Blog

Recent blog posts

October 14, 2013 Written by NetSphere Category: Websphere Commerce

When IBM released V7.0 for the WebSphere Commerce platform, the goal was to provide a powerful customer interaction platform for cross-channel and online commerce. And although some time has passed, there are still some businesses that haven’t made the move to IBM's most recent version. Many of those businesses may be delaying their adoption of V7.0 due to a lack of understanding surrounding the platform changes that came with it. Many others might be holding off until the benefits of doing so can be better understood.

In the video shown above, the IBM team delivers on both accounts, offering a high-level summary of the enhancements available on V7.0, including the hardware, operating systems and browsers that are supported – and those that are not. The IBM video also highlights the features that are available, such as automated multi-channel marketing, mobile commerce and social networking.

For businesses that are committed to focusing on omni-channel retailing, V7.0 simplifies those efforts. For example, the mobile upgrades now available help eCommerce companies better engage with consumers who want to shop in-store while simultaneously researching prices and other options on their phones. The SMS capabilities found within the upgrade are also incredibly valuable, considering the growing prevalence for text-based marketing and promotional messages.

"E-commerce is no longer simply about selling things online," IBM states. "It's about delivering a seamless, integrated experience across all touch points. With the introduction of Web 2.0 technologies, e-commerce is now about transforming customer shopping experiences to leverage the power of your brand, providing a rich, personalized experience across multiple channels of your business."

Keeping those objectives at the core of IBM operations, six feature packs have been delivered since V7.0 launched. But before WebSphere Commerce users will be able to take advantage of the added functionality found within each of those feature packs, they will have to ensure that they are working on the V7.0 platform. To get assistance bringing your eCommerce site up to date, feel free to reach out to the team at NetSphere Strategies. We’d be happy to pick up where the above video left off.

October 11, 2013 Written by NetSphere Category: eCommerce
Will the government shutdown affect holiday shopping? Every month, typically on the second Friday, the U.S. Census Bureau releases its advanced retail sales report. Except for this month, of course. This month, if you try to retrieve the report, you’ll receive the following message: “Due to the lapse in government funding, census.gov sites, services, and all online survey collection requests will be unavailable until further notice.” As of today, the shutdown has gone on for 11 days, sidelining the government reporting that helps to track and define the...
Yummi Candles – a bright example of North American manufacturing Yummi Candles, a North American brand currently holding the largest range and selection of unscented candles, found its roots in the age-old adage that necessity is the mother of invention. And nearly 40 years later, it’s holding true to that philosophy by continually re-inventing and improving its unmatched collection of product offerings. When company co-founder, Steve Stratakos, was cutting his teeth in the working world as a maître d’ in a high-end seafood company, he didn’t necessarily fit the mold of...
Advanced site search from SOLR shines a light on available products Ever tried to find a product that you’d seen on a company’s website, only to come up empty-handed once you were ready to buy it? Well, don’t go beating yourself up, assuming that your memory is to blame or that it’s now sold out. In fact, the problem probably doesn’t have anything to do with you at all – but instead has everything to do with advanced site search.   The scenario is surprisingly more common than one would imagine. At...

October 04, 2013 Written by NetSphere Category: eCommerce
Taking a closer look at eCommerce sites with technical assessments For anyone who’s visited China, one of the first things a traveler notices is the grandeur of its growing infrastructure. Upon closer inspection, however, things might not be as they seemed from afar. Whether it’s the more than 1 billion people who cause substantial wear and tear or the sometimes bizarre design, the façades can, at times, be deceiving. The same can be said for some eCommerce websites that on the offset are attractive and inviting, but in reality, are hampered...
Omni-channel retailing through the perspective of order management In today’s omni-channel environment, there are so many different buyer types coming in. Some want to buy online and pick up their purchases in-store. Some just want to window shop on a website, but potentially make final purchase decisions in a brick-and-mortar location. Still others want to comparison shop on their phones while perusing a store's racks.   One of the common themes facing retailers, however, is that there’s often a separation of inventory for in-store versus online. The challenge then...
3 ways to participate in National Cyber Security Awareness Month “Cyberspace is woven into the fabric of our daily lives and the world is more interconnected today than ever before. We enjoy the benefits and convenience that cyberspace provides as we shop from home online, bank using our smart phones, and interact with friends from around the world through social networks.”   Those were the words used by the Department of Homeland Security when talking about its commitment to raise cyber-security awareness. And that commitment is especially apparent during the month...

September 30, 2013 Written by NetSphere Category: eCommerce
Marketing with IBM’s Smarter Commerce EMM solutions At the IBM Smarter Commerce workshop, held on Sept. 18-19 in Chicago, presenters showcased the enterprise marketing management (EMM) solutions developed by IBM to drive relationship marketing within the eCommerce arena. The topic was kicked-off with explanations as to how the tools within the platform address the needs of specific users.   For marketing leaders and planners: Maximizing ROI is one of the No. 1 goals of CMOs and marketing managers. Modeling and assessing the mix of marketing efforts is covered within...
4 things to be aware of before selling on eCommerce marketplaces Calling retailers of all shapes and sizes! There’s a lot of money to be made by making your products available on various marketplaces, like Amazon, eBay and Rakuten (formerly Buy.com). It's good to be aware, however, that with those opportunities, comes an additional cache of responsibilities.   It’s one thing to toss your goods onto an eCommerce marketplace, but it’s quite another to do it following best practices:   1. Tracking inventory   Amazon suggests that merchants update their online inventory...

September 25, 2013 Written by NetSphere Category: Uncategorized
What does it mean to move a business to the cloud? Moving to the cloud – it’s what all forward-thinking businesses are doing. And it’s what your business should be doing, too. Right? Well, before jumping on the bandwagon, it’s best to understand exactly what it means to move to the cloud and if it’s actually well-suited for your business’s needs.   Whether you’re new to the cloud or a long-time user – be it for personal or business reasons – most individuals have been exposed to the idea of storing or...