OFBiz Tutorials - HotWax Pricing for Enterprise eCommerce

OFBiz Tutorials discussing solutions for the pricing of enterprise eCommerce development. Because of the numerous ways eCommerce site development can be developed, designing a comprehensive pricing system for these services is necessary.

Our consulting services here at HotWax revolve around the Apache OFBiz platform although we it is not uncommon for us to do integrations with 3rd party software systems such as NetSuite, Endicia and others. It all depends on what the user needs in order to make their platform do what they need it to. Enterprise eCommerce is so varied from one client to the next that we have to continually adapt and streamline our processes. The fundamentals however remain constant, meaning that no matter how large or small the company we want to deliver a system that will perform better than any other available.

Due to the fact that each project is unique, the question is raised as to how best price our services. Fixed pricing is difficult because it does not account for the variables that are inevitably encountered and someone always loses out. Either the vendor overestimates to make up for any extras that may pop up and the client loses or the vendor underbids and winds up eating the cost for any surprises.

Another option is hourly billing. This is great for the vendor of course but causes problems when it comes to cost management. Vendors who work on hourly billings tend to lose incentive and lack foresight. Ideally this payment structure should work, but if you run into unplanned for situations, the cost can run up quickly causing friction between vendor and client. This is a common occurrence with hourly work in any industry.

Through this analysis, we at HotWax Media have developed a method for pricing projects that aims at keeping everything fair, well planned and productive: fixed team project planning and pricing. This may be compared to phased pricing except that the cost is consistent from month to month unless reviewed and any changes agreed upon by all parties involved. The way this is done is by dedicating a project team and focusing on planning in order to develop a thorough and predictable project plan. The planning phase is billed for and can be as detailed as the client wishes. Obviously the more detailed the planning, the less surprises will be encountered and a consistent monthly expense will be easy to adhere to.

In practice, the project is evaluated by what goals we are certain to reach, what goals we think we may reach and what goals are not feasible based on financial or time related constraints. At the close of each month, the plan is reviewed and adjusted in order to keep as much forward momentum and production as possible.

Enterprise eCommerce is our business and each job has it's own quirks that need to be taken into account but to stick to this fixed team approach has proven to be the most effective. In doing this, we keep everything honest and fair while promoting responsible planning and incentive to complete projects on-time and with the desired results.

OFBiz Tutorial - Verified Agile Workflows

OFBiz Tutorial expanding on previous posts about HotWax Media's Verified Agile process. In this article I will discuss the differences between standard Agile processes and our custom workflow management system, Verified Agile.

The initial iteration of the Verified Agile process is to create Epics that contain all of the information contained in the requirements documentation. An Epic is basically a story that is used as an overview to capture requirements that are too complex to estimate out of the gate. Subsequent iterations break down the Epics, preparing them for eventual implementation.

Note: We do not attempt to define all epics at once, we focus on what we need to get a working end to end system in front of the customer as soon as possible.

Once the stories are derived from the Epics and are ready for scheduling, we break down the stories into sub-tasks that can be assigned to different team members. Our Verified Agile process utilizes the following steps at story level:


1. Analysis

2. Acceptance Test Creation

3. Design

4. Development

5. Technical Review

6. Business Review

7. Client Review

These steps systematically make the story understood and ensure that nothing is missed.

Analysis | OFBiz Tutorials

Analysis is an optional step in the process designed to bridge story creation and build the acceptance test. This is usually not needed if the Epics are very thorough or of a lower complexity.

Acceptance Test Creation | OFBiz Tutorial

This is the foundation of a test-driven development environment. At HotWax, we build these before development, making sure to include all of the details from the story before development starts.

Design | OFBiz Tutorials

This is another optional step based on how complex the task is. Focusing on building Enterprise eCommerce applications with Apache OFBiz allows us to very often use the story and acceptance test to start development. For more complex stories, this test is necessary to ensure that code is written following our best practices.

Development | OFBiz Tutorial

This is where the implementation is executed.

Technical Review | OFBiz Tutorials

This is important because it is used as the first line of verification in the project. We ensure that the story's implementation matches design and our best practices. This step is done by a team leader of expert reviewer in order to give the highest quality of deliverable available.

Business Review | OFBiz Tutorial

This is the second step of internal verification. Going back, we ensure that the workflow matches the acceptance test and business rules that we set out with. This review is done by a business analyst, account manager or technical project manager prior to presenting it to the client.

Client Review | OFBiz Tutorials

This is the most important verification process used. In this process we ensure that our output matches the clients expectations. If expectations are not met, we will re-work the previous steps until the client is satisfied.

Enterprise eCommerce systems are the bread and butter of any company that does business online. Using Verified Agile allows us to guarantee that the customer receives the product that they've asked for and that it will be successful in performing the desired function.

Stay tuned for more detail on these processes or simply contact HotWax Media at 888-405-2667 and talk with us about it!

OFBiz Tutorials - Google Instant Effects on eCommerce

OFBiz tutorials blog reviewing the implications of Google's latest web browsing platform, Google Instant. So far this new search protocol is up and running in America, Russia and Western Europe. With this platform, Google has taken their search tips to another level. Basically, any keystrokes placed into the search bar are updated in real time, with new results popping up with each additional character entered. Clicking search or enter is no longer necessary as the results are already displayed. Another factor in this type of search is geography. Depending on where you are located, you will receive whatever Google has deemed the most relevant search results for your area under any given search.

This new protocol has been analyzed By Tom Krazit in a CNET review as follows:

“Instead of search as an outcome, Google is trying to get people to think of search as a process in which you constantly refine your query without actually ’searching,’ or hitting the button to produce a concrete result.”

Google claims that this has not altered the search ranking process and in fact states that this will increase user searches based on Google Instant's ease of use. This however brings up many questions to the SEO community and ultimately enterprise eCommerce companies that depend on targeted searches for reaching new customers.

Google instant has the potential to distract customers into clicking a link after just a few key strokes. Say for instance that your company dominates the keyword "Medical Supplies" and receives the bulk of it's business from this specific search. Now with Google Instant, a company can come in and try to dominate a keyword such as "Med", "Medic" or even just "M" to have their medical supply store pop up earlier in the search query. The more complicated the search phrase, the more potential for distraction.

Google Instant has the potential to cause severe competition for single letter searches or partial word searches. This takes web search to a dynamic level, introducing a time component into what up until now has been competition for vertical positioning.

Enterprise eCommerce companies would be wise at this juncture to closely monitor their web site's metrics, noting any trend that could indicate a degradation in site performance. New methods will need to be tested and Google's auto-complete keywords should be optimized for. Work closely with your SEO advisers to ensure that you don't fall behind at this critical juncture.

As always, high ranking isn't the only factor that comes into play when attracting new customers. Equally important is having a professional, enjoyable and user friendly website for potential customers to land on. This is where HotWax Media can help with our top of the line enterprise eCommerce sites using Apache OFBiz.

OFBiz Tutorial - Verified Agile Expanded

OFBiz Tutorial from HotWax Media further detailing our Verified Agile Process. This is a project management process that can efficiently bring any task to fruition. At HotWax, we are striving to enhance this process in order to make useful to a broader spectrum of clients.

Our Verified Agile workflows are similar to the standard workflows found in Agile implementations. However, we have improved on this standard Agile process by utilizing technology in order to bring projects to a global team. By not restricting projects to geographic proximity a team can be made up of the most qualified individuals from anywhere on the globe. Traditionally, meeting face to face is the most effective but in our day and age it is no longer feasible. With the internet, we have entered an age of globalization where people choose to live in one area and work on projects in another. This trend is only going to continue which is why management processes like Verified Agile are so necessary.

Enterprise eCommerce projects using Agile's processes will take your projects to the next level and Agile's processes are too valuable to be wasted because the project team cannot meet in the same location. Thankfully, technical innovation is giving us the ability to utilize Agile on a global scale without losing productivity. In order to ensure that projects are staying on track, we've added additional processes and tools to Agile workflows in order stay firmly on track.

In subsequent posts I will expand on details of the process methodology behind Verified Agile. This new technology will open up the door for better and more successful projects.

OFBiz Tutorial - Getting Started with OFBiz

OFBiz tutorial offering a brief overview of why OFBiz is the best option for enterprise eCommerce and ERP and how you can get started.

OFBiz is a community driven open source software project from the Apache Software Foundation. The nature of OFBiz is that it is not run or developed by a commercial entity or dependent on intellectual property. Due to this open source nature, OFBiz is able to be exactly what the users who support and contribute to the project want. OFBiz is created and modified based on user wants and needs. It conforms to the user rather than the user conforming to the software.
Users can contribute to the OFBiz project in a number of ways. Total involvement includes contributing as a developer. This means becoming involved in design, code, testing and collaboration. This helps a user to create their OFBiz experience in-house without having to depend on outside developers.

Partial involvement keeps users aware of the new developments in the OFBiz community and involved in testing but not responsible for development. This is a less involved user experience offering more time to focus on other aspects of their company.

Low involvement means that an OFBiz developer designs and implements a users system based on their needs. This creates a scenario where the user can focus all of their attention on the business end of things while professional developers handle the software infrastructure.

Enterprise eCommerce powered by Apache OFBiz is a powerful and valuable tool for any organization that wishes to do business on the web. HotWax Media is a trusted OFBiz developer that can assist companies with whatever level of involvement desired. Call us today to find out how you can get started 888-405-2667.

OFBiz Tutorials - Page Rank

OFBiz Tutorials article where we will take a moment to discuss the importance of SEO and page ranking for your enterprise eCommerce system. HotWax Media designs eCommerce platforms for a variety of businesses who sell goods and services on the internet. These systems include everything a user would ever need for a fully functional and viable enterprise eCommerce platform. This however is only part of the battle, the second is the ability for your potential customers to easily find you when shopping on the web.

Marketing strategy and site design go hand in hand. One won't work without the other. For instance, you have a highly functional enterprise eCommerce site, a quality product line with competitive pricing, great shipping options and everything else your target consumer is looking for but sales are flat. This is where SEO comes in and makes your product visible to the market place.

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization is the tool that companies across the web are using to ensure that their efforts are profitable. The field of SEO has many intelligent and ambitious professionals, but just like any industry, there are also those that will take your money for little or no work. Having an awareness of the various nuances of online business marketing will help a company to successfully navigate these waters.

The basics, page content, file names, title tags, meta tags, user friendly navigation and so on will get your site a good start. Now the trick is to monitor site performance without it distracting all of your efforts.

An obvious indicator of success is profits. However, SEO takes time and a campaign may need to run for several moths before project results are realized. By beginning with Google PageRank, you will be able to monitor effects of your SEO campaign and see that you are moving toward your marketing goal.

Sergey Brin and Lawrence Page describe PageRank as "a model of user behavior" in their article, "The Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine". They go on to state, "We assume there is a "random surfer" who is given a web page at random and keeps clicking on links, never hitting "back" but eventually gets bored and starts on another random page. The probability that the random surfer visits a page is it's PageRank... a page can (also) have a high Page Rank if there are many pages that point to it, or if there are some pages that to it and have a high PageRank. Intuitively, pages that are well cited from many places around the web are worth looking at."

So now, how does one raise the PageRank of their site? Basically by coming up with a targeted campaign of building links that compliment the content of your site. The strategies employed are varied in their execution. The main thing is when going into an SEO campaign, you have a specific goal in mind and a well structured plan to get there. If the person running your campaign cannot provide you with this then you may want to look for someone else. There are no absolutes in page visibility, but ensuring that a plan is well constructed and understood by everyone involved will help get you the best possible results. It must also be noted that any SEO work is not finite. Keeping your site placed high in the search engine takes constant attention. You can be guaranteed that the competition is working just as hard as you to corner the market.

You can measure PageRank by visiting websites such as http://www.prchecker.info/.

Enterprise eCommerce is a highly competitive marketplace. The web has a limitless potential for customers and creating growth for a company. HotWax Media creates top of the line eCommerce web sites and marketing packages. Contact us today for more information!

OFBiz Tutorial - Verified Agile Introduction

OFBiz tutorial discussing HotWax Media's upcoming innovations for project management for your enterprise eCommerce concern. Any eCommerce website and business has a lot of moving pieces and variables involved. By structuring projects in an effective and economical manner, you will be able to maximize your potential throughout the electronic marketplace.

I will be starting a series of articles that cover project management from start to completion. These posts will describe how HotWax Media structures it's projects in order to deliver efficient and successful results. This process is called Verified Agile, deriving from Agile roots and with the ability to solve two issues common to businesses who wish to use this method. First, the difficulty of proximity or needing to have all those involved in the project at the same physical location. And second, lack of confidence in such a dynamic process.

We will discuss topics covering problems we have solved for our clients and how important it is to have clients integrated into the process. We will cover what tools we have at our disposal that enables us to have the process run smoothly.

Enterprise eCommerce is becoming widely accepted as the future of buying and selling. The companies that offer the most efficient and cost effective methods are those that will lead the economy. Let the professionals at HotWax Media help you to accomplish this!

OFBiz Tutorials - CMS Pages Part 2

OFBiz Tutorials series covering the use of the OFBiz Content Management System (CMS) for front end application static pages. In this post we will cover how to set up CMS driven static pages for a website.

We will go over the following four points:

• Setup for Website Publish Point
• Setup for Decorator Content Data
• Setup for Static Content Data, and
  
• CMS request in Controller
  

In this post we are assuming that you've already set up a "cmsdemo" component following the steps in my previous post about CMS static pages.

Website Publish Point | OFBiz Tutorial

To set up your website publish point in data follow the below example using "CmsDemoData.xml" as the file name.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

Review the code at the following url to make sure you have the webSiteId entry in web.xml for your application.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

Ensure that the webSiteId entry in web.xml of your application is using the following.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

CMS Site Main Decorator | OFBiz Tutorial

The content data setup is referring to the decorator screen for a given static page.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

The main decorator will be set up as follows. Of course, more resources can be added but for the purpose of this tutorial, very little information is included.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

For setting up the cms-main-decorator screen you will use the code below. note: the following code includes the main decorator of the site given above.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

Decorated Content Freemaker Template | OFBiz Tutorials

Now we will need to create the DecoratedContent.ftl included in the cms-main-decorator at a given location by the same name with the code shown below. This code is set up by the cms event and rendered.

${decoratedContent}

Content Data For Static Page | OFBiz Tutorials

Following the code below, set up the content data line. This will use section-sub-content pattern and the decorator content that we've already created. This is an example of a privacy policy page.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

Controller Entry Creation | OFBiz Tutorial

To handle CMS page requests, we'll create request entries in controller.xml.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

Links to CMS Pages | OFBiz Tutorial

The following code will link your CMS page with a menu on your web site.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

That's it! Now load the data file you created in the CMS site data. Go to url: http//localhost:8080/cmsdemo/control/cms/root/privacypage base on the ContentAssoc record we created earlier.

(to view code for this exercise, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/3/)

Now you will see a privacy policy screen resulting from the above exercise.

Using this tutorial, you can add as many pages as you want that are static and easy to update in the Content Manager without modifying code.

Enterprise eCommerce using Apache OFBiz offers businesses a leg up on the competition. With the ability to reach a broad marketplace, numerous shipping options and ease of purchasing, you can poise your company for expansion in this new and exciting business environment!

OFBiz Tutorial | Intellectual Property vs. Piracy

OFBiz Tutorial reviewing the impact of intellectual property piracy and how it affects the enterprise eCommerce industry. Over the past several years there has been rise to many file sharing and torrent sites where a user can download content for free, basically stealing intellectual property that the owner would normally charge for. The ensuing battle between those who own this media and those who steal it has led to a complicated system of laws that seem largely ineffective.

This war is leading to many advances in methods of digital content transfer. In theory there are legal safety nets that protect the media industry. On the ground though, consumers are offered simple and free ways to download content vs. paying for it. Now paying for it may be the moral alternative, but very often the bureaucracy behind payed content keeps many items from being readily available and again leads individuals back to piracy.

The bottom line is that not every person who illegally downloads content is a black hat hacker who wants to put one over on the man. They simply want their media and they want it in an efficient and available way. If these means were made available by legitimate organizations, chances are that people would pay.

Another instance is that people are unwilling to pay the prices asked for digital content because of the significant savings a digital content provider realizes in production costs. Paying off the shelf prices for digital media doesn't add up to the average consumer.

Below is a quote from Jerry Kirkpatrick, a professor of International Business and Marketing at Cal State Polytechnic.

“Message to the innovative marketer? Either drop the price of the new product or produce a cheaper version — or be the first to exploit a new technology, something the movie and recording industries chose not to do. Many, including these two industries, would rather sue than practice good marketing.”

This quote sums it up perfectly. Take for instance the increased popularity of pirating television programing. Most people simply want to view the content and the only way to get it is by pirating downloads. This could easily be solved by a la carte cable channels, easy to use on demand, etc. The bickering back and forth between networks and companies like iTunes makes programs unavailable and piracy the only alternative.

Of course this is in no way meant to justify piracy, only to illustrate that there are some very real and serious flaws with legitimate media download sites and the companies that copyright the media. From an eCommerce standpoint, pirated downloads are an indicator of media demand. Most individuals would rather buy things legitimately than steal them so there is an indicator that the industries involved are either charging to much, making the content too difficult to obtain, or both.

Enterprise eCommerce businesses, manufacturers and marketers would do well to heed these market signals. By developing new strategies and business models can open the door for a booming and legal digital media industry.

OFBiz Tutorials - Static Pages with CMS

OFBiz tutorials 3 part series that will demonstrate how the OFBiz Content Management System (CMS) can be used for front end application static pages. We will do this using a simple content data setup on a screen. The purpose of this exercise is to give clients the ability to change text on static pages at any time without having to get into code changes. This feature is especially helpful on enterprise eCommerce websites that feature pages like "About Us", "FAQ's", etc.

All of the details in this OFBiz tutorial are supported out-of-the-box (OOTB) with OFBiz CMS implementation.

CMS for Front End Static Pages With CMS | OFBiz Tutorial

Topics:

• Understand basics of DataResource and Content Record.
• Setup of content data for embedding FTL markup.
• Setup of a content driven screen to show the static content setup.

We are assuming that a component is already set-up. In this exercise we are using "cmsdemo"for the component.

DataResource / Content records | OFBiz Tutorials

Our goal in this exercise is to define the following content "This is the text that will appear on screen".

The first step is to define a "DataResource" that will represent the text. Defining in DataResource allows greater flexibility because of the ability to store long texts in the "textdata" field. Prior to rendering, all FTL markups using the "dataTemplateTypeId" attribute need to be made. This allows Freemarker instructions to execute before the screen is rendered.

Setup the following data in a data file

(go to http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz/page/17/ for code definitions)

Now we'll create a Content Record. This will be associated to the DataReasource. The Content Record is the same regardless of the DataResource that has been chosen.

Using the following directive, we'll include the content inside the section of screen definition.

(go to http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz/page/17/ for code definitions)

Ensure that there is an ofbiz-component file for the CMS data file that we created earlier.

(go to http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz/page/17/ for code definitions)

Now we'll ensure we have "Main Request" and "View" defined in the controller file

(go to http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz/page/17/ for code definitions)

Once the request for [https://localhost:8443/cmsdemo/control/main] is served, a page will be visible that displays the text "CMS Demo, This is the text that will appear on screen".

Over the next few posts we'll expand on the capabilities that we've touched on here.

Enterprise eCommerce is a vast marketplace with unlimited potential for businesses to reach customers. By using Apache Open For Business (OFBiz), you'll have greater control and increased flexibility when it comes to your eCommerce website. This translates to reduced cost for software and support costs and a more streamlined enterprise eCommerce interface.

OFBiz Tutorial - OFBiz Features

OFBiz tutorial to elucidate some of the major features of Apache Open For Business (OFBiz). Apache OFBiz is an open source suite of applications for enterprise eCommerce and ERP. The following is a list of features that explain why OFBiz is the optimum alternative for your eCommerce needs.

Apache Open For Business Features | OFBiz Tutorials

• Accounting Manager: This allows you to set up a chart of accounts, manage agreements, billing, invoices, payments, etc. These tools help to keep your records in order and easily accessible.
• Catalog Manager: This tool helps you to create and populate catalogs by category. You can maintain product features, price rules, promotions, subscriptions, reviews and so on. Using the Catalog Manager, you will be able to keep your products current and your customers informed.
• Content Manager: Using the underlying CMS capability, you can easily manage site content, blogs, surveys, etc. A great marketing and information tool.
• Facility Manager: Tracks inventory through the entire pick, pack and ship process. This tool will help you know what you have and exactly where it is located.
• Manufacturing Manager: This tool offers MRP, job shop, routing, routing task screens and BOM screens.
• Marketing Manager: An incredible marketing advantage that allows you to manage and maintain marketing lists and online marketing campaigns that are fully integrated with enterprise eCommerce.
• Order Manager: This tool handles everything to do with purchases, sales orders, create orders and returns.
• Party Manager: Assists in managing roles by creating individuals and groups.
• WebTools Application: Using metrics, you can track site performance, traffic, etc. This gives you the information you need to have an effective eCommerce web site.
• WorkEffort Manager: With this tool you can create and manage events, calenders, project management, or customize other tools to meet your needs.
  

Enterprise eCommerce is a broad and complex marketplace. Fortunately with Apache OFBiz and professional backing by the OFBiz developers at HotWax Media, you will have everything you need to create a functional enterprise eCommerce interface with all the tools for running your business.

OFBiz Tutorials - More on Order Entry and Ship Groups

OFBiz tutorials will help you to successfully navigate the OFBiz framework and easily execute tasks without having to bother with support calls. OFBiz developers are dedicated to enhancing OFBiz's user friendly capabilities and platform flexibility by giving clients access to these valuable tutorials.

Order Entry and Ship Groups | OFBiz Tutorials

In this OFBiz tutorial we will cover the step by step procedure for manually placing orders with multiple ship groups. This is a further example of the robust versatility offered by the OFBiz framework.

Lets say for example that an order clerk needs to place an order on behalf of a customer. This usually happens when an order is received by fax, mail, phone, etc. The order has multiple items that are assigned different delivery dates, and/or different delivery locations, shipping methods, etc.

This task can be easily accomplished by the sales clerk by defining "Multiple Ship Groups". Ship groups are designed to represent different groups of items in a single order. Each group is defined by unique shipping options, deliver dates and shipping address. Ship groups can be created during checkout.

We will use the example that the order clerk must enter an order for 15 units of product "X" and 10 units of product "Z". The customer needs the 5 units of Z sent with the quickest shipment method available. The remaining 5 units of Z and the 15 units of X can be sent with a slower and less expensive shipping method.

Step By Step

1. Go to the order entry screen and enter the customer ID (Just as you would for a standard order.
2. Add all items to cart, 15 units of X and 10 units of Z (ship groups will be created at checkout)
3. Click "Finalize Order" button to proceed with checkout.
4. On the first checkout screen select the shipment address and then click on the "New Ship Group" button.
5. The page then reloads with two ship group sections. Select the shipment address for each and click "Continue".
6. Now you will be viewing a screen that will allow you to manage the items being shipped in each group. The items appear in the first group by default, but they can easily be transferred into other ship groups.
7. With the drop down tabs and the quantity field you can move the items from one ship group to another. Click "Continue".
   
8. A screen will appear with shipping options for each ship group. Select proper methods for each group and continue with the checkout process as if you were completing a standard order.
   

As you can see, the process is very easy to execute. For a tutorial with screen shots, visit http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/ofbiz-tutorial-order-entry-and-ship-groups/

Enterprise eCommerce with Apache OFBiz will help you successfully position your company in the eCommerce landscape. Enterprise eCommerce is a simple and effective way to reach customers and conduct business. For all of your eCommerce, ERP, and OFBiz solutions, contact HotWax Media.

OFBiz Tutorial - Multiple Ship Groups in One Sales Order

OFBiz Tutorial that will show the ease with which you can set up multiple ship groups in a single sales order. Apache OFBiz is an open source enterprise eCommerce and ERP web platform that integrates all of your eCommerce needs from storefront presentation to inventory management, invoicing and shipping. OFBiz is a competitive and affordable alternative to commercial ERP applications.

Multiple Ship Groups | OFBiz Tutorials

OFBiz is a very flexible platform that is extremely user friendly. Here, we will discuss the steps necessary to create multiple ship groups for a single order. Basically a customer can place an order and send each item to a different place. Here is how it works.

First, under Applications > Facility Manager > Facilities, you will select a warehouse from the drop down tab under "Facility ID". Hit Submit. Next you will go to the picking tab to select orders for picking.

This screen will display a list of orders that have a status of "approved". Orders may require a stock move prior to picking. You can use one of four grouping methods available OOTB to group orders for picking. These groups are "Group Shipping Method", "Group by Warehouse Area", Group by Number of Order Items" and "Zero Grouping".

Here we'll use "Zero Grouping". This means no grouping method is selected. Let's assume that the order is not yet ready for picking and needs a stock move, meaning to move stock from a bulk location to a primary/pick location. Go to the stock moves tab and enter the required information (i.e. "From Location", " To Location" etc.). Once completed the screen will show "No Stock Moves Needed Right Now".

Now we go back to the picking screen and ensure that the order is ready for picking. When the order is ready for picking, we can create a pick list under the "Manage Picklist" tab. When the order is picked, go to the drop down and change the status to "Picked".

Next, click on the "Pack Item" button. This will show the items to be packed in a single package as well as showing the number of items and packages in this package.

Click "Complete" and a shipping invoice will be generated.

To print a shipping label, click on "Shipment ID" and go to the "Route Segments" tab. Click "Confirm Shipment" with UPS button. Once the shipment is confirmed you will see a new "Accept UPS Shipment Confirmation" button. Click this button and a shipping label will be received from UPS. To view the shipping label, go to the "View Label Image" button, print and affix to package.

This same process is repeated for subsequent ship groups.

Enterprise eCommerce is an exciting industry that is changing the way businesses thrive. By opening a storefront online, you are getting an edge up on the competition and expanding to a worldwide customer base.

To see this tutorial with screen shots, go to http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/category/ofbiz-tutorials/page/7/.

OFBiz Tutorials - Enterprise eCommerce Stats and Interperetation

OFBiz Tutorial article that takes a minute to evaluate the current enterprise eCommerce landscape as it relates to pricing and costs for the user.

Using data compiled by B2C Partners, it is estimated that the size of the US market for online retail sales was $415 million in 2008 (conservatively). B2C Partners used the following method for their estimate:

• $166 billion of online revenue in 2008
• x3% revenue for development and technology (ref. A)
• x50% dev/tech for site improvement / vs. support (ref. B)
• x50% eCommerce platforms third party / vs. in house (ref. C)
  
• x33.3% year 1 costs on software / vs. services to deploy (ref. D)
  

We will use ref. A through D to refer to analyze and modify these points throughout the post.

Line A is the percentage of revenue spent on software development and technology. B2C Partner's source, SORO Report 2007 Forrester Research and Shop.org, the range is between 3-5%. With 5% having a larger impact, it would push the market from $415 million to over $690 million which sounds more realistic.

Line B appears straightforward. There is difficulty between distinguishing between improvements and support, but not enough to alter this percentage point much.

With lines C and D we have noticed some interesting anomalies. HotWax specializes in enterprise eCommerce and ERP applications using Apache OFBiz. Apache OFBiz is an open source suite of eCommerce and ERP applications. Some clients have viewed OFBiz as a 3rd party platform, while others see it as the root of their in-house platform. Neither viewpoint is wrong, OFBiz's use depends more on the clients internal tech staffing and how they use the platform.

This realization has the effect of making the market larger from our perspective because we could then count revenue from the 50% that implement a 3rd party platform as well as the 50% that use an in-house system. That would result in an addition $2 billion in market opportunity.

Line D divides the software spending by 1/3 to differentiate between licensing costs vs. services to deploy. OFBiz is free and open source which means that our clients do not sacrifice 1/3 of their annual budget on licensing. This makes line D unnecessary for our evaluation.

Now, we add $2 billion for 3rd party vs. in-house distinction (C), keep the 33.3% for licensing fees (D), and with the 5% revenue number (A), we come up with an enterprise eCommerce and ERP online software services market that exceeds $4 billion (in retail). This is a far cry from $415 million.

This is achieved using the following points:

1. A system has an advantage if it offers the client the options of in-house development or 3rd party reliance.

2. Using Software that does not require a licensing fee represents a huge opportunity for increased returns on project investment.

3. Vendors that are well positioned to deliver implementation services on open source enterprise systems have a lot of budget to use if they can make the case effectively to online retail business owners and corporate CIOs!

Enterprise eCommerce offers limitless possibilities for businesses to grow and expand. By analyzing needs and requirements, there are many places where a company can cut costs and increase revenues.

OFBiz tutorial - Strategic Partnerships for Enterprise eCommerce

OFBiz tutorial which will discuss strategic partnerships that will compliment your enterprise eCommerce experience with professional services and software that directly compliments the OFBiz platform.

HotWax Media has partnered with Atlassian who offers a suite of project management tools and applications that are easy to use and perfect for an enterprise eCommerce company. As we began to work more with Atlassian, attempting to fully access the potential of the applications availabe, we were coming up short on time and manpower to fully explore the software. We wrote a few JIRA plugins (adding timesheet capability and enhanced reporting of work efforts) but we knew that we could do so much more with this product. Fortunately we found a solution in Customware for Atlassian professional services.

During ApacheCon 2009 in Oakland, HotWax executives were able to meet face to face with the CEO of Customware and work out solutions for optimizing our use of Atlassian. With Customware's experience and understanding of both these tools and running a successful service organization, they were able to understand the problems we were facing and provided us with a solution from which to start modeling our effort. We began making modifications to our plugins and discussing folding in JIRA’s Agile views (see Greenhopper) into our world in the appropriate ways.

Over the next few months, Customware has continued to contribute and customize our JIRA plugins and we have been able to focus on iterating on our process workflow to exceed our customers expectation. The end result is a stellar level of service and options for our clients using OFBiz and wanting to integrate partnerships that will give the most sophisticated, flexible and successful eCommerce experience.

Enterprise eCommerce is a complex landscape for doing business that is constantly maturing and changing. Partnerships with companies that stay ahead of the curve is imperative in keeping your business expanding and in the black.

OFBiz Tutorials - Complimenting OFBiz with Flash Micorsites

OFBiz Tutorials article which will temporarily step out of the realm of Apache OFBiz in order to discuss flash microsites. These sites are a very exciting experience for customers who visit your page and can contribute greatly to sales on your enterprise eCommerce platform.

If you visit "http://skibd.bdel.com/" you will see one of our most exciting microsites which we built for Black Diamond's Fall 2010 Efficient Series Skis and Boots product launch. For creating this site, we worked with Black Diamond's creative team in order to convey the vision that they wanted to give their customers. The result is extremely breathtaking imagery that highlights Black Diamond's Fall product line. The site has exceptionally clean navigation, mouse over product highlights, 360 degree spin and all of the other things that customers like to see.

When bringing a new product line to market, this is a very effective and classy way to do it. It garners a high level of respect from consumers as they can see that you care about and are proud of your companies creations.

HotWax has built dozens of Flash microsites with clients including Patagonia, GORE-TEX, Pearl Izumi, Leatherman, Thule, and dozens and dozens of other brands. Working closely with production and marketing teams ensures that the companies vision is carried out. Whether working with strict branding or a more creative project, any needs can be met.

Enterprise eCommerce is a highly competitive marketplace which is why standing out is important. Employing tactics such as microsites do just that. HotWax Media takes a lot of pride in being able to deliver progressive and successful products to our clients that give them an edge up on the competition.

OFBiz Tutorial - OFBiz Implementation

OFBiz Tutorial which will discuss the basic steps of implementing an Apache OFBiz framework for your enterprise eCommerce company. Apache OFBiz is an open source software project from the Apache Software Foundation. OFBiz is a competitive and economical alternative to commercial ERP and eCommerce products.

Implementation in Phases | OFBiz Tutorials

OFBiz software is made up of a complete set of enterprise eCommerce and ERP applications. The OFBiz data model allows for accounting for everything that is happening in a given legacy system and integration of needed components which facilitates a phased approach.

OFBiz has the ability to be implemented gradually while working with older systems and eventually phasing them out.

Affordability and Customization | OFBiz Tutorials

Many commercial ERP software packages are sorely lacking in flexibility. Because of the OFBiz open source system, it is highly adaptable for any users needs and requirements. Configuring software to meet your company rather that configuring your company to fit software will save countless time and money. Also, because OFBiz is open source, you will not be locked into recurring licensing fees.

Enterprise eCommerce using OFBiz can be implemented entirely by HotWax Media. We offer the full spectrum of enterprise eCommerce and ERP implementation tools. Our developers are closely involved with the OFBiz project and have the expertise and dedication needed to make your eCommerce platform robust and effective while offering some of the lowest costs industry wide.

OFBiz Tutorials - User Permissions Part 2

OFBiz Tutorials are a free service provided by HotWax Media in order to give OFBiz users more information on how to use their software, as well as giving valuable insight as to why OFBiz is a great solution for enterprise eCommerce.

In this post I will continue to discuss user permissions for Apache OFBiz.

In my initial post on user permissions we discussed giving user permission to access a particular application as well as the various levels of permission available. Depending on the user you can allow them only to view the application, have full administrative access or levels in between (e.g. creating, updating, or deleting records etc.).

Admin permission gives a particular user full access to view, create, update and delete records in a given application.

A single user can be assigned permissions to several applications giving you the flexibility to utilize the employee across a variety of projects, giving them just the amount of permissions that they need.

There are instances where a user has admin permission, yet they are not allowed to perform certain operations within the application based on permissions in other applications. For example, you may be attempting to view a product look up screen in the "Asset Maint" app but in order to do that you also need permission in the "Catalog" application.

The solution for not having to grant permission to an entire additional application is by defining ECA (Event Condition Access) rules that will extend user permission allowing the user to view the selected files in the "Catalog" application while logged into the "Asset Maint" application (of course this can be done for any app, "Asset Maint" and "Catalog" are simply examples).

The rule is defined in a file found under the "servicedef" folder in the component directory tree.

Now, whenever the user attempts to perform a catalog related operation in the "Asset Maint" app, the "catalogpermissioncheck" will run first. If a user does not have explicit permission a "haspermission" flag will come up as false. This is a generic interface used by permission services.

With the permission modifications, the "haspermission" interface will run the check from the "Asset Maint" permissions and see that from that application, the user can view aspects of the "Catalog" application. The "haspermission" flag will come back as true.

To view pathways, go to: http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/ofbiz-tutorial-how-to-use-eca’s-to-extend-service-permission/

Enterprise eCommerce is a powerful means of business in the 21st century. The growth potential is higher than any other form of commerce and offers the ability to reach customers all over the world 24 hours a day.

OFBiz Tutorial - Poject Management

OFBiz tutorial where we will discuss project management options for OFBiz as well as other software platforms. Partnerships are the cornerstone of solid project management. Contributors need to work well together, have congruous visions of the project and the professionalism to carry everything out. Project management tools are necessary for maintaining a successful and efficient company.

HotWax Media has reviewed several project management packages. Our aim being to solve project management and work flow difficulties. In collaboration with our managed hosting partner, Contegix, we discovered the Atlassian suite of tools. Contegix gave the stamp of approval and we've moved forward with Atlassian to help clients streamline project management.

The following is a small sampling of some of the flexibility that we are seeing from this suite of tools:

• Protecting access to applications and source code
• Managing documents and documentation
• Showing SVN changesets for performing code review

Below is just a few examples of the extensive set of applications that can be used for project management and development work-flows. Some of the tools that we've currently implemented are:

• Crowd - a centralized single sign on with permissions and access that easily plugs to a variety of applications
• Confluence – powerful document management and collaboration
• FishEye – reporting of source code and repository changes in real time
• Crucible – code and document review
• JIRA – project management and tracking

Enterprise eCommerce customers depend on the efficiency of project management to keep their company running smoothly. By implementing comprehensive tools and protocols you will find that you have more time to focus on growth and expansion.

OFBiz Tutorial - User Permissions

OFBiz Tutorial discussing set-up of user permissions. Apache OFBiz is an open-source enterprise eCommerce project that has collaborators from all over the world. OFBiz tutorials are a valuable resource that many OFBiz developers post for free on the web so that their clients and other users of OFBiz can have the most up-to-date information on how to use the platform as well as the new features that are available.

Apache OFBiz has a base permission for every application sans ecommerce, ofbizwesite and a few others. In order for users to login to the application, they should have "base OFBiz permission view" or "base permission admin". Base permission may consist of more than one permission in which case all permissions are required for a login.

Definition | OFBiz Tutorials

Base permission is defined in the ofbiz-component.xml file for each component. Multiple permissions are separated by a comma character.

Step by Step | OFBiz Tutorials

Now we will set-up permissions for a new user to gain access to a back-end application. We will use an Asset Maint component as an example throughout the tutorial.

First we will create a new user. Login to the party manager app. with the username "admin" and password "ofbiz". Click on the "Create New" link which is located at the top of the main screen.

You will be presented with a variety of options, Choose "Create New Person".

Enter the required fields (name, title, etc.) and save.

Now you will be directed back to the user profile screen.

We will now create a user login. Click "Create New" link on the user name(s) screen in the right column

Enter the following details:

• User Login ID: joe.will
• Current Password: ofbiz
• Current Password verify: ofbiz

Now you will see the new user login on the profile screen under the "User Name(s)" area of the page.

Click on the "Security Group" link. You will be presented with a screen that allows you to add a security group to the user. This will allow you to set the permissions for that user. The permissions are classified as "View", "Create", "Update" and "Delete". An admin security group contains all of these permissions. Select the "Asset Maint Admin" group from the drop-down menu. The field for "From Date" is optional and if no value is entered, the application will use the system's timestamp. "Thru Date" is also optional, this allows you to select a time frame for the permissions if desired. You also have the option to assign multiple security groups to the same user. When done, click "save".

The user now has permission to access the "Asset Maint" application.

Note: The admin user is available only if demo data is installed. If only seed data is installed then you have to create the admin user through the command line with an ant target defined in the build file which is present at the root of the project. Run command create-admin-user-login from the terminal and follow onscreen instructions to complete this wizard.

Testing Permissions | OFBiz Tutorial

Logout of the party manager so you can login to the asset maint app. with the new user. If everything was filled out correctly there should be no problem with the login. Once successfully logged in, the user now has permission to "view" this application.

We will now test if the user has "create" permission. Go to the "Fixed Assets" tab and click on "New Fixed Asset". Fill in basic details and click "Update". If the user is able to create a new fixed asset record, they successfully have create permission.

You can check for "update" or "delete" permission by updating or deleting the mock fixed asset record you just created.

If you try to log into another application that doesn't have a permission set up under this user they will not have access.

This is an overview of user permissions. As you familiarize yourself with the interface you will be able to take advantage of the various permissions options available.

Enterprise eCommerce makes it very easy for you to update, inventory, manage and maintain your operation with full automation of many processes. OFBiz, once implemented can be easily updated and maintained and integrates with most other platforms that you will use (such as shipping and payment options). Taking advantage of OFBiz tutorials gives you an edge on the competition and streamlines your business. For more information on enterprise eCommerce and Apache OFBiz, contact HotWax Media at 888-405-2667.

OFBiz Tutorial - Custom Components with Apache OFBiz

OFBiz Tutorial series highlighting custom components. OFBiz offers many powerful features which will streamline your enterprise eCommerce solution. With Apache OFBiz, each aspect of the eCommerce experience is looked at from the side of the developer as well as the consumer in order to deliver a well rounded interface that is easy to use.

Custom Copmponents - OFBiz Tutorials

In this post we will use a custom component/application named “hwm” that is deployed in OFBiz for our exercises.

An OFBiz component is essentially a folder that contains a .xml file named "ofbiz-component.xml". This file explains the resources loaded and required by the component.

OFBiz Components - OFBiz Tutorials

• Framework Components: These are lower level components providing a technical layer and tools to the application components. These components include the following features: data layer, business logic layer, transaction handling, data source pools, etc.
• Application Components: Application components are generic ERP applications that can be used as they are or customized to meet demands for product, ordering, manufacturing, accounting, etc. These components have access to the services and tools provided by the framework components as well as services published by other application components.
• Special Purpose Components: Like the application components, they are special purpose applications, e.g. ecommerce, Google Base integration, eBay integration and so on.
  
• Hot-Deploy Components: This is an empty folder where you can place custom components. Custom components can be given access to resources published by other components as well as the ability to extend or override these resources.
  

Prerequisites - OFBiz Tutorials

• JDK 1.6 is properly installed and the JAVA_HOME environment variable is correctly set. Java can be downloaded by following going to this url: java.sun.com
  
• An svn client. svn client is installed in your system (needed to checkout the latest OFBiz sources); you can freely download an svn client from tigris.org

Setting up the sandbox - OFBiz Tutorial

1. Download the OFBiz source files from the official OFBiz SVN Respository (this step can take some time and requires access to the Internet): “svn co http://svn.apache.org/repos/asf/ofbiz/trunk ofbiz”.
2. Go to the newly created folder called: “cd ofbiz”
3. Run the ant task to create a standard OFBiz component: “./ant create-component”.
   
4. Build OFBiz and load the demo data: “./ant run-install”.
5. Run OFBiz: “./ant run”.

Now that OFBiz and your custom applications are up, point your browser to: "http://localhost:8o8o/hwm".

Login into the custom “hwm” application with username “admin” and password “ofbiz”.

Create-Component Script - OFBiz Tutorial

Although you can manually create a hot-deploy component, the preferred method is to run the ant task "create component". This will create a layout using OFBiz practices which allows better integration with existing OFBiz components such as:

• Entities (the data model)
• Services (business logic)
• Widgets (user interface elements like screens, forms, menus)
• Security (authentication and authorization)
• Localization
• Tools

This also keeps your custom code seperate from OFBiz code which will come in handy when you need to update your custom applications with new OFBiz versions. By simply writing code into your custom component, you can extend, override or customize specific OFBiz entities, services, screens, etc., as well as any new ones that you add.

Definitions - OFBiz Tutorials

• Component Name: this is the name of the component (and also of the folder that will contain it, created in the hot-deploy folder). following OFBiz’s naming conventions, it should be a single word all lowercased (e.g. hwm).
• Component Resource Name: This is used as a prefix for resources. Use the component name, possibly using an upper case character for the first character in the words (e.g. Hwm).
• Webapp Name: this is the name and uri of the application in which the ui for the new component will be implemented. Following OFBiz’s naming conventions, it should be a single word all lowercased (e.g. hwm).
• Base Permission: this is the prefix for base security permissions; following OFBiz’s naming conventions, it should be a single word all uppercased this time (e.g. HWM).

Now we have the ability to start procticing with the development based on the OFBiz framework. This component will help you perform exercises that will generate a better understanding of OFBiz overall.

Enterprise eCommerce is a powerful tool for your business to utilize. Apache OFBiz makes that tool available to any business large or small and as you can see from this post and others like it, OFBiz is highly flexible for any type of deployment you may be interested in. For more detailed information on this post visit http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/ofbiz-tutorial-custom-components-in-ofbiz/.

OFBiz Tutorials, Dependent Select Boxes using Prototype

Enterprise eCommerce is a rapidly growing industry. Apache OFBiz and it's developers are dedicated to adapting and improving as the spectrum of eCommerce broadens. Developers will continue to create and post OFBiz tutorial pages so that users can easily have questions answered and effectively use the platform.

This OFBiz tutorial will cover building out dependent select boxes using prototype. Today's web developers face the challenge of needing to create a contemporary user interface that lives up the expectations of web designers and end users. In these OFBiz tutorials we discuss options for keeping your interface modern using dependent select boxes.

Dependent Select Boxes | OFBiz Tutorial

Dependent class allows you to link two select boxes in a parent child relationship. Any two select boxes can be linked:

1. Parent select box options should have unique value of title attribute.
2. On child select box, class attribute of options should be set to title of their parent.
3. In javascript Create new Dependent object by passing child and parent select boxes.

The goal is to build a dependent select box that will work in complex enterprise eCommerce application scenarios. A nonstandard case is when the value of a parent select box value is change by background code. It gets even more complex when select boxes are disabled. Good news is, our dependent class is smart enough to deal with just about any scenario that may come up.

Using the Prototype Javascript framework with it's AOP like ability, it has a AOP like ability, we can modify behavior of existing code by wrapping function inside of a custom wrapper function. A Prototype function wrap is applied to the set-Value function on Element to handle the background select value changes and disabled select box value change.

You can download the component from https://code.google.com/p/ue-protoui/. To view code for this exercise visit http://www.hotwaxmedia.com/apache-ofbiz-blog/ofbiz-tutorial-dependent-selects-for-prototype/ at HotWax Media.

OFBiz Tutorial - What is Enterprise eCommerce?

OFBiz tutorial pages are a great way to learn about Apache OFBiz and what it can do for your Enterprise eCommerce platform... so what are the fundamentals of Enterprise eCommerce and why do forward thinking businesses in the 21st century need an Enterprise eCommerce platform?

Plainly put, Enterprise eCommerce is the buying and selling of goods and services on the Internet. Aspects of what OFBiz and enterprise eCommerce can offer are:

• Virtual storefronts on websites with online catalogs, interactive shopping experiences, etc. This is a store that is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Since the advent of eCommerce, Companies that have OFBiz storefronts set up have seen an exponential increase in sales and profits. With new integrations of mobile devices, more people are able to shop anywhere, anytime, which makes your products available to ever increasing demographics.
  
• The gathering and use of demographic data through Web contacts and other algorithms built into Apache OFBiz. It has been widely recognized that because of the interactive nature of the Internet, companies are able to gather data about prospects and customers in ways that have never been available before. Site registration, questionnaires, etc., all act as avenues for market research.
  
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), the business-to-business exchange of data. This allows companies using OFBiz to easily and safely echange purchase data, shipping data, etc. with 3rd party companies that they are in cooperation with.
  
• Email, instant messaging and social networking as media for reaching prospects and established customers. Many enterprise eCommerce companies choose and "opt in" option for email and other social networking promotions. This is an option in which Web users voluntarily sign up to receive email, usually sponsored or containing ads, about product categories or other subjects they are interested in.
• Business-to-business buying and selling. Businesses aren't interested in going to the mall for their products. They want lightening quick deliveries from suppliers and vendors. Enterprise eCommerce and Apache OFBiz give just that option. Supplies can be re-ordered at any time with extreme ease. With OFBiz, order history and inventory are all readily available making re-ordering efficient and painless.
• The security of business transactions. Security includes authenticating business transactors, controlling access to resources such as Web pages for registered or selected users, encrypting communications, and, in general, ensuring the privacy and effectiveness of transactions. OFBiz interacts with trusted companies such as Pay Pal and Google Checkout ensuring that relevant data is encrypted and secured.

Enterprise eCommerce offered by HotWax Media offers a wide variety of OFBiz Tutorials explaining all aspects of the software. They have extensive experience implementing eCommerce platforms with OFBiz and are happy to help with any questions you may have.

OFBiz tutorials, Contegix and OFBiz management

OFBiz tutorials are a fantastic way to broaden your knowledge of OFBiz and enterprise eCommerce. Whether you're looking to move to the Apache OFBiz platform or already a user, OFBiz tutorials help you to understand the platform and why OFBiz is the industry leader.

Managed hosting is an important part of your OFBiz experience. Hotwax Media partners with Contegix (managed hosting). In this OFBiz tutorial we'll discuss how Hotwax and Contegix manage OFBiz installations.

1. It all starts with infrastructure Support | OFBiz Tutorial

Contegix has implemented just about anything you can think of. They have never shied away from a difficult setup request and in fact they generally improve on proposed architecture and give it the same attention they give to their own development projects. The company was built by developers so they are well versed in thinking out of the box and offer valuable insight to any solution you may be interested in.

2. Deployment Matters | OFBiz Tutorial

Hotwax has seen OFBiz development go through many phases over the years from using a vendor branch per customer, to using only the trunk with patches to custom pieces of the code, to working directly off of releases, to using a single vendor branch for all customers, and so on. Because of OFBiz's flexibility and adaptation, I am sure this will continue to change as we develop software. Contegix manages ALL of our staging and production deployments which reduces any confusion or crossed lines as phases of OFBiz are streamlined or modified.

Hotwax provides them with URLs to the branch, trunk, version, etc of OFBiz – and our components – and they not only maintain the files necessary to run the framework (entity-engine configuration, ofbiz-containers, etc), but they do this across the variety of deployment styles and individual instances that were put in place along the way. Contegix works directly with our OFBiz engineers to make sure that there is continuity between our work and theirs.

3. Expert, knowledgeable 24 x 7 Support | OFBiz Tutorials

There are many developers that can do minimal support, but if you really want to feel certain that any catastrophic disaster can be handled your developer needs to have the expertise and willingness to fix any problem. Contegix employs experienced developers who know their tools better than just about anyone. Add in the fact that they are monitoring your application all the time and can preempt your customers from noticing any glitches in the system. This type of proactive support is what sets them apart.

Enterprise eCommerce is the answer to moving your company seamlessly into this electronic age of business.

OFBiz Tutorials: OFBiz benefits for small to mid-size eCommerce companies

Apache OFBiz is a single application that can handle all of your companies eCommerce needs right out of the box. From catalogs and order fulfillment to customer service, OFBiz can handle it all. OFBiz tutorials make this solution very easy to use and there are many available all over the web with the ability to answer any questions you may have.

OFBiz offers a flexible generic framework that leaves the end-user with thousands of options for their business. Any size company can integrate these options to suit whatever needs they have. The beauty is that it's all included in OFBiz and as your company grows, the program will grow with you.

The following are the most salient points that OFBiz can offer your company.

• Complete control of all product information on the storefront.
• Simple re-order procedures that work with your suppliers.
  
• Real-time ability to track inventory quantity and warehouse location.
  
• Queue up orders for picking, packing, and shipping.
• Built in returns procedure which streamlines Customer Service.
  
• Edit an in-flight order or put it on hold.
• Ability to track Customers purchases, returns and account info.
  
• Easily create promotions such as gift cards, special offers, and discounts.
• Easily update website and storefront content.
  

Companies such as HotWax Media can help build an OFBiz framework to handle your eCommerce and ensure that it will be the last solution you will ever need. This OFBiz Tutorials page will offer more information on this post and links to many more detailed OFBiz tutorial pages.

Apache OFBiz Tutorial Part 1

In part 1 of this OFBiz tutorial series, Hotwax will begin to answer some frequently asked questions about about Apache OFBiz.

1. What are my options related to product organization and display? OFBiz Tutorials.

With OFBiz, you can create a product organization tree that can be as simple or complex as your business demands. OFBiz imposes no limit to the number of categories you can create and use to organize and display your products. An OFBiz e-commerce storefront can support categories and sub-categories each with unique content aimed at your prospective customers. Furthermore, if you have user recognition through a login, you can deliver personalized content at any step along the way.

2. Can my system automate sales tax, payment processing, and shipping? OFBiz Tutorials.

Of course! An OFBiz solution will empower you to handle sales tax, payment processing, and shipping. Again, with OFBiz, this can be tailored to suit your business and storefront experience. Sales tax is typically handled by 3rd party tax tables that come out of the box with OFBiz. If you have a unique payment requirement, Hotwax can implement a payment processor based on your requests. For shipping, HotWax Media and OFBiz include a variety of shipping options including USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, along with international carriers. You can either use automated shipping quotes, place manual overides or combine the two. With relative ease, you can control every aspect payment and shipping related to your enterprise e-commerce storefront.

3. Can OFBiz do inventory management? OFBiz Tutorials.

Yes indeed, as a full-featured open source ERP framework, OFBiz offers great inventory management features that support everything from product display to inventory moves and re-order systems. You can integrate with or phase out existing inventory systems. The beauty of OFBiz is that it is flexible and can sync easily with most inventory protocols.

If you have more questions, visit this OFBiz tutorial for more in-depth information on Apache OFBiz eCommerce solutions.

OFBiz tutorials - Apache OFBiz Q&A

HotWax Media is entering 2010 looking toward the future helping our clients integrate Apache OFBiz. We are working with a steady stream of enterprise eCommerce and ERP clients who are seeing revenues return using OFBiz as our economy bounces back. Our client goals for this year include offering solutions for the following, 1) a growing business outpaces an old system and 2) business processes are more sophisticated than a limited e-commerce systems will support. At HotWax Media, we will continue to handle these difficulties for you and offer an insightful OFBiz tutorial series so you can understand the process.

The new year has delivered a resurgence of tangible, budget-backed interest in enterprise e-commerce/ERP and OFBiz. Therefore I will start building a list of some common questions our prospective clients face as they make their e-commerce/ERP and OFBiz purchase decisions. In subsequent blogs I will address the three common questions I've been recieving about OFBiz, e-commerce and ERP. As more questions arise I will post more blogs explaining the process further.

I will attempt to deliver these answers in a simple way that is easy to understand. For additional details, visit the OFBiz tutorial blog on our homepage, or contact us at 888-405-2667 without delay!