Posted: 11/21/2011
Today, Catalyst Fire successfully launched a new eCommerce
platform and member self-service site for the American Hospital
Association (AHA) using the Avectra netFORUM eWeb shopping cart as
the foundation.
This highly-anticipated site was a coordinated effort involving
approximately 50 AHA staff as well as numerous participants from
technical and service vendors. The team worked closely together to
provide a seamlessly integrated set of tools for online shopping as
well as managing member accounts.
The project was developed using Avectra's external web (eWeb)
content management tool and was highly customized and optimized in
order to provide the AHA with a user-friendly and feature-laden
system for their members and other customers.
Key features include:
- Integration with the Google Appliance allows customers to find
products to purchase using state-of-the-art search
functionality.
- A custom asynchronous XML Web Service integration with the
fulfillment vendor that allows the online shopper to interact
in real time with the inventory system and place orders directly
with the fulfillment house.
- Single sign on via a new implementation of the ForgeRock OpenAM
SSO solution.
- Branding across the 12 membership societies that comprise the
AHA -- providing a seamless experience for members of AHA
societies.
- Online purchase of memberships and event registrations
utilizing custom wizards that are tailor-made for each specific
membership or event regiation that is being purchased.
In addition to a new eCommerce site, a customer self-service
platform was released to provide secure access to member
information and allow users to update their member profile and
demographics information. Features of the self-service platform
include:
- Ability to register a new user account including a complex
algorithm to help avoid duplicate accounts.
- Account maintenance including the ability to manage addresses,
phone numbers and email addresses.
- Member demographics maintenance with society-specific
demographics based on the memberships that the user holds.
- Order history including the tracking of shipments and the
ability to reprint invoices/receipts.
- Secure member directory allowing society members to find other
members within their society.
The implementation of this complex set of customer-facing tools
for the AHA was a huge success due to the dedicated participation
of all stakeholders in the project. Huzzah!
You can see the new site in action at: http://www.ahaonlinestore.com
