Template to make gift certificate

Direct-to-customer catalog management software saw a number of changes during the past year. Computer Solutions and Best Software collaborated on extending Order Power! to small to medium-sized direct marketers with the introduction of Direct 500 as a module option to Best Software's MAS 500 business management software. CommercialWare has acquired OrderMotion and can now offer ASP services to small to medium-sized companies without requiring them to purchase hardware and software licensing. Page Digital was acquired by Island Pacific. Morgan CustomSoft is looking for a buyer and is now only in user support mode.

What will happen in the remainder of 2004 is uncertain, but some of the larger vendors are seeing a resurgence of business. Most users of Ecometry's HP 3000 version have yet to move to either their Unix or Open Systems, evidently preferring a wait-and-see approach following HP's announcement a couple of years ago that it would discontinue support of the HP 3000 at the end of 2006.

Enterprise-wide software companies such as PeopleSoft, JDA, and others continue to make enticing proposals to larger catalogs. The problem is that they still lack many of the marketing, merchandising, profitability reporting, forecasting, and inventory management features and functions that are specific to direct marketing. The price to modify these systems is fairly high.

Pages 45-50 provide a comprehensive guide to the direct marketing systems that specialize in the order fulfillment business.

The information in this review was supplied by Curt Barry, president of F. Curtis Barry & Company, a consultancy specializing in e-commerce and direct marketing operations and systems. He can be reached at 1897 Billingsgate Circle, Suite 102, Richmond, VA 23233; phone: 804-740-8743; e-mail: cbarry@fcbco.com ; Web site: www.fcbco.com.

PC Server Systems

CoLinear Systems Inc.

4343 Shallowford Road, Suite H-7 Marietta, GA 30062 Contact: Matt Merriam, VP Sales Tel.: (800) 265-4632; Fax: (800) 800-6988 E-mail: info@colinear.com Internet: www.colinear.com 2004 enhancements: Amazon.com and authorize.net integration; databased marketing module; simplified API for external real-time shopping carts; inventory, purchasing, and WMS enhancements; system-wide "best practices" initiative CoLinear users: National Allergy Supply, Wine of the Month Club, Crafts Americana Group, J. Marco Galleries, Gooseberry Patch

Dydacomp Development Corp.

11 D Commerce Way Totowa, NJ 07512 Contact: Robert Coon, VP Sales & Marketing Tel.: (800) 858-3666; Fax: (973)237-9043 E-mail: sales@dydacomp.com Internet: www.dydacomp.com 2004 enhancements: Large-scale SQL edition, .NET e-commerce, additional shipping interface options for major carriers and third-party expediters, expanded features for international, new payment processing gateway options Dydacomp users: Fairytale Brownies, RC Bigelow Tea Inc., Sportswave, Sportamerica, Scooterworks

Morse Data Corporation

10F Second Street Dover, NH 03820 Contact: Dan Cannon, VP Sales Tel.: (603) 742-2500; Fax: (603) 742-8178 E-mail: sales@morsedata.com Internet: www.morsedata.com 2004 enhancements: Enhancements to order entry, POS, job cost, accounts payable, purchasing, integrated Web shopping, gift certificates, Internet credit card verification, remote desktop connectivity, statistical forecasting, real-time address corrections, and duplicate checks Morse Data users: Janns Netcraft, BCI Eclipse, Spirituality.com, Proliteracy Worldwide, University of California, International Bible Society, Southland Logistics

NewHaven Software

9511 Willows Road, P. O. Box 345, Redmond, WA 98073-3456 Contact: Tom Danner, President Tel.: (425) 861-7120; Fax: (425) 861-7460 E-mail: sales@newhavensoftware.com Internet: www.newhavensoftware.com 2004 enhancements: Ver. 2.0 to be released 6/04, includes enhanced user interface, complete purchasing system, increased options for Web order importing and management, eCMS integrated e-commerce and Web site management tool, enhanced continuity and "club" management, multiple warehouse management, expanded reporting options, accounting interface options and more. NewHaven users: Available upon request

Rigden Inc.

3090 Sterling Circle, Suite 200 Boulder, CO 80301 Contact: James Jobson Tel.: (303) 442-8190, ext:108 Fax: (303) 442-8686 E-mail: rigden@rigden.com Internet: www.rigden.com 2004 enhancements: Rigden Advanced Catalog Technology (Act I) 2004 Development. Act I now contains a complete GUI Windows interface; automatic interface with Crystal Reports has been added; new import and export utilities; specific inquiries recorded by customer; inbound call screen records each phone call; inventory forecasting for multiple channels; product sales configurator; new database marking tools include enhancements to lifetime value, repeat buyer curves, cell segmentation, and product affinity. Rigden Users: Call for user list.

Unix Systems

MACH2K by Data Management Associates Inc.

4000 Executive Park Drive, Suite 101 Cincinnati, OH 45241 Contact: Larry Maher, VP Sales and Marketing Tel.: (800) 660-12750; Fax (513) 563-7301 E-mail: larry@dmasales.com Internet: www.mach2k.com 2004 enhancements: Web-enabled executive Inquiry tools; browser-based system; enhanced marketing data analysis; forecasting and sales curve analysis; additional WMS interface; upgrade multi-location retail POS; enhanced Web integration and marketing; personalized gift message; flexible kit configuration; Amazon.com integration; greater ROI. Go online for latest developments. Data Management users: Sporty's Pilot Shop, Lady Grace Stores, Creative Irish Gifts, Gardens Alive!, Sacramento Vintage Ford

Datamann Inc.

1994 Hartford Avenue Wilder, VT 05088 Contact: Andrew G. Warner, John E. Mann Tel. (800) 451-4263; Fax: (802) 296-3623 E-mail: info@datamann.com Internet: www.datamann.com 2004 enhancements: Containerized landing calculations; auto inventory cycle count utility based on "xxx" days and last count date; expanded LTV processing; packing materials tracing; report archive to CD storage; user-defined cancel reasons; corporate buyers/and ship-to linked with sales information; expanded special offer and customer address file to include catalog/vacation/ school/work/seasonal; order/department/class/group upsell; exploded master/component, drop-ship components and drop ship on-the-fly; PO template/return to vendor/ clone/normal/blanket; expanded FDs for abacus, Z24, Prefer, and others, gift certificate module. Datamann users: Available upon request

Island Pacific Inc., Synaro Office (fka Page Digital Inc.)

6450 S. Revere Parkway Englewood, CO 80111 Contact: Bonnie Hendry, Marketing Manager Tel.: (800) 569-1122; Fax: (303) 754-4995 E-mail: websales@pagedigital.com Internet: www.synaro.com 2004 enhancements: Linux Version now available under Red Hat Linux; more enhancements to the Java-based payment processing engine, now supporting electronic checks and gift cards. Significantly enhanced Synaro Integrator component now supports more functionality for XML connectivity to disparate applications and functionality. New version (4.0) of Synaro WebStore supporting new functionality including B-to-B capabilities. Oracle database now replaces proprietary database; MS SQL 2003 and DB2 available Q4 2004; fully integrated POS application for multichannel shopping; Integration with Island Pacific Merchandising and ERP systems. Island Pacific users: IBM, Lands' End Corporate Sales, Turner Broadcasting, Michaels Stores, Hershey, Retail Variations (UK), Signet (UK), Coldwater Creek, Brookstone, Academy Sports, Frederick's of Hollywood, PacSun

Sigma Micro

6720 Parkdale Place Indianapolis, IN 46254 Contact: Jim Mangan, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Tel.: (800) 227-4462; Fax: (317) 631-6585 E-mail: info@sigma-micro.com Internet: www.sigma-micro.com 2004 enhancements: Browser-based call center application; Web services extension of Controller+; relational database; enhanced fraud management; enhanced data import and maintenance; third-party accounting/financial interface; enhanced warehouse functionality; EDI interface; best-of-breed POS interface Sigma Micro users: Footlocker.com; Sears, Roebuck & Co; L'Oreal; Johnston & Murphy; Lands' End International; Woodcraft Supply

Terno & Associates Inc.