There has been an acceleration in businesses and organisations setting up an online presence since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.It is increasingly seen as essential following the large shift made by many people to online working and shopping.A business that has been helping others to go online, by offering professional web and graphic development services, as well as payment gateway and point-of-sale capabilities, is now offering two giveaway prizes of its services as a way to celebrate its 12-year anniversary.Advanced Services started as a home-based business for seven years, before moving to an office in Hamilton. It has provided services to other businesses, charities, start-ups and the Bermuda Government.The company is run by Bermudian George Botelho and his wife Ritu, and it has two long-serving employees based in India.There is now a greater need for businesses and organisations to have a website, according to Mr Botelho, who said this was evident when the pandemic caused most companies and retailers to close their premises.Mr Botelho said: “Our work almost doubled since late March and April. It has tapered off a little, but people did rush to go online, especially with payment gateway and the need to process payments online.”He said there had been a variety of groups seeking to have a website built, with retailers accounting for the highest percentage, followed by non-profit groups and charities, including religious institutions seeking a way to receive tithes and money towards ministry work.Advanced Services does web and graphic development, and offers payment gateway and point-of-sale services as Authorize.Net and Vend POS partners.Mr Botelho believes the time has come for most businesses and organisations to have an online presence. He said: “It’s available 24/7, here and abroad, whereas an office or location is only available on a limited basis.“The payment integration that we do means anyone with a debit or credit card anywhere in the world can process a payment on our clients’ websites.”Among Advanced Services’ clients are the Parliamentary Registry Office, Bermuda Long Term Insurers and Reinsurers, Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Foundation, Bermuda Bar Association, Masterworks Museum of Bermuda, the Ministry of Health, Bermuda Red Cross, Committee of 25, the Bermuda Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Bermuda Airport Authority, the Clyde Best Foundation, and Vision Bermuda.When asked how Advanced Services strives to stand out from other competitors, Mr Botelho said: “We started out because we saw a niche that was not being met, and that niche was ‘professional work for value’ and our model has been geared towards that.“We keep our overhead low and we provide professional work that will often cost many thousands more. We can do a website for $1,500 to $2,000 inclusive of e-commerce integration — that’s a complete website built from scratch, we don’t use templates of any kind, and they are individual for our clients’ needs and branding.”To mark the company’s anniversary it is holding a giveaway contest, with two prizes worth $6,000 each towards Advanced Services web and graphic development services.To participate in the giveaway contest, entrants have to “like” and “share” the company’s Facebook page, share its Facebook giveaway post, and tag three friends in the giveaway post comments.The competition starts today and is for Bermuda residents only. The winner will be drawn and announced on September 29. Full details are on Advanced Services’ website.Mr Botelho said the company “offers professional and personalised services for exceptional value. We focus on individualised requirements and make the satisfaction of our clients our top priority”.He added: “Our multidisciplinary web development approach is client-led with a dedication to delivering an end product that is graphically professional, forward thinking and feature rich, offering purposeful utilisation and automation of administrative tasks.”• To find out more about the giveaway competition, visit Advanced Services’ website at www.advanced.bm. The company is based at 22 Church Street. It can be reached by calling 400-3682, or e-mailing contact@advanced.bm