Sept/Oct 2003

A "pay-as-you-go" order processing service for the e-commerce and mail order sector is being launched by Exact Abacus. The company says it is designed to allow users to treat IT as a fixed cost related to the level of business service they need and the volume of orders taken. Prices start at 15p per order processed.

The company says a number of businesses are already planning to adopt the outsourced business model, including Kettler, a long-standing user of its Abacus 3EX software. Hewlett-Packard server clusters have been set up to take over and complete Web business transactions in the event of a server failure.

Exact Abacus says that under the new scheme it will build, deliver and maintain order-processing systems to customer requirements, including multi-channel systems involving call centre integration, Internet selling, digital television and traditional catalogue fulfilment.