MYOB US, the folks behind MYOB AccountEdge, is hosting demonstrations and discussions at their Macworld Expo San Francisco booth (#4040) to show small business owners the benefits of using its recently announced eBusiness Gateway services for electronic processing of automatic payments, direct deposits, credit card processing and vendor payments.
In late November 2001, MYOB US launched the first phase of their new MYOB Business Center, which is designed to offer an environment from which small business owners can access or locate the tools they need to operate their companies strategically, intelligently and successfully for long term growth, according to company spokesperson Jennifer Lee.
The MYOB Business Center offers access to a wide variety of products and services for small businesses. The site is also a place where you can nab a free trial version of MYOB AccountEdge for the Mac. MYOB AccountEdge tackles such duties as job tracking, sales management, time billing, inventory, and payroll.
MYOB US enters the e-business service sector through its partnership with ACH Direct, making its services the first offered in conjunction with a small business accounting solution that combines electronic funds transfer (EFT) and credit card processing through a direct connection into the Federal Reserve ACH Network. It also represents a breakthrough for users as the first Mac EFT solution, according to Cynthia Mackewicz, general manager of MYOB US.
Available through the MYOB Business Center is Automatic Billing, the first of the new services, which lets businesses schedule payments from their customers on a recurring basis. The payments will be transferred automatically from the customer’s bank account or charged to their credit card account and placed directly into the MYOB merchant’s own bank account. Businesses using MYOB software will receive an email containing payment details that will easily import into current MYOB software, updating their accounting. This service is ideal for businesses that thrive on recurring billing, including health clubs, cleaning services, daycare centers, and others that charge their customers a fixed amount on a recurring basis, Mackewicz said.
The second and third stages of MYOB’s eBusiness Gateway services are scheduled for the first quarter 2002 and will include credit card processing, vendor payments and direct deposit. These services will be integrated with MYOB software and accessible directly from the products.
MYOB small businesses have access to collection agencies with “affordable, easy-to-use and fully trackable collection services available at special rates” via the business center, MYOB spokesperson Jennifer Lee said. The MYOB Business Center offers an application process to become an American Express merchant or to own an American Express Small Business card.
Checks, invoices and other computerized forms compatible with MYOB products, as well as manual forms, are available at the center, as are logo apparel, office supplies, holiday cards, and more. Information for third party developers on how to work with MYOB products and the opportunities now available with the new MYOB OBDC Direct driver for MYOB Plus is available at the MYOB Business Center.