Universal merchant application, registration and boarding platform
A system for processing e-commerce transactions. The system includes one or more processors programmed to receive a selection of one or more alternative payment brands from a merchant. Each of said alternative payment brands including a different merchant application process. Further, the processors are programmed to receive merchant information from the merchant necessary to apply to the selected alternative payment brands and apply to each of the selected alternative payment brands using the merchant information in accordance with the merchant application process for the selected alternative payment brand.
1. A system for processing e-commerce transactions, said system comprising:
a computer with one or more processors and a memory, the computer configured to:
receive a remote selection of one or more alternative payment brands from a merchant over a communications network, each of said alternative payment brands including a different merchant application process;
receive merchant information from the merchant necessary to apply to the selected alternative payment brands over the communications network; and,
automatically apply to each of the selected alternative payment brands over the communications network using the merchant information in accordance with the merchant application process for the selected alternative payment brand;
wherein the computer is remote from the merchant and the selected alternative payment brands.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the processors are further programmed to provide the merchant with a graphical user interface requesting the selection, where the graphical user interface lists a plurality of alternative payment brands supported by a universal merchant platform (UMP), the UMP providing merchants with a unified payment protocol for conducting transactions with the alternative payment brands, each of the alternative payment brands having a different payment protocol for conducting transactions.
3. The system according to claim 1 , further including:
a memory including mappings between alternative payment brands and required fields;
wherein the processors are further programmed to provide the merchant with a graphical user interface requesting the merchant enter merchant information for each of the required fields of the selected alternative payment brands, as determined by the mappings;
wherein the merchant information is received from the graphical user interface.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the applying includes:
transmitting an application for each of the selected alternative payment brands to the selected payment brand over a communications network.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the applying includes:
selecting a sub-module for each of the selected alternative payment brands, where the sub-modules implement application logic for corresponding alternative payment brands and provide a unified interface to the application process; and,
submitting the merchant information to the sub-modules via the unified interface.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the processors are further programmed to:
receive notice that underwriting criteria of the selected alternative payment brands have been met; and,
in response to the notice, automatically register the selected alternative payment brands with the UMP for the merchant.
7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the underwriting criteria are defined by one or more rules.
8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the selected alternative payment brands include at least one of GOOGLE, PAYPAL, BILL ME LATER, AMAZON PAYMENTS, and TELECHECK.
9. A method for processing e-commerce transactions, said method carried out by a computer with at least a processor and a memory, and said method comprising:
receiving a remote selection of one or more alternative payment brands from a merchant over a communications network, each of said alternative payment brands including a different merchant application process;
receiving merchant information from the merchant necessary to apply to the selected alternative payment brands over the communication network;
automatically applying to each of the selected alternative payment brands over the communications network using the merchant information in accordance with the merchant application process for the selected alternative payment brand;
registering the merchant with a universal merchant platform (UMP) over the communications network to create a UMP account, the UMP providing merchants with a unified payment protocol for conducting transactions with the alternative payment brands, each of the alternative payment brands having a different payment protocol for conducting transactions;
receiving notice that underwriting criteria of the selected alternative payment brands have been met; and
in response to the notice, registering the selected alternative payment brands with the UMP account.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further including:
providing the merchant with a graphical user interface requesting the selection, where the graphical user interface lists a plurality of alternative payment brands supported by a universal merchant platform (UMP).
11. The method according to claim 9 , further including:
providing the merchant with a graphical user interface requesting the merchant enter data for each of the required fields of the selected alternative payment brands, wherein the required fields are determined by mappings between alternative payment brands and required fields.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the merchant information is received from the graphical user interface.
13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the applying includes:
transmitting an application for each of the selected alternative payment brands to the selected payment brand over a communications network.
14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the applying includes:
selecting a sub-module for each of the selected alternative payment brands, where the sub-modules implement application logic for corresponding alternative payment brands and provide a unified interface to the application process; and,
submitting the merchant information to the sub-modules via the unified interface.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the underwriting criteria are defined by one or more rules.
16. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the selected alternative payment brands include at least one of GOOGLE, PAYPAL, BILL ME LATER, AMAZON PAYMENTS, and TELECHECK.
17. One or more processors programmed to perform the method according to claim 9 .
18. A non-transitory computer medium carrying software which controls one or more processors to perform the method according to claim 9 .
19. A system for processing e-commerce transactions, said system comprising:
a universal merchant platform (UMP) providing merchants with a single interface for processing transactions involving a plurality of different alternative payment brands;
a computer with one or more processors and a memory programmed to:
receive a selection of one or more alternative payment brands from a merchant, each of said alternative payment brands including a different merchant application process;
receive merchant information from the merchant necessary to apply to the selected alternative payment brands;
apply to each of the selected alternative payment brands using the merchant information in accordance with the merchant application process for the selected alternative payment brand;
receive notice that underwriting criteria of the selected alternative payment brands have been accepted; and,
register the selected alternative payment brands with the UMP for the merchant.
20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the computer is remote from the merchant and the selected alternative payment brands.