What is TouchNet?
The University of Washington has implemented TouchNet Marketplace as our central e-commerce platform. TouchNet is a campus solution provider, and Marketplace is their integrated payment platform that delivers a secure, compliant, integrated business environment for institutions of higher learning.
There are NO extra fees for the use of the TouchNet Platform.
Our E-Commerce Manager, Melissa Hall. has held showcases various features of TouchNet with Q&A - previous recordings are on our TouchNet Training Page.
Marketplace Features
Marketplace offers two methods of payment processing.
The UW TouchNet "uStore" is a customizable platform where on-campus merchants can showcase goods or services for sale. Example uStores in the following categories can be viewed below:
- UW Surplus runs their surplus store online, for pickup in-person (live site)
- UW Civil & Environmental Engineering takes invoice payments (test site)
- Tuberculosis Research & Training Center (TRTC) has an example of a simple fee-based event (test site)
- The Whole U runs a complex event series (live site)
- UW Farm utilizes subscription CSA boxes (live site)
- UW Law Society & Justice runs a swag store (live site)
- Foster Inclusive Product Management Summit is a complex event (test site)
The other method is a hosted payment page ("uPay Site") for a web-based application. This could be a UW designed and hosted site, or it could be an external vendors' site. OMS has identified over twenty software partners at the UW called TouchNet Ready Partners which are existing software vendors that can take payments through TouchNet, and we're working with our merchants and their vendors to either switch payment processors or implement them as needed. The setup for a UW hosted site requires a knowledgeable website developer to be involved.
- Intro to Marketplace
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Intro to Marketplace (downloadable PDF guide)
The Intro to Marketplace guide provides users with a complete guide on navigating the uStore within TouchNet.
- Building a Marketplace Store
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Building a Marketplace Store (downloadable PDF guide)
A comprehensive guide for building a Marketplace Store for your needs.
- Marketplace Branding Cheat Sheet
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TouchNet Marketplace Branding Cheat Sheet (downloadable PDF guide)
A guide to branding your Marketplace store according to the University of Washington colors and branding.
Implementation
Our updated TouchNet Forms will walk you through submitting the necessary information for us to create a TouchNet Merchant, uStore or uPay site. Once you have submitted the form, it will create a ticket in our system which will allow us to follow up with you regarding your request. You may submit the form as many times as you need to.
We also have a separate Product Form if you already have a store established, but would like a new product added. If you want an event created, please use the Event Form instead.
TouchNet Week
Our first annual TouchNet Week was held in March 2020. One of the presentations was recorded: