Local entrepreneur says innovation and Utica go together

UTICA, July 31, 2001 -- At a time when businesses were leaving his hometown, and Utica's economic future looked bleak to many, J. Mark Ford saw promise in the city.

Since moving his company ShipRite Software, Inc. from Syracuse to Utica, his business has flourished and has now culminated with a national award.

Last month, one of the several softwares developed by ShipRite won the "Innovative Solution Award" at the 2009 RSPA ‘Retail Now’ Show in Las Vegas. ShipRite’s Smart Swiper software, placed first in the Credit/Processing category in recognition of the product’s innovation and money saving potential for the consumer.

"We think the award is great, but we anticipate the market for this product will grow even more in the very near future," Ford said. 

Ford, whose company is a developer of retail and point-of-sale systems, has sold his trademark software, ShipRite Software, to many national mail and parcel retail outlets, in addition to shipping companies like DHL. Ford and his team developed the Smart Swiper, which is designed to lower the merchants credit card fees by identifying the type of card presented and processing it at its lowest level. The software is free, so the merchant saves twice.

ShipRite had partnered up with Merchant Warehouse’s BINsmart, which developed technology that saves merchants money on processing costs. Once a card is swiped, BINsmart identifies whether it is a debit, credit or corporate card; calculates the estimated lowest cost processing option; and then prompts for the best method to run that sale.

Regina Ciardiello, Editor, Vertical Systems Reseller Magazine, said that Smart Swiper was chosen as a winner because of the company’s inovative use of technology.

Henry Helgeson, president and co-CEO of Merchant Warehouse was equally pleased about ShipRite receiving the award.

“We are enthusiastic about our partnership with ShipRite Software," Helgeson said. "Integrating BINsmart into the ShipRite Smart Swiper product not only gives them a great product, but it also provides their merchants and consumers an added layer of protection and security. We are pleased that our BINsmart technology played a part in their success.”

Ford's business used to be located in Syracuse, and has clients all over the western hemisphere, but he moved it to Utica three years ago and said it has cut down on his overhead. 

"The building I operate out of now is an 8,400 square foot mansion and I pay a mortgage of about $1,500 a month," he said. "When I was in Syracuse, I had a 2,200 square foot office and I paid a lot more than that. So the overhead I have now is much lower." 

Along with the low cost of real-estate, Ford said the market in Utica has a couple more advantages when it comes to fostering hi-tech growth: 

• A ready-made labor force thanks in part to SUNYIT. 
  
• New business opportunity and growth in the sector such as  the nano-center coming to SUNYIT. 
  

These three things, combined with a looming July 1, 2010 deadline for retailers to provide more secure methods of payment, has his business prospects, as well as the region's, looking up, according to Ford. 

"We're absolutely hoping that's going to be the case," he said. "We're hoping this all has a bleed-over effect on our business, as well as businesses around us." 

After managing three companies, and realize he had streamlined his ShipRite Software to the point where he could sell it to other business, Ford developed ShipRite Software, Inc. 10 years ago. Now, with the emergence in the interest and necessity of Smart Swiper, he's planning on taking his business to another level, and for Ford, another level doesn't mean another location. 

"I'm happy right here and couldn't ask for any place better," he said. "Everything I need to operate my business and succeed is right here in Utica."

ShipRite Software, Inc. web site

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Mohawk Valley Innovations is a byweekly feature of Utica Daily News.  Each company that is featured can nominate the next company featured. Also, you can send suggestions to News@UticaDailyNews.com