Paypal, Virtual Cart Database in Filemaker

Disorganization is killing us!

[tanksalot]

We have a small growing online business that takes orders via Paypal, Virtual Cart and by phone. We're still using a very old Macintosh-based Filemaker Pro 2.1, and the data-management is getting overwhelming. We're also using a PC-based computer and Shiprite shipping program (based on Microsoft Access) for shipping parcels. What approach would streamline and centralize all the data with the least amount of stress, hopefully providing online access to order status & tracking numbers?

[shri]

Hi there,

Have you considered migrating everything to an online ecommerce type setup?

The first thing you probably want to do is make a list of all the tasks that you want to automate. For example...

1) Inventory Management
2) Online Shopping
3) Order management
4) Shipping -- partial shipments, tracking,
5) Basic customer service

There are dozens of good packages available for free or at very reasonable costs which can be used with little or no custom programming...

[tanksalot]

shri:
Thanks for replying! I really like the "free" part of your response.

What I was hoping to do is have a secure online database into which I could import Virtual Cart and Paypal data, as well as entering customer phone orders. Then the tasks of keeping track of orders fulfilled (or not), questions pending and inter-employee communications could be centralized. The routine "which unit did he prefer?" or "was he also getting the accessory widget?" or "what was the tracking number and how was it sent? answers could be all in one place. With Shiprite we have to key in recipient info., (and there's really not that many customers), but due to the specialized nature of our products there seems to be a LOT of questions and discussions which get bewildering. I've also considered a .mac subscription, where I could put my Filemaker file and then access it remotely.

Thanks again for the response.
STan F.