supply chain to improve margins, maximize order fulfillment levels, facilitate excellent communication with all trading partners, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Order Fulfillment
WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT
The warehouse management system must provide the capability to handle day-to-day operations with ease as well as the ability to handle exceptions as if they were day-today operations. Escalate Retail provides control from receipt of product through shipping.
Design Features
- Product Review
Using a single softkey, review location information, purchase order information, all past inventory transactions, vendor information and sales information for a product. This allows instant up-to-date information in order to assist in the receiving, stock adjustment and movement activity.
- Product Characteristics
Product attributes from the Item Master are displayed, including the Product Status, Substitute SKU, Price, Min and Max Sales Quantity, Weight, Height, Width, Depth, Ship-Method, Cost, Primary Picking Location, Capacity & Restock, Reorder Point and the Average Cost of all of the FIFO layers in current inventory.
- Product Demand Sales
Demand Sales Activity for the past five weeks is displayed in summary. Pressing a function key displays demand sales for up to three years.
- Inventory Position
Current Physical Inventory is displayed along with In Process Inventory, Current Backorders, Current Available Inventory and Total Inventory Due on Pending purchase orders.
- Purchase Activity
The oldest four (4) Purchase Orders are displayed in summary. Pressing a function key will display the detail of all purchase orders including received quantity and date information.
- Vendor Data
All data pertinent to each vendor is displayed and margin is calculated per vendor.
- Inventory Transactions
A complete ledger of each inventory adjustment, movement and receipt are kept permanently in history. Each transaction logs the time, date and ID of the person performing the transaction. Each type is also broken out into a separate review screen.
- Promotional Links
Pressing a function key displays each Offer that the product is advertised in. Prices, Descriptions and Page Numbers are displayed for convenience.
- Detail Product Promotional Information
Upsells, Cross-Sells, Technical Specs, Product Care Information and more are available by pressing the Added Information key.
- Location Contents
View the products, quantities and cost of product by location in the Location Review function. Without running a paper report, an instantaneous display of all products in a given location is available.
- Warehouse Master Maintenance
The Warehouse Master Entry screen allows clients to define and maintain all of the valid shipping warehouses and logical warehouses.
SHIPPING MANAGEMENT
Management of the shipping operation requires accuracy as well as maximum productivity, requiring automation of the confirmation process. Escalate Retail provides automation with laser bar code scanners and on-line weighing stations. An optional module for In-Line Shipping is available. This module supports unmanned shipping stations.
The design of Shipping Control is based on the experience gained from controlling the shipping accuracy of millions of packages annually.
Design Features
- Managing Shipments
Online ship confirmation allows for automatic ship methods assigned by the system and shipping zones determined by the system. Shipping labels are printed as part of the packing slip and affixed during the packing process. At the shipping stations, the laser scanner reads the bar-coded label, the weight is passed to the system via the online scale, and manifest entries are automatically calculated. The operator does not have to enter any data to ship packages and collect the manifest information. Additionally, Customer Service can issue a stop shipment request for an order that has not yet reached the scale. When it does reach the scale, the system will display a message to the operator that a stop shipment has been requested and will not allow ship confirmation to take place, eliminating the need to manually search for orders in process in the warehouse.
- Ship Date Control
Control the actual shipping date for all orders that are scanned into the system. Cut production line at 3:00, load UPS and then continue shipping for the next day's pick up.
- Key Exceptions
Turn on an exception facility by pressing a single softkey. Tell the system that the ship method has changed or comments need to be added to the shipment for Customer Service purposes or a non-system package must be added to the manifest.
- On-Line Package Review
Prior to printing the manifest, review scanned entries in the shipping manifest to check for packages where there may be questions and selectively remove any from the manifest to correct any errors.
- Computerized Manifesting
As the truck prepares for loading, automatically create approved manifests by pressing a function key.
- Productivity Data Capture
Capture the name and time of pickers as they pick orders, as well as the name and time of packers as they pack orders. This helps motivate personnel, improve accuracy and enhance productivity.
- Picking Control
Capture the ID of personnel that pick orders and generate a report on their productivity.
- Starting Lots
A terminal is placed at the beginning of the logical pick flow in picking area of the warehouse. All pickers scan or enter their employee IDs and the lot number from the pick lot they are working from.
- Ending Lots
This terminal is placed at the end of the pick line. The picker "scans out" at this workstation to record the end time of the pick.
- Automatic Order Checking
Utilizing bar-code technology, validate each order to ensure that picking accuracy is 100%. This effectively eliminates customer return orders due to picking errors.
- Simple Operation
Scan in the order number and each product on the order. If a product is scanned that does not belong with an order, it will be rejected. If an incorrect quantity is scanned, the system will issue an alert. At any point in the scanning process, review all of the products that are to be packed with the order with a single keystroke.
- Printing Extra Shipping Labels
The standard packing slip provides one (1) shipping label. Print additional labels on demand for orders needing extra labels.
- Ship Confirm Options
In most environments orders are individually ship-confirmed on a scale to ensure accuracy of weight, allow for a package to be stopped, and to capture the correct shipping time. With mixed products, it is almost impossible to compute the weight of all of the products, shipping charges and packing materials properly. Therefore, single package confirmation is usually a necessity.
- Ship Confirm by Lot Numbers
Mass ship-confirm many orders without having to scan and weigh each order individually.
- Used For Large Volume
This function is used for operations that ship large volumes of single product orders and typically have a very limited number of SKU's. Many times in this environment, the product is packaged in its final shipping carton, stored and ready to ship by simply affixing a label.
- Ship Confirm by Batch
An input file with shipped order data can be used to mass ship-confirm orders.
- Used For Drop-Ship
This is used for operations that drop-ship a large volume of their orders directly from a supplier. If the supplier or outsider shipper can supply the data, this process eliminates the need to trace the orders individually.
RETURNS MANAGEMENT
Management of customers' returns requires speed and accuracy for superior customer service. Ecometry Commerce Suite provides for complete one-step return processing with automatic exchange order processing options.
Design Features
- Automated Order Search
In the returns process, search for a customer and, in turn, search for all orders containing given products. These functions will save time in researching returns that have been sent back without the proper documentation.
- Unlimited Search Capability
Find a customer using virtually any of the customer name and address data available. For a detailed description of all of the search features, refer to the Order Management section of this manual.
- On-Line Order Selection by Product
Tell the system to search for all orders that contain a given product. This eliminates having to scan all the detail of orders to find the product that is being returned. The system will do the scanning automatically.
- Return Processing
Return processing is interactive and online, with immediate updating of all credit, financial and inventory data.
- Variable Return Prompting
The return prompts will vary depending on the type of return being processed - complete order to individual item, regular return or exchange return to no product return.
- Regular Return
Returns that have been sent back for credit are processed automatically, resulting in a credit against the account, a refund check or a charge card credit, depending on how the original order was paid.
- Return For Exchange
Returns for exchange of another product are handled automatically. Any under or over financial accounting required will follow the same guidelines set up for Order Management.
- Complete Order Returned
To return the Complete Order, enter the order number, the client-defined reason for the return and the return location.
- Individual Product(s) Within an Order
To return part of an order, the system will display the complete order. Indicate the return quantity, and the location where the product will be returned.
- Refused Return
A return that has been refused by the customer will be processed automatically. A COD refusal will close out the COD transaction and post the financial data required. The return reason is automatically coded as refused.
- Undeliverable Return
A return due to an undeliverable address will be processed automatically, resulting in a hold on the order with the necessary financial data posted automatically. The return reason is automatically coded as undeliverable.
- Authorized Return
Orders can be authorized for return in customer service. These orders already have pre-determined credits and return reasons and only require the inventory disposition.
- User Defined Return Reasons
Specify up to ninety-nine (99) reasons for a return, allowing clients to design their own tracking system. User defined reasons are used in various reporting modules for analysis of returned products.
- Extra Credit Policy
Specify that any extra credit and/or postage and handling that was charged to the customer should be either refunded or not refunded.
- Locations for Returns
The system can be configured to force all inventory into one (1) location, or allow users to override the location to any warehouse location, or to use softkeys or alpha characters to indicate the location toggling from primary to bulk to damaged or back to the vendor. Adjustments to inventory resulting from a return are handled automatically.
- Automated Restock Labels
Attach a label printer to the return terminal. When processing returns into primary locations, it will print a label that can be affixed to the product so that the product will be returned to the proper location.
- Instantly Availablility
Returned products that have been routed to usable inventory, either in primary or bulk, are instantaneously available for order picking.
- Order Entry & Customer Service Integration
To look up order details, press the Customer Service key. When processing an exchange return, press a key to be transported into the order entry screen, with the customer's return exchange credit to complete the transaction.
WAREHOUSE ANALYSIS
Ecometry Commerce Suite provides the tools to plan and implement an efficient operation.
Design Features
- Use of Real-Time Graphics
A large part of Warehouse Analysis presents data in the form of barometers, which are graphic presentations of the warehouse production.
- User Definable Barometers
Clients can define barometers using any barometer elements that the system has specified.
- User Definable Barometer Refresh
Specify time increments for the system to automatically update the barometer data. Available time increments range from one second to one hour.
- Standard Reports
Get all the standard reports that are required to manage an operation on a dayto- day basis: productivity reports, stock reports and more.
- Customizable Reports
All standard system reports use a report customizer, a tool that moves columns around on a report, rearranges them, or deletes them, and replaces them with another element.
- Security Controlled
The report menu selections allow clients to designate by user.
- Export Files
Select to export any file from any report in Warehousing Analysis. These files can be easily downloaded to a personal computer for use in any application spreadsheet such as Excel, Lotus 1-2 -3, QuattroPro or any database program.
Campaign Management
PROMOTIONS
The results of careful Campaign Management and Analysis are of little use unless the results can be incorporated into customer promotions. Using the features in this module, customers can easily be selected or segmented into groups or cells that have been defined by marketing to achieve optimum results.
Implementation of these selections can be made quickly online and without technical assistance. Information is instantly available allowing for proactive response to customers' needs.
PROMOTION CONTROL
Design Features
- On-line Selections
Clients have complete online control of selection criteria with immediate access to the most recent information about customers.
- Multiple Output Selections
Customer selections can result in different output requirements including e-mail, letters, reports, labels and formatted output files. The outputs can be sorted by name, sales division and zip code.
- Mass Segmentation
Standard segmentation criteria can be predefined and saved for later use. This provides for consistency in naming conventions for Use codes and speed in generating new campaigns. Segmentation parameters include recency, frequency, monetary value, customer status and type.
- Product Based Selections
Customers can be selected based upon products that they have purchased, received and/or returned. This allows the quick generation of any necessary follow-up communications that are product based (i.e. recall notices, targeted product campaigns).
- User Defined Selections
Users can create customer lists using data mining tools and attach the list to the selection screen to incorporate any additional criteria not available on the selection screen.
- User Defined Reports
With the Report Customizer discussed below, users can define their own report formats from any combination of the Reporting Elements defined for Selected Promotions.
CUSTOMER EXTRACTS
Escalate Retail allows a company to select criteria for outbound campaigns and track call results. You can select prospects using your own criteria, assign sales representatives to prospects, take orders, schedule follow-up calls (CRM will alert rep when it is time to call that customer back and when the call back time has passed), and keep track of a prospect's current status. Unlimited notes at the contact level display a detail history as well as past purchases, total $, total orders, last order, and last contact. A database can be divided or assigned to specific telemarketers for optimum results and sales commissions can be automatically tracked and recorded.
ANALYSIS
Escalate Retail Analytics' real-time collaboration tools enable retailers to quickly and easily identify slow and fast movers, recognize opportunities, share single views of information, and ultimately make profitable business decisions. Analytics allows retailers to not only manage by exception, but also write their own rules to focus on issues that have the greatest potential to improve the bottom line.
Production & Operations
ORDER PROCESSING
Orders can be run on demand at any time. Logically, credit cards are normally authorized prior to running order processing.
- Regular Orders
Selecting regular orders will process all new orders without any backorders.
- Back Orders
Backorder processing will only analyze backorders for shipment.
- Expedite
Orders designated as "ship today" are processed.
- Regular - No Expedite
Just like regular order processing, this version excludes rush orders.
- Warehouse Backorder Processing
These orders could not be picked the first time in the warehouse due to stock shrinkage. The re-printed orders will show the products in question as backordered.
- Off-Premise Warehouse Production
When running multiple warehouses, selectively produce packing documents.
- Pre-Ship Installment
Use with installment billing routines where the customer is billed prior to shipment.
- Reprint Collates
Packing slips (collates) can be reprinted on demand.
- By Lot Number
Use pick lot number to reprint packing slips.
- By Order Number
Use order number for reprinting.
- Print CC Orders In Warehouse
Used to pick orders prior to authorization.
- Process Order by Order Number
Selectively process a single order or multiple orders.
- Process Orders With Available Inventory
A version of backorder processing that looks only at products with positive availability.
- Backorders by Item Number
Print orders for specific product. This function handles dock-to-dock receiving/shipping.
- Automatic Stock Moves
Allows reprints of automatic stock movement tickets.
CREDIT CARD PROCESSING
The system supports all major credit card clearing houses Seven jobs, representing each step in the process, are available in this menu.
- Credit Card Authorization
Create the file, the send-receive process and process the authorization/decline file. Credit card authorization can occur as often as the credit card bureau will allow.
- Credit Card Billing
Typically run on a daily basis, the file is created and sent to the bureau. Rejects are identified in a reply file.
GIFT CARD PROCESSING
The Escalate Retail Gift Card Processing solution includes support of Physical and Virtual Gift Cards that are exclusively sold and redeemed within the Escalate Retail system. Clients can choose Escalate Retail as the processor or use Escalate Retail's third party interface to ValueLink or Stored Value Systems. Choose your own vendor to produce the cards with the graphic image of your choice.
DUPLICATE NAME PROCESSING
Remove duplicate names on the system when the database is small. Possible duplicates are identified and can be merged online.
NCOA PROCESSING
National Change of Address data can be used to update customer records if the list has been run through NCOA at a list service bureau. The changes that are found can be easily applied. First, every ‘Nth" record on-line as shown in the application screen below is screened. Customers' current address records are displayed along with the proposed updates.
PENDING ORDER ANALYSIS
Order value is summarized by hold status and aged by current week, last week, more than two weeks and more than 3 weeks. Operationally, this report helps find problem orders that may have been overlooked.
Optional Modules
ASSEMBLY
Aimed at integrating light manufacturing with a retail operation, the Escalate Retail Assembly module provides the capabilities to buy and stock raw material, create bills of material to describe the assembly process, track costs for assembly (including labor and machine time) and predict demand for raw materials from the sales of finished goods.
WMS INTERFACE
Escalate Retail's real-time interface to third party Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) allows split second communication between the two applications. Escalate Retail users employ Escalate Retail functionality for all front end processing, such as marketing, item management, purchasing, order management, and customer service functions, while employing the external WMS for all warehousing functions, including receiving, inventory control, order fulfillment, and manifesting.
COMPUTER TELEPHONY INTEGRATION
Enhanced customer service and lower operating costs are attained through the synchronization of telephone and computer systems in a distributed call environment. Screen pops provide relevant customer data, allowing a service representative to personalize each call. Customer profile information is instantly available for order entry, reducing operator talk time and input error rates. Time efficiencies can be rededicated to upsell and cross-sell activities.
E-MAIL EXECUTIVE
E-Mail Executive is a personalized automated e-mail response system that receives e-mail messages from customers and categorizes them based on predetermined keywords. The module enables instant sorting and routing to appropriate departments so that a prompt and personalized response can be generated either manually or automatically.
CONTINUITY
For businesses marketing goods through clubs such as books, CDs, and videos, Escalate Retail Continuity module includes "club processing" functionality, installment billing and a variety of other features specifically designed to handle this type of fulfillment.
INSTALLMENT BILLING
The Escalate Retail Installment Billing module processes the billing of customers' credit cards in two or more equal installments, and the entire allied inventory and shipping functions associated with installment payments.
LOSS PREVENTION/FRAUD DETECTION
Loss prevention and fraud detection with Ecometry determines, by various internal and external criteria, whether or not to place an order on Fraud Hold. Orders on Fraud Hold must be reviewed and released prior to being available for Order Processing.
Ecometry internal fraud checking enables retailers to define specific criteria that are used to analyze orders for potential fraud. These criteria may be either temporary (the definition persists for a fixed, user-defined time period) or permanent (the definition persists until removed.) External fraud checking is performed through an interface to LexisNexis. This XML interface transmits customer data to LexisNexis for a risk score analysis through the Chargeback Defender. With external fraud checking, a risk analysis score from LexisNexis is required for all orders using a pay method flagged for External Fraud. The tolerance for risk score is a configurable system option - orders that receive a score below that tolerance are flagged as "Deny" and are held in the External Fraud queue until they are reviewed and resolved or cancelled.
With Loss Prevention and Fraud Detection from Ecometry, retailers can create their own hold rules using a variety of criteria including:
- Order type
- Ship method
- Pay method
- Order value
- Customer order history
- Bill-to/ship-to match/mismatch
STANDING ORDER
Escalate Retail Standing Order is a set of functions that automates periodic replenishment of a particular product or product category. A necessity for consumables or virtually any type of merchandise that can produce repeat sales, this option handles all the complex details involved in instituting and implementing this type of program.
REAL-TIME CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION
Escalate Retail provides enhancement, implementation and support for realtime credit card processing. Your call center and your web customers can submit secure credit charges in a real-time mode. Real-time authorization gives immediate feedback as to the customer's credit worthiness, thereby decreasing the possibility of reserving inventory for orders where the credit card may be invalid or declined.
PAYMENT PROCESSING
Payment Processing is an integral part of the Ecometry solution set. Through partnerships with most of the payment processors in the space, Ecometry works directly to handle authorization and settlement of orders. By working directly with the payment processors - we remove extra expenses and complications. The authorization can be handled through either a batch or real-time process - thus being able to communicate with the customer directly concerning their available credit. Escalate continues to keep apprised on industry trends - and are currently working on tokenization as an option for payment processing as well. In addition to the already existing functionality we have with the major alternative payment methods of: PayPal, Bill Me Later, and eBillme.
Key Features:
- Integrated gift card processing
- Integrated PayPal
- Integrated Bill Me Later
- Integrated eBillme
WISH LIST / GIFT REGISTRY
This module offers online customers the ability to create gift registries, such as those in the traditional retail arena, as well as personal wish lists, allowing shoppers to choose and store items that interest them for later purchase.
INLINE SHIPPING
Provides real-time order validation in an unmanned shipping environment through the use of socket communication to warehouse equipment consisting of overhead scanners, in-line motion scales, and rejection arms/diverts. Reduces manpower now used for the shipping process and improves shipping accuracy and efficiency.
OFFLINE SHIPPING
This module allows Escalate Retail clients to hook into a 3rd Party Shipping system of their choice, using our standard fixed formatted transactions and a real-time socket connection for communication at ship time.
GIFT CARDS
The Escalate Retail Gift Card Processing solution includes support of Physical and Virtual Gift Cards that are exclusively sold and redeemed within the Escalate Retail system. Clients can choose Escalate Retail as the processor or use Escalate Retail's third party interface to ValueLink or Stored Value Systems. Choose your own vendor to produce the cards with the graphic image of your choice.
WIRELESS WAREHOUSE
Wireless Warehouse provides for wireless real-time inventory updates between warehouse personnel and Escalate Retail Commerce Suite. It improves accuracy and productivity by gathering input data through barcodes and scanners. This module supports receiving, pallet building for receiving or stock moving, pallet depletion, single stock movements, stock adjustments, cycle counting, and physical inventory counting.
CONTACT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
Focused on promoting additional sales and/or driving collection revenues, Escalate Retail Contact Relationship Manager allows a company to select criteria for the outbound campaign and track call results. A database can be divided or assigned to specific telemarketers for optimum results and sales commissions can be automatically tracked and recorded.
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