Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Actinic

What is Actinic?
What do I need to use Actinic?
Is Actinic easy to use, will I require training?
Where do I buy Actinic from?
How does Actinic compare to free eCommerce solutions?
Can more than one person use Actinic at one time?
What happens if I need help or something goes wrong?
Where else can I get support from?
How much control will I have over the finished website?
How easy is it to add new pages to my Actinic website?
Can I import products from my existing database, spreadsheet or existing online shop?
How often is the software updated and what can I expect in new versions?
What is hosting and where do I get this from?
How do I take payment online, who does Actinic integrate with?
Can Actinic cope with my delivery/shipping charges?

What is Actinic?

Actinic is a software package that allows you to easily manage your online shop from your PC. Your Actinic developer will configure Actinic for you making sure that it is styled to match your company look and is further customised to suit your requirements. Products can can added, edited or removed and any changes uploaded to your website in minutes. Website orders are received into the software where you can control the process from payment verification through to dispatch. Actinic also includes advanced product options, marketing & reporting tools and comprehensive shipping & tax settings. View more information on Actinic’s features

What do I need to use Actinic?

Actinic will work on a Windows PC or a Mac running Windows. For optimal operation, use  a computer with a fast processor and plenty of memory. In addition to this you will need a good reliable Internet connection preferably without a limit on the amount of data you can upload/download.

Is Actinic easy to use, will I require training?

Actinic is quick to pick up and most users can manage the basics with no more than a 30 minute telephone training session. There is a comprehensive user guide included with the software as well as many online knowledge base articles to reference. We find that most of our clients can get to grips with the essentials very quickly as the software is intuitive often manage quite advanced tasks with issue. We also offer further training sessions as required to help with any future issues.

Where do I buy Actinic from?

You can buy the software direct from Actinic either by phoning the sales team or on their online shop. Before you do this we recommend talking to us to ensure that you buy the correct version.

How does Actinic compare to free eCommerce solutions?

For the money, Actinic provides the most functionality and a good level of scalability as well as a number of professional support options. Most free eCommerce solutions are developed by a community of developers who will not usually support the product,  this leaves you to the mercy of a forum to obtain help and support. Actinic also produces far more regular updates helping you to stay up to date and ahead of your competitors.

Can more than one person use Actinic at one time?

Actinic Catalog and Actinic Business are single user. To use Actinic in a multi user networked environment you will need Actinic Business+. This software version allows users to be assigned roles such as order processor or catalog maintainer.

What happens if I need help or something goes wrong?

Bitpod provide a telephone and support service as part of an ongoing management service. You can also subscribe to the Actinic Cover service for unlimited telephone support or use the free email support service they provide. We will also keep a backup of your website and will strongly recommend that you do the same on your Actinic PC. Actinic has an easy backup and restore facility helping you to easily recover from any serious issues.

Where else can I get support from?

Actinic provides email, telephone (as part of a cover package), online community forums and an extensive knowledge base of useful articles and guides. Bitpod can also help with any specific issues that relate to the sites we build, helping you to solve problems and enhance your website as the need arises.

How much control will I have over the finished website?

Actinic allows for a great deal of control allowing you to change almost every part of your website. The software provides easy mechanisms to add new products, edit or remove existing products, add or edit pages, adjust shipping & tax, create custom fields, add new payment providers and much more. One of the reasons we like Actinic so much is that it offers so much control and flexibility.

How easy is it to add new pages to my Actinic website?

Once Actinic is set-up it is really quite straightforward to add new pages as required. Pages can contain text, images and links as well as internal links to products within your website. You can also add HTML code if you wish to create a more advanced layout.

Can I import products from my existing database, spreadsheet or existing online shop?

Actinic offers an advanced import facility that allows you to easily import products from an existing data store. We can also perform this import for you as part of the setup along with an import of related images. If your product data is not in a suitable format to import we may be able to convert it to something that is compatible.

How often is the software updated and what can I expect in new versions?

Actinic is usually updated with a major new release once every 12-18 months. Each major release will contain new features and improvements on existing functionality as well as additional performance and compatibility upgrades. Minor release versions will be released periodically with small adjustments and bug fixes where required. A subscription to the Actinic Cover service includes major version releases as well as telephone support. Minor releases are free of charge.

What is hosting and where do I get this from?

Hosting means the server and its fast Internet connection needed to make you site available to the public. Hosting varies in quality, speed and support as well as security. With ecommerce it is essential that you use a reputable Actinic compatible service to ensure all of these criteria are met. Bitpod run a  hosting service for our clients to ensure that your website stays online 24/7/365 and is fast and secure.

How do I take payment online, who does Actinic integrate with?

Actinic integrates with all the big service providers allowing you to take all major credit cards, PayPal, Google Checkout and many more. You will need to set-up a separate account with a Payment Service Provider to take payment online or you can use your own PayPal account if you prefer. It is possible to have multiple providers so that the customer can choose who they use. We can advise on who to use and the best options for your website.

Can Actinic cope with my delivery/shipping charges?

Actinic has a comprehensive shipping and delivery system that can be used in a number of advanced ways. You can configure multiple methods for each shipping zone and apply minimum and maximum rates if required.

	Actinic websites in our portfolio		Frequent Questions about Actinic (this page)
	Actinic development prices		The process of building an Actinic website
	Actinic software options		Request an Actinic demonstration