About Merchant Lynx Services
Widely recognized as the global payment technology innovator, Merchant Lynx Services delivers complete card payment terminal, network access device, server and transaction networking solutions that help merchants and financial institutions generate revenues and increase profits.
AS A MERCHANT, YOU KNOW HOW INCONVENIENT AND COSTLY A RETURNED CHECK CAN BE! Merchant Lynx's check guarantee service will eliminate the risks and inconveniences that are usually associated with accepting checks.
Merchant Lynx Services, Consumers increasingly are turning to plastic over paper when they open their wallets. Merchant Lynx Services, credit and debit card spending exceeded $1 trillion in 1998, making it a necessary payment option for most businesses.
Yet many small businesses still don't accept credit cards. If you're one of the laggards, the entire transaction may retain the aura of a mystic ritual — swipe a card, input some numbers, and money magically appears in the bank. In credit card, the card number, the amount, and the merchant ID travel over the credit card processor's computer network. The credit card processor can either be a bank or a company that does nothing but provide credit card processing services.
From the processor's network the transaction goes to a credit card computer network. Merchant Lynx Services, if the customer is using Visa, for example, the transaction will go to Visa's network. In turn, the electronic transaction goes to the bank that actually issued the card. The bank then checks the account and verifies the customer has adequate credit to cover the purchase. The bank then sends the merchant an authorization over the network. Now the sale is complete, but the transaction is not — no money has changed hands yet.
Merchant Lynx Services, at the end of the business day, the merchant sends that day's charges, in a batch, to the credit card network for processing. The transactions travel via the merchant's credit card processor. Individual transactions are then stripped out and sent back to the individual cardholders' banks. Banks then debit cardholders' accounts and make appropriate payments to the merchant's credit card processor through the Federal Reserve Bank's Automated Clearing House.
All organizations today rely on computer and information technology to conduct business and operate more efficiently. Often, however, these institutions do not have the internal resources to effectively implement new technologies or satisfy their changing needs. When faced with such limitations, organizations turn to the computer systems design and related services industry to meet their specialized needs.
Goods and services. Firms enlist the services of an establishment in the computer systems design and related services industry on a contract or customer basis for help with a particular project or problem, such as setting up a secure Web site or establishing a marketplace online. Alternatively, firms may choose to contract out to a computer services firm one or more activities, such as the management of their onsite data center or help-desk support.
Services provided by this industry include custom computer programming services; computer systems design services; computer facilities management services, including computer systems or data processing facilities support services; and other computer-related services such as disaster recovery and software installation. Computer training contractors, however, are included in the Career Guide in the section on educational services, and establishments that manufacture computer equipment are included in the Career Guide in the section on computer and electronic product manufacturing. Establishments primarily engaged in providing computer data processing services at their own facility for others are discussed in the Career Guide in the section on Internet services providers, Web search portals, and data processing services. Producers of packaged software and Internet-based software are covered in the Career Guide in the section on the software publishers industry. Telecommunications services, including cable Internet providers, are covered in the Career Guide in the section on the telecommunications industry.
Industry organization. In 2006, there were 159,000 establishments in the computer systems design and related services industry. Merchant Lynx custom programming establishments write, modify, test, and support software to meet the needs of a particular customer. These service firms may be hired to code large programs, or to install a software package on a user’s system and customize it to the user's specific needs. Programming service firms also may update or reengineer existing systems.
Merchant Lynx Services
Systems design services firms plan and design computer systems that integrate computer hardware, software, and communications technologies. In addition, they often install these systems and train and support the people who use them. The systems’ hardware and software components may be provided by the design firm as part of integrated services, or may be provided by third parties or vendors.
Computer facilities management services usually are offered at the customer’s site. Establishments offering these services provide onsite management and operation of clients’ computer systems and facilities, as well as facilities support services.
Electronic business, referred to as e-business, is any process that a business organization conducts over a computer-mediated network. Electronic commerce, referred to as e-commerce, is the part of e-business that involves the buying and selling of goods and services online. With the growth of the Internet and the expansion of e-commerce, some service firms specialize in developing and maintaining sites on the World Wide Web (see below) for client companies. Others create and maintain corporate intranets or self-contained internal networks that link multiple users within an organization by means of the Internet or, more recently, wireless technology. These firms design sophisticated computer networks, assist with upgrades or conversions, design programming features for clients, and engage in continual maintenance. They help clients select the right hardware and software products for a particular project, and then develop, install, and implement the system, as well as train the client's users. Service firms also offer consulting services for any stage of development throughout the entire process, from design and content development to administration and maintenance of site security.
Recent developments. The widespread use of the Internet and intranets also has resulted in an increased focus on security. Security threats range from damaging computer viruses to online credit card fraud and identity theft. The robust growth of e-commerce highlights this concern, as firms use the Internet to exchange sensitive information with an increasing number of clients. In order to mitigate this threat, many organizations are employing the services of security consulting firms, which specialize in all aspects of information technology (IT) security. These firms assess computer systems for areas of vulnerability, manage firewalls, and provide protection against intrusion and software “viruses.” They also play a vital role in homeland security by keeping track of people and information.
Merchant Lynx Services
Hours. In 2006, workers in the computer systems design and related services industry averaged 38.3 hours per week, compared with 33.9 for all industries combined. Many workers in this industry worked more than the standard 40-hour workweek—about 19 percent work 50 or more hours a week. For many professionals and technical specialists, evening or weekend work is commonly necessary to meet deadlines or solve problems. Professionals working for large establishments may have less freedom in planning their schedule than do consultants for very small firms, whose work may be more varied. Only about 7 percent of the workers in the computer systems design and related services industry work part time, compared with 15 percent of workers throughout all industries.
Work environment. Most workers in the computer systems design and related services industry work in clean, quiet offices. Those in facilities management and maintenance may work in computer operations centers. Given the technology available today, however, more work can be done from remote locations using fax machines, e-mail, and especially the Internet. For example, systems analysts may work from home with their computers linked directly to computers at their employer or a client. Computer support specialists, likewise, can tap into a customer’s computer remotely in order to identify and fix problems. Even programmers and consultants, who often relocate to a customer’s place of business while working on a project, may perform work from offsite locations.
Merchant Lynx Services
Those who work with personal computers for extended periods may experience musculoskeletal strain, eye problems, stress, or repetitive motion illnesses, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Merchant Lynx Services - In 2006, there were about 1.3 million wage and salary jobs in the computer systems design and related services industry. While the industry has both large and small firms, the average establishment in computer systems design and related services is relatively small; about 78 percent of establishments employed fewer than 5 workers in 2006. Many of these small establishments are startup firms that hope to capitalize on a market niche. The majority of jobs, however, are found in establishments that employ 50 or more workers (chart 1).
Compared with the rest of the economy, there are significantly fewer workers 45 years of age and older in the computer systems design and related services industry. This industry’s workforce remains younger than most, with large proportions of workers in the 25-to-44 age range (table 1). This reflects the industry’s explosive growth in employment in the 1980s and 1990s that provided opportunities to thousands of young workers who possessed the latest technological skills.
Providing a wide array of information services to clients requires a diverse and well-educated workforce. The majority of workers in the computer systems design and related services industry are professional and related workers—overwhelmingly computer specialists such as computer systems analysts, computer software engineers, and computer programmers.
This occupational group accounts for about 62 percent of the jobs in the industry, reflecting the emphasis on high-level technical skills and creativity. By 2016, the share of professional and related occupations is expected to be even greater, while the share of office and administrative support occupations, currently accounting for 13 percent of industry employment, is expected to fall.
Merchant Lynx Services
Professional and related occupations. Computer specialists make up the vast majority of professional and related occupations, and account for more than 54 percent of the industry as a whole. Their duties vary by occupation, and include such tasks as developing computer software, designing information systems, and maintaining network security.
Programmers write, test, and maintain the detailed instructions, called programs or software, that computers must follow to perform their functions. These specialized programs tell the computer what to do—for example, which information to identify and access, how to process it, and what equipment to use. Custom programmers write these commands by breaking down each step into a logical series, converting specifications into a language that the computer understands. While some still work with traditional programming languages, such as COBOL, most programmers today use more sophisticated tools. Object-oriented programming languages, such as C++ and Java, computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools, and artificial intelligence shells are widely used to create and maintain programs, because they allow portions of code to be reused in programs that require similar routines. Many programmers also customize a package to clients’ specific needs or create better packages.
AS A MERCHANT, YOU KNOW HOW INCONVENIENT AND COSTLY A RETURNED CHECK CAN BE! Merchant Lynx's check guarantee service will eliminate the risks and inconveniences that are usually associated with accepting checks.
Merchant Lynx Services, Consumers increasingly are turning to plastic over paper when they open their wallets. Merchant Lynx Services, credit and debit card spending exceeded $1 trillion in 1998, making it a necessary payment option for most businesses.
Yet many small businesses still don't accept credit cards. If you're one of the laggards, the entire transaction may retain the aura of a mystic ritual — swipe a card, input some numbers, and money magically appears in the bank. In credit card, the card number, the amount, and the merchant ID travel over the credit card processor's computer network. The credit card processor can either be a bank or a company that does nothing but provide credit card processing services.
From the processor's network the transaction goes to a credit card computer network. Merchant Lynx Services, if the customer is using Visa, for example, the transaction will go to Visa's network. In turn, the electronic transaction goes to the bank that actually issued the card. The bank then checks the account and verifies the customer has adequate credit to cover the purchase. The bank then sends the merchant an authorization over the network. Now the sale is complete, but the transaction is not — no money has changed hands yet.
Merchant Lynx Services, at the end of the business day, the merchant sends that day's charges, in a batch, to the credit card network for processing. The transactions travel via the merchant's credit card processor. Individual transactions are then stripped out and sent back to the individual cardholders' banks. Banks then debit cardholders' accounts and make appropriate payments to the merchant's credit card processor through the Federal Reserve Bank's Automated Clearing House.
All organizations today rely on computer and information technology to conduct business and operate more efficiently. Often, however, these institutions do not have the internal resources to effectively implement new technologies or satisfy their changing needs. When faced with such limitations, organizations turn to the computer systems design and related services industry to meet their specialized needs.
Goods and services. Firms enlist the services of an establishment in the computer systems design and related services industry on a contract or customer basis for help with a particular project or problem, such as setting up a secure Web site or establishing a marketplace online. Alternatively, firms may choose to contract out to a computer services firm one or more activities, such as the management of their onsite data center or help-desk support.
Services provided by this industry include custom computer programming services; computer systems design services; computer facilities management services, including computer systems or data processing facilities support services; and other computer-related services such as disaster recovery and software installation. Computer training contractors, however, are included in the Career Guide in the section on educational services, and establishments that manufacture computer equipment are included in the Career Guide in the section on computer and electronic product manufacturing. Establishments primarily engaged in providing computer data processing services at their own facility for others are discussed in the Career Guide in the section on Internet services providers, Web search portals, and data processing services. Producers of packaged software and Internet-based software are covered in the Career Guide in the section on the software publishers industry. Telecommunications services, including cable Internet providers, are covered in the Career Guide in the section on the telecommunications industry.
Industry organization. In 2006, there were 159,000 establishments in the computer systems design and related services industry. Merchant Lynx custom programming establishments write, modify, test, and support software to meet the needs of a particular customer. These service firms may be hired to code large programs, or to install a software package on a user’s system and customize it to the user's specific needs. Programming service firms also may update or reengineer existing systems.
Merchant Lynx Services
Systems design services firms plan and design computer systems that integrate computer hardware, software, and communications technologies. In addition, they often install these systems and train and support the people who use them. The systems’ hardware and software components may be provided by the design firm as part of integrated services, or may be provided by third parties or vendors.
Computer facilities management services usually are offered at the customer’s site. Establishments offering these services provide onsite management and operation of clients’ computer systems and facilities, as well as facilities support services.
Electronic business, referred to as e-business, is any process that a business organization conducts over a computer-mediated network. Electronic commerce, referred to as e-commerce, is the part of e-business that involves the buying and selling of goods and services online. With the growth of the Internet and the expansion of e-commerce, some service firms specialize in developing and maintaining sites on the World Wide Web (see below) for client companies. Others create and maintain corporate intranets or self-contained internal networks that link multiple users within an organization by means of the Internet or, more recently, wireless technology. These firms design sophisticated computer networks, assist with upgrades or conversions, design programming features for clients, and engage in continual maintenance. They help clients select the right hardware and software products for a particular project, and then develop, install, and implement the system, as well as train the client's users. Service firms also offer consulting services for any stage of development throughout the entire process, from design and content development to administration and maintenance of site security.
Recent developments. The widespread use of the Internet and intranets also has resulted in an increased focus on security. Security threats range from damaging computer viruses to online credit card fraud and identity theft. The robust growth of e-commerce highlights this concern, as firms use the Internet to exchange sensitive information with an increasing number of clients. In order to mitigate this threat, many organizations are employing the services of security consulting firms, which specialize in all aspects of information technology (IT) security. These firms assess computer systems for areas of vulnerability, manage firewalls, and provide protection against intrusion and software “viruses.” They also play a vital role in homeland security by keeping track of people and information.
Merchant Lynx Services
Hours. In 2006, workers in the computer systems design and related services industry averaged 38.3 hours per week, compared with 33.9 for all industries combined. Many workers in this industry worked more than the standard 40-hour workweek—about 19 percent work 50 or more hours a week. For many professionals and technical specialists, evening or weekend work is commonly necessary to meet deadlines or solve problems. Professionals working for large establishments may have less freedom in planning their schedule than do consultants for very small firms, whose work may be more varied. Only about 7 percent of the workers in the computer systems design and related services industry work part time, compared with 15 percent of workers throughout all industries.
Work environment. Most workers in the computer systems design and related services industry work in clean, quiet offices. Those in facilities management and maintenance may work in computer operations centers. Given the technology available today, however, more work can be done from remote locations using fax machines, e-mail, and especially the Internet. For example, systems analysts may work from home with their computers linked directly to computers at their employer or a client. Computer support specialists, likewise, can tap into a customer’s computer remotely in order to identify and fix problems. Even programmers and consultants, who often relocate to a customer’s place of business while working on a project, may perform work from offsite locations.
Merchant Lynx Services
Those who work with personal computers for extended periods may experience musculoskeletal strain, eye problems, stress, or repetitive motion illnesses, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Merchant Lynx Services - In 2006, there were about 1.3 million wage and salary jobs in the computer systems design and related services industry. While the industry has both large and small firms, the average establishment in computer systems design and related services is relatively small; about 78 percent of establishments employed fewer than 5 workers in 2006. Many of these small establishments are startup firms that hope to capitalize on a market niche. The majority of jobs, however, are found in establishments that employ 50 or more workers (chart 1).
Compared with the rest of the economy, there are significantly fewer workers 45 years of age and older in the computer systems design and related services industry. This industry’s workforce remains younger than most, with large proportions of workers in the 25-to-44 age range (table 1). This reflects the industry’s explosive growth in employment in the 1980s and 1990s that provided opportunities to thousands of young workers who possessed the latest technological skills.
Providing a wide array of information services to clients requires a diverse and well-educated workforce. The majority of workers in the computer systems design and related services industry are professional and related workers—overwhelmingly computer specialists such as computer systems analysts, computer software engineers, and computer programmers.
This occupational group accounts for about 62 percent of the jobs in the industry, reflecting the emphasis on high-level technical skills and creativity. By 2016, the share of professional and related occupations is expected to be even greater, while the share of office and administrative support occupations, currently accounting for 13 percent of industry employment, is expected to fall.
Merchant Lynx Services
Professional and related occupations. Computer specialists make up the vast majority of professional and related occupations, and account for more than 54 percent of the industry as a whole. Their duties vary by occupation, and include such tasks as developing computer software, designing information systems, and maintaining network security.
Programmers write, test, and maintain the detailed instructions, called programs or software, that computers must follow to perform their functions. These specialized programs tell the computer what to do—for example, which information to identify and access, how to process it, and what equipment to use. Custom programmers write these commands by breaking down each step into a logical series, converting specifications into a language that the computer understands. While some still work with traditional programming languages, such as COBOL, most programmers today use more sophisticated tools. Object-oriented programming languages, such as C++ and Java, computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools, and artificial intelligence shells are widely used to create and maintain programs, because they allow portions of code to be reused in programs that require similar routines. Many programmers also customize a package to clients’ specific needs or create better packages.
