carol said:
You're still expecting companies that conduct business in a realm of exclusivity to adapt to other proprietary platforms. If they were willing to do that, we wouldn't need the utopian site in the first place.
One Less Wires Service
- Thread starter mlou
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You're still expecting companies that conduct business in a realm of exclusivity to adapt to other proprietary platforms. If they were willing to do that, we wouldn't need the utopian site in the first place.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
carol said:
Could be if they have changed something I am not aware of...I do not find anywhere in the Advantage 9.1 system (yes I am running both these days) where I can configure reception of web orders...if there is, I stand corrected..last I knew it was the web site that had to be modified to send data in the proper format so that they system would understand it...
Okay, I have to say straight up that I don't have any of those systems that you all are talking about and therein might lie the answer but I do have a question.
I have a web site and it has a shopping cart that sends me an email notification each time an order is placed. Is it possible that instead of trying to get a site to work with everyone's system, to have a web site that would recognize when an order is placed that would come to me (based on which zip codes I deliver to I am thinking) that it would send an email notification to me and when an order is placed that would go to BOSS that it would be sent to his email? A site where member florists would log on and place their orders?
Or have somewhere in the last seven pages someone mentioned something similar and I just missed it? If so, I apologize.
Smiles
I have a web site and it has a shopping cart that sends me an email notification each time an order is placed. Is it possible that instead of trying to get a site to work with everyone's system, to have a web site that would recognize when an order is placed that would come to me (based on which zip codes I deliver to I am thinking) that it would send an email notification to me and when an order is placed that would go to BOSS that it would be sent to his email? A site where member florists would log on and place their orders?
Or have somewhere in the last seven pages someone mentioned something similar and I just missed it? If so, I apologize.
Smiles
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Smiles said:
Could be done fairly easily **IF** we leave out the direct import portion...meaning that a shop would have to manually enter the data into their technology, for some this would not be feasable...for some it would be...
More thought needed...
Defining ones' market
The comment that some have always made "meaning that a shop would have to manually enter that data into their technology" as a negitive to any idea is really kind of silly. If any customer calls you for the first time to order something, you have to manually enter that data, don't you? If the customer contacts you the second time, you are only entering the variable information, not the customer information anymore. Are we trying to convince ourselves that we are so busy these days that we don't have time to take down their information for an order because it is more convenient for US if they do all the work. Sorry, but ordering from a florist is supposed to be easy and convenient for the customer, not the other way around.
By the way, while we are on the subject, trying to come up with a system to satisfy the vast majority of florists will have to be based on economics, as well as functionality. Require too many "whistles and bells" and no one will be able to afford it. Seamless may be on the wish list of some but the question will always be, do you market something with all the "whistles and bells" to 10% of the market or less or do you market a very basic package that includes 80% of the wish list to 100% of the market and let the chips fall where they may?
BOSS said:
The comment that some have always made "meaning that a shop would have to manually enter that data into their technology" as a negitive to any idea is really kind of silly. If any customer calls you for the first time to order something, you have to manually enter that data, don't you? If the customer contacts you the second time, you are only entering the variable information, not the customer information anymore. Are we trying to convince ourselves that we are so busy these days that we don't have time to take down their information for an order because it is more convenient for US if they do all the work. Sorry, but ordering from a florist is supposed to be easy and convenient for the customer, not the other way around.
By the way, while we are on the subject, trying to come up with a system to satisfy the vast majority of florists will have to be based on economics, as well as functionality. Require too many "whistles and bells" and no one will be able to afford it. Seamless may be on the wish list of some but the question will always be, do you market something with all the "whistles and bells" to 10% of the market or less or do you market a very basic package that includes 80% of the wish list to 100% of the market and let the chips fall where they may?
Griff, I appreciate your careful thought and consideration on this but want to point out that the 'seamless' issue isn't just on the receiving side.
In fact, the sending side is probably more important because in order to gain acceptance, the participation of bigger campanies will be needed to make the option viable. Without simple, accessible interfaces, the senders will have to enter twice; once for POS and once to send. The market to gain more users involves far more than 10% as I believe well more than 70% of florist-sold outgoing orders are made by shops with POS systems.
Double entry is more than just an inconveniece. Labor costs for imput and order tracking as well as the likelyhood of increased errors could significantly increase the actual expenses.
In fact, the sending side is probably more important because in order to gain acceptance, the participation of bigger campanies will be needed to make the option viable. Without simple, accessible interfaces, the senders will have to enter twice; once for POS and once to send. The market to gain more users involves far more than 10% as I believe well more than 70% of florist-sold outgoing orders are made by shops with POS systems.
Double entry is more than just an inconveniece. Labor costs for imput and order tracking as well as the likelyhood of increased errors could significantly increase the actual expenses.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
CHR said:
Not sure what the numbers are today, but 3 years ago, 80+% of all wire biz was being sent by the top 10% of the shops...I would bet the number may be nearing 85-90% these days...
And, Like Hal mentioned...MAS Direct is the viable tool for every shop that would allow for instant communication between shops, and across wire service boundaries...
I bet, and I am not picking on anyone here, that even if I was to give away the technology free of charge except for order transmission costs to say the first 100 that signed up, 50% would find a problem with that and not do anything, 25% would not do it simply because of who's involved, 15% would give it a try for a month or two, and the other 10% woould still be using it 6 months out.
Many have wanted something new, I can think of several "new" things in the arena, some of which were started and run by "florists" that are not getting enuf support to continue...makes one gun shy to roll out another "new" thing just to get shot at and not gain support...
Bloomin Highway
I thought they were actually a spin off of 1-800flowers
right? wrong?
If right good riddance!
I thought they were actually a spin off of 1-800flowers
right? wrong?
If right good riddance!
Bloomin Highway going to FloralSource
Just got the below email from Bloomin Highway about "However, to insure continuity of service, we have made a special arrangement with FloralSource International."
Just got the below email from Bloomin Highway about "However, to insure continuity of service, we have made a special arrangement with FloralSource International."
????????
All I will say is, welcome to the messed up Floral World market chat Mark... and You know this...You folks can try any idea you want into this Floral Shop World Today and it is not changing anything.
It's just a Patch into todays market competitions with everyone jumping into the next idea for ORDERS via technology.
A dare I was asked..MAS=FTD membership regardless of what others believe in getting your orders sent...? MAS has to communicate to the Merc Network for the orders and I wonder why such a closed network when the rest of those potential discount fillers are waiting on Dove Wings?
BOSS said:
All I will say is, welcome to the messed up Floral World market chat Mark... and You know this...You folks can try any idea you want into this Floral Shop World Today and it is not changing anything.
It's just a Patch into todays market competitions with everyone jumping into the next idea for ORDERS via technology.
A dare I was asked..MAS=FTD membership regardless of what others believe in getting your orders sent...? MAS has to communicate to the Merc Network for the orders and I wonder why such a closed network when the rest of those potential discount fillers are waiting on Dove Wings?
I thought you left !!
Didn't you say you left this industry ? Please be constructive , not destructive with false comments.
MAS or MAS Direct does not need FTD Mercury. It is a totally seperate platform.Yes you do need to be on MAS (for now, watch coming soon) The more members the more the florists won't need it either. Yes MAS does interface with all the wire services except TF. Florists still have a responsibility to their customer in providing service to area they don't deliver. Not all will be on MAS and MAS Direct therefore the alternative need for a current platform whether it be Murcury or FSI. We won't get into this anymore... I will tell you this FSI is becoming more viable everyday. A MAS user can send direct and get confirmations at NO CHARGE compared to dove or mercury. Mike one thing I will agree on is the wire services are going knowhere. A florist must use this as a tool to benefit.Blue Oyster Cult said:
Didn't you say you left this industry ? Please be constructive , not destructive with false comments.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Blue Oyster Cult said:
Wow....a "dare"?? Hmmm... too bad your statement is so incorrect I can;t even formulate a response other than....WRONG!
Hey Ryan...JB....did ya hear that...those orders we send between each other really are not direct F2F orders...they must be cloaked FTD orders in disguise....
Now Mark....
Please tell us how large is the data base within Mas for those direct F2F orders, Thanks.
BOSS said:Wow....a "dare"?? Hmmm... too bad your statement is so incorrect I can;t even formulate a response other than....WRONG!
Hey Ryan...JB....did ya hear that...those orders we send between each other really are not direct F2F orders...they must be cloaked FTD orders in disguise....
Please tell us how large is the data base within Mas for those direct F2F orders, Thanks.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Blue Oyster Cult said:
Currently 45+ with more coming...
How many can your system send to direct where you can wtch the ticket flow thru another store, all the way to the recipients door?
Great Ball of Fire!!!!
Why would you or should you have those 21,000 other members who are clueless feel your the Top Dogs with your orders because you have the best Technology system in todays market?
I would like to know why Florists of WS memberships using "outside cutting edge" technology feel they have an edge over anyone else in this industry?.
Mark, your acting like Midland Michigan is Robot MAS ready. Your competitors which I have talked to, seem to have a different opinion of you putting them out of business, can you explain? Please?
BOSS said:
Why would you or should you have those 21,000 other members who are clueless feel your the Top Dogs with your orders because you have the best Technology system in todays market?
I would like to know why Florists of WS memberships using "outside cutting edge" technology feel they have an edge over anyone else in this industry?.
Mark, your acting like Midland Michigan is Robot MAS ready. Your competitors which I have talked to, seem to have a different opinion of you putting them out of business, can you explain? Please?
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Blue Oyster Cult said:
As if xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxx
(Nevermind, edited after I considered the source)
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