ASPs and CSPs

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ASPs and CSPs

• Robert D. Cormia
• Electronic Commerce

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ASPs and CSPs and ISPs

• ASP - Application Service Provider
• transaction, application, and process management
• CSP - Commerce Service Provider
• an ISP with a packaged ecommerce offering
• ISP - Internet Service Provider
• where you get your Internet access
• now providing value added services
• web hosting and ecommerce applications

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ASP

• Comes in three distinct flavors
• managed applications
• service bureau
• complete outsourced transaction services
• Serve physical and web based business
• ERP, payroll, accounting, data mining
• ebusiness transactions, advertising, CRM
• Process, application, and infrastructure

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CSP

• an ISP with an ecommerce offering
• packaged and managed applications
• defined services for an ISP user base
• turnkey setup and functional operation
• often server licensed shrink wrap solution
• Open Market, InterShop, Miva Merchant
• payment processing usually is additional

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ASP vs. CSP

• ASPs are larger organizations
• focus on different market space
• can provide custom service offerings
• CSPs are ISPs with ecommerce
• typically will offer one or two packages
• have a defined package of services
• Web based offerings are a new model
• browser based, ASP hosted, fixed services

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Features and benefits

• reliable operation 24 x 7
• real time payment authorization
• log all transactions to a central server
• built in account or membership programs
• end-to-end security with SSL and certificates
• an ASP solution is usually a custom application
• a CSP solution is usually a packaged application

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Features and benefits

• a CSP owns solution and infrastructure
• set up is usually fast and straight forward
• your ISP has experience with application
• payments are usually an API or integrated
• ecommerce functionality is fairly complete
• need accounting / fulfillment / logistics modules
• advertising / customer relationship management

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Web based commerce

• web browser configurable packages
• set up account over the Web
• upload catalog or type in entries
• payment engine is usually built in
• administrative screens are included
• can be an ASP or CSP solution (or both)
• can be in a mall or portal based community

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Costs to operate

• typically 50 to 100 per month
• initial set-up fees and or licensing
• scalable based on size and features
• payments run roughly 50 per month
• SSL certificate and page 25 per month

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Typical providers

• ASPs
• Corio, US Internetworking, eCongo.com
• CSPs
• Open Market and InterShop
• Yahoo stores
• ViaWeb acquisition
• Web portals with shopping
• GeoCities, Lycos, InfoSeek, Yahoo Stores

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Shopping and selection

• features and benefits
• name brand reputation
• number of installed users
• customer support services
• integrated payments engine
• tiered and scalable offerings
• shopping experience and ease of set up

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Summary

• ASPs and CSPs are the new model
• outsourced application and process
• ASPs are more custom and high end
• ERP applications and service bureau
• CSPs offer server based applications
• usually shrink wrap / licensed applications
• Web browser / configurable systems
• Yahoo stores, and portal community sites