Go to Systems Seminar 2008 Registration Form
Outline of the Two-Day Interactive Workshop
The software marketplace for today’s multichannel direct commerce companies (catalog, e-commerce, direct response TV, etc.) is crowded, growing rapidly, and can be confusing. With an ever-changing assortment of applications, vendors and acquisition options, there are now many classes of software that can be implemented for direct commerce: ecommerce, order management, catalog management, customer relationship management, warehouse management, enterprise resource planning and accounting systems.
As a participant in this workshop, you will come away with an understanding of the appropriate classes of direct commerce software and vendors applicable to your business; the steps for selecting and contracting with the finalist vendor; and how to plan and implement a new direct commerce system on time and within budget. This interactive workshop will give you opportunities to network with leading consultants and other companies considering replacing their systems.
Participants will be interviewed in advance so facilitators will understand the size of company, where each company is in the selection process, and what vendors have been reviewed.
Day 1 - June 17
8:00-8:30 Networking Breakfast
8:30-9:15 Introductions
- Welcome by Paul Miller, Catalog Success, and
Curt Barry, F. Curtis Barry & Company
- Attendee introductions
- What is unique about your business?
9:15-9:45 Critical Mistakes in Systems Selection
Understand how to avoid potentially expensive errors in choice.
9:45-10:15 Vendor Landscape
There are many options and models of direct commerce systems in the marketplace. How do you differentiate what is best for your company.
- Explore the different tiers of vendors, price, functions, etc.
- Evaluate the different types/classes of systems, OMS, ERP, WMS, e-commerce?
- Discuss the system models, licensed and SaaS
- Analyze the trends
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-12:00 Complete Vendor Landscape
12:00-1:00 Luncheon
1:00-3:15 Discussion of Direct Commerce Vendors and Their Offerings
- Vendor overview by tier
- High level features and functions
- Optional modules — Data warehouse, POS, vendor drop ships, etc.
- Pricing models — Application licensing and maintenance, etc.
- Platforms — Hardware, software, database
- Integrations
- Review vendor resource guide
- Third party software — Address verification, taxing, manifesting, etc.
- Partnerships with other systems — Warehouse management, drop ship, e-commerce, business intelligence, etc.
3:15-3:30 Break
3:30-5:00 Complete Discussion of Direct Commerce Vendors and Their Offerings
6:30-8:00 Reception / Cocktails
Day 2 – June 18
8:00-8:30 Networking Breakfast
8:30-9:00 Reflections and questions on yesterday’s material
9:00-10:30 Solutions to Avoiding Critical Mistakes in System Selection
- User requirements
- Request for proposal
- Vendor response analysis
- Scripted demos
- Vendor decision matrix
- Reference checks and site visits
- Selection of two vendor finalists
- Timeline for selection
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-11:30 Total Cost of Ownership
Developing the total investment for various options and models.
- Identify complete costs for hardware, software, maintenance, services, training, etc.
- Developing a multi-year TCO
- Licensed versus SaaS comparison
- ROI
11:30-12:00 Contracting and Negotiation
- How to make agreements a “win/win” for you and your vendor
- What can be realistically negotiated in a vendor contract?
- License and service agreements
- Creating vendor partnerships
12:00-1:00 Luncheon
1:00-2:15 Implementation Planning
Real-life practical solutions to implementing a direct commerce system.
- Vendor methodology
- Project management, status reporting and planning
- Company staff resources required
- File conversion
- Integration
- Timeline
2:15-2:30 Wrap-up
