Gift card processing

Gift card processing is supported with the CloudSuite Distribution integration to the CenPOS credit card processor.

The industry defines gift cards, or “stored-value cards”, as one of two types: open loop or closed loop. Open loop gift cards are cards that can be used to purchase goods from any merchant who accepts credit cards. Examples include prepaid Visa or MasterCard gift cards.

Closed loop gift cards are purchased, directly or indirectly, from the merchant and used at their business for their goods only. For example, Home Depot, Starbucks, Dicks Sporting Goods, etc. This enhancement supports the use of closed loop gift cards to pay for goods purchased on sales orders processed in Distribution SX.e.

Open loop gift cards are currently processed the same as credit cards. We recommend you accept them only for one-time sale transactions that are “cash and carry-type” purchases.

All communication with the gift card processor is handled in CenPOS. This include card activation, balance verification, and balance re-load. Currently, CenPOS has certified their integration with First Data Financial Services to process their gift cards.

When you implement gift card processing as part of your CenPOS credit card integration, you can issue gift cards to customers in these ways:

• Selling for future purchases

  You can sell gift cards to customers for preset or variable amounts to be used at a later time to purchase product from your company.

• Collected as a form of payment

  You can accept the gift card in payment for a specific item, or as a Receive On Account payment.

• Issued as a refund

  When product is returned, load a gift card with the refund amount, rather than giving a cash refund or credit on account. This ensures the refunded amount is spent on your products.

Gift cards must be set up as a gift card payment type in SA Table Code Value Setup-Payment Types. When they are sold, they are entered as an OE addon in Sales Order Entry-Taxes and Totals.

When a gift card is purchased, a note is added to the OE documents detailing the purchase of the gift card and its activation. This note is displayed on IDM forms for the packing list, invoice, and order acknowledgment.