The ways in which business has changed in the past decade, particularly because of the power of the Internet, have revolutionized a lot for small business owners. Areas that used to be strictly the territory of enormous corporations, such as international business, are now easier to participate in and small business owners have been quick to adapt. However, whether you’re getting your feet wet or swimming in the deep end of the global marketplace, keeping track of your international transactions doesn’t need to be overwhelming.

When you’re crossing borders, there’s no question about whether currency fluctuations will affect your business and your accounting. They will. And while it can definitely be a challenge, methodically tracking your transactions – whether it’s money you’re sending to vendors and distributors or payments you’re receiving from business clients – will make your life much easier.

In the past, record keeping was exponentially more difficult for companies operating on an international scale. Necessary tasks, like backing records up in multiple formats, storing them and filing them, cost a lot in terms of time and money – and that’s without the added complications of working across currencies.

Technology is on the side of small business owners, though, and with tools like FX International Payments, the process is simplified and digitized. With the ability to easily convert all of your international payments information from euros and yuan to dollars, you’ll be a step ahead in record keeping.

Using an online service like FX International Payments has multiple benefits for small business owners who are often on the go, stretched thin with the amount of work required by an international business. It simplifies sending and receiving international payments, and centralizes transaction records, so you can easily log on to check payment statuses, dates, currencies involved and the exchange rates being used – and everything is automatically saved. Since you’ll often need to transfer the information elsewhere, you have the ability to upload data in different formats.

While technology has opened new worlds for international business logistics, it’s essential to remember that not all Web services offer the security you need. Phishing scams pose a risk to your business and your finances, and without the proper protections, it’s unfortunately easy to fall victim when making international payments or working with suppliers abroad.

The best protection is to make sure that you’re using tools and services that are secure. Centralizing your transactions and record keeping through a trusted service like American Express’s FX International Payments, which offers a secure online platform with advanced encryption and firewall technology, can lessen the risk of being subject to phishing or other scams.

For small business owners who don’t have an army of currency experts and Web security specialists on staff, doing business internationally is full of extra challenges, from currency conversion to international wire transfers. But with some smart organization and a bit of help from outside experts, competing on a global scale isn’t just for big business anymore. For more information about FX International Payments by American Express, go to www.americanexpress.com/fxip.