Filemaker Credit Card Processing A Simple Definition

 

Filemaker Credit Card Processing A Simple Definition.In today’s world, companies are always in the lookout for better ways of processing transactions and reducing costs. One such solution is FileMaker which is a cross between a database management solution and an ECM system which supports credit card processing. In this article, the author will try to explain what FileMaker credit card processing is and how it helps to your business.

What is FileMaker?

FileMaker is an advanced and easy-to-use database tool manufactured by Claris International Ltd – an affiliate of Apple Inc, allowing the creation of unique applications, efficient for organizing various stock, customer and financial data. FileMaker is quite flexible and simple to work with and thus it is used by a lot of businesses.

The Basics of Credit Card Processing

Essentially, credit card processing entails a set of several processes that enable the completion of a transaction between the customer and the business. Here’s a simplified overview of the process:Here’s a simplified overview of the process:

1. **Authorization**: If a customer uses his or her credit card number by swiping or typing it, the transaction is processed to the payment gateway for approval. This step is usually helpful in checking whether the customer has enough balance so that his or her card is good.

2. **Authentication**: It has to transmit data to the credit card company to check whether or not the card details are correct and whether the transaction is real.

3. **Settlement**: When approved the transaction takes place and the customer’s money is debited to the business’s account. This step may possibly take a few days depending with the financial institutions providing such solutions.

4. **Reconciliation**: The last one include reconciling the transaction details with the records you have made in the accounting books to check whether they tally or not.

How FileMaker Integrates with Credit Card Processing

FileMaker also automates the credit card processing task through direct connection with the payment processors and the gateways. Here’s how it typically works:Here’s how it typically works:

1. **Integration Setup**: To begin with credit card acceptance by using the FileMaker, it is necessary to connect with a payment processor or gateway. This is normally made possible through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) of the payment processor. Here, the scripting facilities help you to set up these interconnects with no exhaustive programming background.

2. **Custom Forms and Layouts**: In FileMaker there is a possibility to develop the forms and layouts for entering the credit card details. These forms can be created in a way that required information such as card number, its expiry date, CSC, among others can be obtained without compromising on the security of the data.

3. **Processing Transactions**: When such integration is done, you can easily and directly process your transactions within FileMaker. If a customer enters their credit card details on your custom form, FileMaker interacts with the payment gateway to allow and capture the payment.

4. **Handling Responses**: FileMaker is also capable of receiving the responses of the payment gateway such as approval or non-approval of the transaction. To these you can create scripts to handle these responses and make the necessary changes in your records.

5. **Security and Compliance**: FileMaker offers its tools to perform secure credit card processing, as well as options that allow for the compliance with the PCI-DSS. This, among others, encompasses the protection of data including through adoption of measures such as data encryption and safe data management.

Filemaker Credit Card Processing A Simple Definition

Benefits of Using FileMaker for Credit Card Processing

1. **Customization**: The way you process your transactions is another major strength of FileMaker if you are using it for crediting card processing. It enables one to design forms and reports that would adequately suit his business needs without compromising on the side of the customer.

2. **Integration**: FileMaker is also versatile with the payment processors and gateways that you can use with it, bringing you the ability to select from the list that is best for you. Such integration can increase efficiency by minimizing efforts that are required to process the financial transactions.

3. **Efficiency**: By processing credit card transactions within this FileMaker, you are able reduce the work load chances of having to enter data manually. This can result in faster processing times and less errors which is far beneficial and will improve your efficiency.

4. **Real-time Data**: The real-time transaction processing allows you to have updated figures at all times and thus make the right decisions as per different analytical findings that you may get from the FileMaker. It is especially useful when tracking your sales performance, your cash flow and your customers.

5. **Security**: It’s equally important to note that through FileMaker’s security and permission settings there is protection of the information contained therein. Therefore, to avoid the leakage of customer credit card details, it is necessary to use the common set of security principles dealing with data encryption and its safe processing.

Practical Example: Setting Up FileMaker Credit Card Processing

Let’s walk through a practical example to illustrate how you might set up credit card processing in FileMaker:Let’s walk through a practical example to illustrate how you might set up credit card processing in FileMaker:

1. Choose a Payment Processor: It is advisable to go for a payment processor who has some integration with your FileMaker application. Some popular payment gateway services that are used by the e-business are stripe, PayPal, Authorize etc. Net.

2. Set Up the Integration: It is advised that FileMaker will use scripting or API integration to engage with the API of the payment processor. This entails the act of specializing your FileMaker database to make transaction requests and deal with reactions.

3. Design Your Forms: Develop templates in FileMaker for the entries of credit cards data. Remember that these forms have to be secure and have to meet the standards provided by the PCI-DSS.

4. Test the Integration: It is crucial to check the functionality of the integration before launching the application to the public; performing tests that will affirm whether or not the transactions are going through correctly and whether all information is processed through the right channels in regards to security.

5. Go Live: As soon as you are done testing the next thing that one could do is to process real transactions in your FileMaker application. Oversee the system from time to time in a bid to solve any arising problems.

Conclusion

FileMaker credit card processing can be a very convenient tool for handling such transactions because it is easy to install as well as easily customizable. Thus, with the help of payment processor integration and using FileMaker’s capabilities businesses can organize credit card payments’ acceptance while meeting security and compliance requirements. Regardless of whether you are an independent contractor or work for a big company, it will be beneficial for you to integrate FileMaker for credit card processing into your business infrastructure as it will improve the operations for both the management and the customers.

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