Customer connect is ok in what it does. It is not, however, a fully capable portal.
The good stuff is the product configurations carry over. I have not tested with the new version though, so I do not know about the nested configurations.
I also do not know about credit card processing via the new portal, but this was a problem for us with the 8.00 customer connect portal.
We do not offer PO terms to customers, and this was basically the only option offered before.
Product categorizations was really week in v8.00.xx customer connect. They were based on Product Group Listing.
So, there is no cross-categorization of parts, and no value matching in the results.
In other words, there is no categorization and sub categorization of parts in the listing. For example, maybe have a category called "MOTOR PARTS" and then sub cats called "Brushes" "Caps" "Motors" and then finally no value definitions for these categories that I could use to sort by, such as "Maunfacturer", etc.
We have the helpdesk module too, and there was no integration in customer connect for this.
I wonder if you would be better off using the portal product and the supplied webparts to make a more complete portal.
I am actually working today on installing new customer connect to come up to our 803. But it is far from a comprehensive portal.
With any portal I have worked with as a boxed product, you should consider if you want a more B2B style portal, with pre-existing business relationships or want more of a retail style portal, where people can create new accounts...
For me, I have never been a huge fan of creating accounts on the fly because I know existing customers would create a new account because they would forget their old credentials.
Carey
To: vantage@yahoogroups.comFrom: gpechan@...: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:39:41 -0500Subject: [Vantage] ECommerce Site: Customer Connect vs. Service Connect
Hello all-We are kicking off a project to sell products and services online. Weare using Vantage 8.03 and would like a solution that ties into Vantage.We are looking at using Customer Connect or Service Connect.Has anyone had any experience in using either product for e-commerce?Can anyone point out some sites or provide examples of sites that useeither of these tools? Any "gotcha's" I should be prepared for?Thanks in advance for any help.With regards-GwenGwen PechanIT ManagerBodyMedia, Inc.4 Smithfield Street, 11th FloorPittsburgh, PA 15222direct: 412-543-1463cell: 412-913-1645e-mail: gpechan@... contents of this e-mail and any attachments hereto may be consideredconfidential and proprietary to BodyMedia and are intended solely forthe recipients use. If you are not the intended recipient you are herebynotified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken inreliance on this email is prohibited and may be unlawful. Moreover, tothe extent that a non-disclosure agreement exists between BodyMedia,Inc. and you, the recipient, the contents of this email and anyattachments hereto are governed by the terms of said non-disclosureagreement and are considered confidential and proprietary to BodyMediaas defined by such agreement.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
_________________________________________________________________
Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live.
http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
The good stuff is the product configurations carry over. I have not tested with the new version though, so I do not know about the nested configurations.
I also do not know about credit card processing via the new portal, but this was a problem for us with the 8.00 customer connect portal.
We do not offer PO terms to customers, and this was basically the only option offered before.
Product categorizations was really week in v8.00.xx customer connect. They were based on Product Group Listing.
So, there is no cross-categorization of parts, and no value matching in the results.
In other words, there is no categorization and sub categorization of parts in the listing. For example, maybe have a category called "MOTOR PARTS" and then sub cats called "Brushes" "Caps" "Motors" and then finally no value definitions for these categories that I could use to sort by, such as "Maunfacturer", etc.
We have the helpdesk module too, and there was no integration in customer connect for this.
I wonder if you would be better off using the portal product and the supplied webparts to make a more complete portal.
I am actually working today on installing new customer connect to come up to our 803. But it is far from a comprehensive portal.
With any portal I have worked with as a boxed product, you should consider if you want a more B2B style portal, with pre-existing business relationships or want more of a retail style portal, where people can create new accounts...
For me, I have never been a huge fan of creating accounts on the fly because I know existing customers would create a new account because they would forget their old credentials.
Carey
To: vantage@yahoogroups.comFrom: gpechan@...: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:39:41 -0500Subject: [Vantage] ECommerce Site: Customer Connect vs. Service Connect
Hello all-We are kicking off a project to sell products and services online. Weare using Vantage 8.03 and would like a solution that ties into Vantage.We are looking at using Customer Connect or Service Connect.Has anyone had any experience in using either product for e-commerce?Can anyone point out some sites or provide examples of sites that useeither of these tools? Any "gotcha's" I should be prepared for?Thanks in advance for any help.With regards-GwenGwen PechanIT ManagerBodyMedia, Inc.4 Smithfield Street, 11th FloorPittsburgh, PA 15222direct: 412-543-1463cell: 412-913-1645e-mail: gpechan@... contents of this e-mail and any attachments hereto may be consideredconfidential and proprietary to BodyMedia and are intended solely forthe recipients use. If you are not the intended recipient you are herebynotified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken inreliance on this email is prohibited and may be unlawful. Moreover, tothe extent that a non-disclosure agreement exists between BodyMedia,Inc. and you, the recipient, the contents of this email and anyattachments hereto are governed by the terms of said non-disclosureagreement and are considered confidential and proprietary to BodyMediaas defined by such agreement.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
_________________________________________________________________
Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live.
http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]