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Q:What is an ASP?
A: ASP stands for Application Solution Provider Q: What is the difference between ASP and Non-ASP Shopping carts?
A:
- ASP Shopping Cart Software: Application Service Provider (ASP) shopping carts are remotely hosted shopping cart software solutions that allow you to create, maintain and update your web store in a central web-based data location. ASP shopping cart providers also provide technological infrastructure and other services including store maintenance and support.
- Non-ASP Shopping Cart Software: Non-ASP shopping carts include free, open source and out-of-the-box (Downloadable) shopping cart solutions. Such kinds of ecommerce solutions do not provide any hosting services and are not responsible for your store maintenance, security or store operations.
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ASP Shopping Carts |
Non-ASP Carts |
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Start Up Cost
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Low
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High
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Investment in Infrastructure
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Not Required
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Required
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Data Management
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Easy management as data is stored at a central location.
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Difficult to manage as data may be distributed at multiple locations.
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Pricing
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Pay Per Use.
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One time license cost.
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Hosting Infrastructure
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Provided & Managed by the Application service provider.
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Provision & Management is your responsibility.
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Responsibility for Store Uptime
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Rests On Software Provider.
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Rests On You.
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Software Upgrades
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Usually Free. Real time upgrades possible, as the store is centrally located.
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Usually Paid. Manual installation is required.
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 Running a business using an ASP shopping cart proves less risky and is a more viable investment proposition especially for SMEs (Small & Medium Scale Enterprises) and low capital start up organizations.
More Value for Money:
ASP shopping carts work on a Pay Per Use pricing model and charge monthly fees. You are not required to pay a one-time lump sum license fee, which is the case with Non-ASP solutions.
Secondly, with remotely hosted shopping cart software you are not required to invest in creating technological infrastructure to support and maintain your online store. These are taken care of by the software provider such as Flashecom Inc.
Your monthly fees cover all your major expenses and are inclusive of the rental charges for using the software, providing technological infrastructure, and for hosting your website.
Lower Store Maintenance Expenses:
Application Service Providers like Flashecom Inc. are responsible for the smooth functioning of your storefront and safeguarding it from any emergency. All the expenses are shared among multiple clients that make the cost of store maintenance and business stability more affordable then Non-ASP shopping cart softwares.
Software Upgrades and other services:
Since your shopping cart software is remotely hosted, you are assured of easy and real-time software upgrades, which is not the case with non-ASP shopping cart software solutions.
To summarize, remotely hosted shopping cart solutions incorporates the qualities of easy store management with less investment at an affordable business continuity expense.
Q: What is the benefit of an ASP solution?
A: With an ASP solution you have a solution that is run by collective funds. The solution is worth millions of dollars and is constantly having the latest online features added. Many of these features are custom programming requests, that large customers and companies like Fed Ex, Ups and QuickBooks pick up the bill to have what they needed added to the solution in a hurry. These features are paid for in addition to all the additional features we already have on the development board. Who benefits? The customer paying and the customers who have the Flashecom ASP solution, due to the fact that with a click of the upgrade button you receive those additional features at no additional cost!
Q: What do I get when I sign up to be a Flashecom customer?
A: You get a proven solution, R&D team, programming team, design team, marketing team and this is just skimming the surface! We at Flashecom are constantly looking for new ways to better our solution to grow your business! Our R&D department talks to hundreds of customers weekly, and travel all over the country to attend the latest e-commerce trend conventions, seminars and anything else that might give your website an advantage over your competitor.
Q: Why do I not own my website?
A: The solution we provide is owned and developed by Flashecom Inc. This solution is a tested proven solution, used by thousands of companies and hosted by our company. Just as an apartment is not owned by its occupant, that occupant has privacy and the ability to express their personal style. Our ASP solution is similar. You have the freedom to use our multi million dollar solution to express your personal business model.
Q: What happens if I want to switch to a different company?
A: We at Flashecom do not lock you into any contracts; we find that this keeps us on our toes. We know that we had better deliver a solution that is constantly filled with the latest’s features, and that our customer service needs to be tip top because if it is not you have the ability to cancel.
Q: What about my customers, can I take them with me if I go?
A: Yes we give you the ability to export your customers, products, e-mail campaigns and many other fields as well.
Q: Do you charge a percentage of my sales?
A: No. Flashecom gives you a flat monthly fee which includes hosting, the application, unlimited toll free tech support, and all additional upgrades at no additional cost.
Q: Will the price on the solution ever go up?
A: Yes. If you start to get a huge amount of visitors to your website you will need to move up to a more dedicated traffic solution. Most people start with our basic solution which has a shared server and bandwidth program. Just as too many cars on a freeway cause a traffic jam, too many visitors at a time will slow down your site. We have packages that are engineered to handle the growth of your e-business.
Q: Do I need to know HTML to create my online store?
A: No. You do not need to know any HTML or other programming languages to use the Flashecom ecommerce solution, or to build and maintain your store. It is possible, however, to use HTML and Flash throughout the ecommerce software to enhance the layout and design.
Q: Do you offer custom design?
A: We have a fantastic custom design department! Our design department can create a store that reflects your personal business model. Combine talent with the knowledge of what works on line, and you have a store front designed to capture the visitor within the first 30 seconds answering the three basic questions.
- What is it that you do?
- What makes you different than your competitors?
- Why should they buy from you?
30 seconds is all you have before they click off to your competitor …
Q: Can you help me with marketing?
A: Yes. At Flashecom, we have an entire team available to assist you with your online marketing needs. We have proven solutions that will get your site to the top of the search engines, as quickly as possible.
Q: Can you help set up the solution from start to finish?
A: Yes. We have turnkey packages that include everything you need to get started! We can enter your products, take images of your products, write descriptions, create an optimized navigational structure, create a custom design, and launch your site with as little headache as possible.
Q: What is the average turnaround time to launch a website with Flashecom?
A: Including custom design and entering your products, it will take approximately 4-6 weeks create and launch a professional website that is ready for immediate sales!
Q: Do I have to sign a locked contract for the Flashecom solution?
A: No. If the solution is not working out for your company for any reason you can cancel by sending an e-mail 30 days before your next monthly charge. We have found that offering this option helps keep us on our toes. Knowing that you can cancel at any time pushes our staff to give you the best uptime, toll free tech support, and give you many new features at no additional cost to you!
Q: Can I see some sites you have created?
A: Certainly. Visit our client gallery.
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